After getting a double-bye in the SEC Tournament this week, how best player will respond to rest, looking at rest of team before going to Nashville.
Democrat-Gazette’s Tom Murphy on where Acuff may rank nationally
With Razorbacks’ freshman picking up multiple SEC awards, will he be named to national All-American teams when they start coming out?
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 3-10-26
Back in time to chat about Tournament expansion, Hogs players bringing home hardware, 2AA State Tournament Melee, baseball struggling and more!
Guests: Tom Murphy!
479 Equipment Ruscin & Zach podcast March 9
We break news about Darius Acuff, give you our bums of the weekend, Zach sees a movie he did not like and a Lou update.
Rutenbar’s four-hit game not enough as Arkansas falls to Stetson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Freshman Carter Rutenbar delivered the best game of his young career Monday afternoon, but Arkansas couldn’t overcome an early deficit in a 6-4 loss to Stetson in the series finale at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Rutenbar finished 4-for-5 with a run scored, leading the Razorbacks offensively in his third start of the season. Despite the strong performance, Arkansas struggled to bring runners home and couldn’t complete a comeback.
The loss left Arkansas with a split in the four-game weekend series against the Hatters. It also marked the first time since 2014 that the Hogs failed to win a non-conference weekend series at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Stetson grabbed control of the game in the opening inning against Razorbacks starter James DeCremer.
The Hatters scored four runs on four hits and a walk in the first frame, including a three-run home run that quickly put Arkansas behind.
DeCremer was lifted before recording an out as Arkansas turned to its bullpen early in the game.
Despite the rough start, the Razorbacks responded quickly in the bottom of the second inning.
Reese Robinett launched a two-run home run to right field, his first of the season, helping Arkansas cut the deficit in half.
Later in the inning, Nolan Souza added an RBI double that pulled the Hogs within one run.
Arkansas rallies but leaves runners stranded
Arkansas nearly erased the early deficit in the second inning, trimming Stetson’s lead to 4-3.
The Razorbacks appeared to build momentum after Robinett’s homer and Souza’s extra-base hit brought the home crowd back into the game.
However, the Hogs struggled to finish scoring opportunities throughout the afternoon.
Stetson answered the Arkansas rally by adding two more runs in the fourth inning.
The Hatters pushed the lead to 6-3, forcing the Razorbacks to chase the game again.
Arkansas picked up another run in the fifth inning when a defensive error by Stetson allowed a runner to score.
That cut the deficit to 6-4, but it would be the final run of the game for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas had chances late but couldn’t deliver a timely hit.
The Hogs finished the game 5-for-24 with runners on base and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Those missed opportunities left 10 runners stranded and prevented Arkansas from tying the game.
Reese Rob’s first blast of the year 🤟 pic.twitter.com/t0BnZlGqfe
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) March 9, 2026
Rutenbar’s big day highlights Arkansas lineup
Even in defeat, Rutenbar’s performance stood out for the Razorbacks.
The freshman recorded four hits in five at-bats, marking his first four-hit game at the college level.
Through his first 10 games this season, Rutenbar is hitting .438 with seven hits, including a double, while also drawing five walks.
Robinett also had a productive afternoon for Arkansas.
He finished 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, providing the biggest offensive spark for the Razorbacks.
Maika Niu added another multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double.
The performance marked Niu’s ninth multi-hit effort of the season.
On the mound, Arkansas received strong relief pitching after the difficult first inning.
Tate McGuire worked three innings and allowed two runs while striking out two batters.
Steele Eaves followed with four scoreless innings, extending his streak to 12 consecutive scoreless innings this season.
Parker Coil closed the game with two scoreless frames and struck out two hitters.
The Razorbacks dropped to 12-5 on the season with the loss, while Stetson improved to 7-10.
Arkansas now turns its attention to the always-tough Southeastern Conference schedule.
The Hogs will open SEC competition this weekend with a home series against Mississippi State at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Acuff sweeps SEC awards as Razorbacks’ trio earns league honors
Now Hog fans can brag they have watched the top playerin the Southeastern Conference this season. It doesn’t need a qualifier term in front of that.
Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. swept the SEC’s top honors after being named SEC Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches.
The standout point guard also earned First Team All-SEC recognition and a place on the SEC All-Freshman team. The awards capped a remarkable debut season for the Detroit native and placed him among the league’s most productive players.
Two more Razorbacks joined Acuff on the SEC honors list. Billy Richmond III earned a spot on the conference’s All-Defensive team, while Meleek Thomas was selected to the SEC All-Freshman squad.
