Arkansas has added a new name to its non-conference slate for the coming season.
The Razorbacks will square off against Arkansas-Pine Bluff to kick things off, according to Golden Lions coach Solomon Bozeman. Bozeman shared the news Friday during an appearance on 103.7 The Buzz and other media reports.
This matchup will mark new territory for both programs. Arkansas and UAPB have never played each other in the history of either school.
A specific date for the contest hasn’t been locked in yet.
Fans will need to wait a bit longer to find out exactly when the Hogs and Golden Lions will tip off against each other.
UAPB wrapped up last season with a 13-19 overall record.
The Golden Lions also went 10-8 inside SWAC play last year, showing they can compete within their own league even during a season that finished under .500.
Bozeman is stepping into his sixth season leading the Golden Lions program. Over his time in Pine Bluff so far, he holds an overall coaching mark of 49-107.
This new game against Arkansas gives his team a chance to test itself against SEC-level competition.
The Razorbacks continue building out a full slate of opponents ahead of the new season.
Arkansas already has games locked in against major programs along with several neutral-site matchups spread across the fall and winter months.
What else is on the schedule
Arkansas basketball has been steadily filling out both sides of its schedule this offseason. The SEC slate features home and away trips against every conference rival, while the non-conference side includes exhibition games, neutral-site showdowns and holiday matchups.
Fans following the Hogs closely will notice the schedule mixes marquee non-conference tests with the usual grind of SEC play. That combination should give Arkansas basketball plenty of opportunities to build momentum before conference tournament time arrives in March.
The addition of UAPB adds a fresh storyline to an already packed slate. It also gives Arkansas a chance to build a new in-state rivalry while Bozeman looks to keep growing his own program in Pine Bluff.
Razorbacks SEC schedule
- Jan. 2 — vs. Missouri
- Jan. 5/6 — at South Carolina
- Jan. 9 — vs. Alabama
- Jan. 12/13 — at Texas A&M
- Jan. 16 — at Tennessee
- Jan. 19/20 — vs. Georgia
- Jan. 23 — at Texas
- Jan. 26/27 — vs. LSU
- Jan. 30 — vs. Mississippi State
- Feb. 6 — at Vanderbilt
- Feb. 9/10 — vs. Ole Miss
- Feb. 13 — at Alabama
- Feb. 16/17 — vs. Auburn
- Feb. 20 — at Kentucky
- Feb. 23 — at Missouri
- Feb. 27 — vs. Florida
- March 2/3 — at LSU
- March 6 — vs. Oklahoma
- March 10-14 — SEC Tournament (Nashville)
Razorbacks non-conference schedule
- July 31-Aug. 4 — Baha Mar exhibitions
- Preseason exhibition vs. Gonzaga (no date set)
- Oct. 29 — Preseason exhibition vs. Memphis
- Nov. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff (date not set)
- Nov. — vs. Virginia (neutral site in Washington D.C., no date set)
- Nov. 10 — vs. Robert Morris
- Nov. 17 — vs. Indiana (neutral site at MSG)
- Nov. 26 — Michigan State (neutral site in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day)
- Dec. 1 — North Carolina (away in SEC/ACC Challenge)
- Dec. 5 — vs. Oral Roberts
- Dec. 19 — Arizona (neutral site in Phoenix)
- Dec. 22 — vs. Central Michigan
- Dec. 29 — vs. Texas-Rio Grande Valley
Key takeaways
- Arkansas basketball will play Arkansas-Pine Bluff to open next season, marking the first-ever meeting between the two schools
- UAPB head coach Solomon Bozeman confirmed the news, and he’s entering his sixth season with a 49-107 overall record
- The exact date for the UAPB game hasn’t been announced, though it fits into an already growing non-conference slate for the Razorbacks
