Rupp Arena erupted in boos as former Kentucky head coach John Calipari stepped onto the court. But neither he nor his Arkansas Razorbacks were fazed, as they handled business with an 89-79 victory over the Wildcats.
Despite entering as underdogs, the Razorbacks played like anything but. They shot the lights out, stayed aggressive on defense, and controlled the game from start to finish. Arkansas hit an impressive 52% from three and 55.2% from the field, keeping Kentucky on its heels all night.
Defensively, Arkansas forced 14 turnovers and snagged 10 steals, capitalizing on Kentucky’s mistakes. The Wildcats gave them transition opportunities, and the Razorbacks converted, scoring 18 fast-break points. Even though the game remained tight at halftime (46-45 Arkansas), the Razorbacks kept Kentucky at arm’s length in the second half. They truly silenced the crowd and that helped them pull off the upset.
Calipari’s squad needed big performances to pull off the win, and they got them.
The player of the night was former Kentucky Wildcat Adou Thiero, who led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds—10 of those points coming from the free-throw line. Johnell Davis, a transfer from FAU, was another key contributor, adding 18 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Arkansas benefited from balanced scoring, with all five starters finishing in double figures. It certainly was an impressive display of shooting by Arkansas and is exactly what they needed to get past Kentucky.
If the Wildcats want to contend for a title, they will need to shore up their defense. Opponents are averaging 76.5 points per game against them, ranking them 304th nationally in points allowed. While their high-powered offense puts up an absurd 87.2 points per game—third in the nation behind Alabama (90.2) and Gonzaga (89.6)—their defensive struggles could be their undoing. They are certainly a fun team to watch, though, and will be a tough out in the tournament.
Arkansas’ 89-point outing against Kentucky is especially concerning when you consider the Razorbacks’ other high-scoring games came against Pacific, Oakland, and NC A&T—teams far from Kentucky’s level. A blue-blood program with championship aspirations shouldn’t be giving up points that easily.
One glaring issue for the Wildcats is their transition defense. Allowing 18 fast-break points put them in a hole, and they can’t always rely on their offense to bail them out. Come March, one off-night offensively could end their season early.
The Razorbacks have an uphill battle to make the NCAA Tournament, but this win gives them momentum. Up next, they face a rising Texas squad that has notched big wins over #13 Texas A&M and #22 Missouri. The teams are evenly matched statistically, though Texas holds a slight edge in ball security, averaging just 9.7 turnovers per game compared to Arkansas’ 11.3. This one could go either way, but the Razorbacks will enter with confidence after their performance at Rupp Arena.
Following Texas, Arkansas takes on an Alabama team with a similar profile to Kentucky—explosive offensively but vulnerable defensively. To win, the Razorbacks will need to replicate their hot shooting, which may be difficult to sustain.
As the season winds down, Arkansas will be battling to stay in the tournament conversation. Their win over Kentucky gives them a boost, but they’ll need more marquee victories to secure a spot. The SEC is full of must-watch matchups, and if the Razorbacks can string together wins, they could make things interesting. Will Arkansas sneak into the tournament, or is their season too far gone?
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