Together, the trio highlighted a season in which the Hogs relied heavily on young talent while competing in one of the nation’s toughest leagues.
Acuff’s sweep of the conference’s major awards placed him in rare company. Only two other players in league history have won both Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season.
The freshman guard also became just the third player in program history to win SEC Player of the Year, joining Corliss Williamson and Bobby Portis.
Acuff powered the Razorbacks throughout the season with elite scoring and playmaking numbers. He led the SEC with 22.2 points per game and also paced the league in assists with 6.4 per contest.
The freshman finished the year with the conference’s best assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.2 and ranked among league leaders in shooting percentage.
In SEC games alone, Acuff averaged 24.8 points and 6.7 assists while setting several program records for production during conference play.
Richmond’s defense and Thomas’ scoring add to Hogs honors
While Acuff grabbed the biggest headlines, the Hogs also saw two other players recognized for their impact during the season.
Richmond earned a spot on the SEC All-Defensive team after regularly taking on the assignment of guarding opponents’ top players. The versatile defender often matched up against multiple positions, including guards and forwards.
His defensive numbers reflected that workload. Richmond finished the season with 26 blocked shots and 33 steals, including 24 steals in SEC play.
He also contributed offensively. During conference games, Richmond shot 57.4 percent from the field, ranking second in the SEC in that category.
Richmond’s selection marked the ninth time a Razorbacks player has been named to the SEC All-Defensive team.
Thomas joined Acuff on the SEC All-Freshman team after emerging as one of the conference’s most productive first-year scorers.
The Pittsburgh native averaged 15.4 points and 3.9 rebounds during the season. His scoring total ranked 18th in the SEC.
Thomas also ranked among conference leaders in several categories. He finished 10th in both steals and three-pointers made while shooting 46.2 percent in SEC games.
Late in the year, the Razorbacks guard caught fire from long distance. He shot 48.7 percent from three-point range during conference play, setting a program record for three-point accuracy in SEC games.
The honor placed Thomas among a growing list of standout freshmen in the program’s history.
Razorbacks freshmen make history together
The Hogs placed two players on the SEC All-Freshman team this season, highlighting the impact of their young roster.
Acuff and Thomas became the 21st and 22nd Razorbacks players to earn SEC All-Freshman recognition.
It also marked only the third time in program history that two Arkansas teammates received the honor in the same season.
The previous duos were Ronnie Brewer and Olu Famutimi in 2004 and Scotty Thurman and Corliss Williamson in 1993.
Their production helped the Razorbacks build one of the most productive freshman scoring tandems in college basketball this season.
Acuff’s playmaking paired with Thomas’ perimeter shooting created a combination that opposing defenses struggled to slow down.
Meanwhile, Richmond’s defensive versatility gave the Hogs another key piece on the floor.
The collection of postseason awards reflected the balance of scoring, defense and youth that shaped Arkansas’ season.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 3-9-26
Tye’s back and the Hogs are gearing up for the SEC Tournament in Nashville. Big question is: Should Darius stay put on the bench? 2AA State Tournament Brawl, Arkansas Baseball and more!
Stetson uses fourth-inning homer to hand Razorbacks loss
Arkansas’ first two games against Stetson were big wins, but went downhill quickly in the third game that showed how fast things can change in baseball.
After winning the first two matchups of the weekend, the Razorbacks couldn’t finish the sweep Sunday, falling 4-1 to Stetson at Baum-Walker Stadium. A three-run swing in the middle innings flipped the game, and the Hogs never recovered.
Arkansas scored first and had chances throughout the day. But the Hatters delivered the key hit when it mattered most and relied on steady pitching to close out the win.
Even with the loss, the Razorbacks still secured the series after earlier victories of 7-1 on Friday and 13-1 on Saturday.
Sunday’s finale simply showed how narrow the margin can be.
Damian Ruiz helped spark the Hogs early. The Arkansas leadoff hitter doubled in the first inning and later scored on an RBI double by Camden Kozeal that gave the home team a quick 1-0 lead.
For a moment, it looked like the Razorbacks might continue the offensive surge they showed during the first two games of the series.
Instead, Stetson pitchers regrouped and slowed the game down.
After Kozeal’s RBI, the Hogs struggled to produce another run despite drawing multiple walks and putting runners on base.
Missed opportunities shape game
Arkansas created traffic on the bases but couldn’t turn those opportunities into runs.
The Razorbacks finished with five hits and several walks but left multiple runners stranded as the Hatters escaped jams.
Meanwhile, Stetson waited for the moment that changed the game.
That moment came during the fourth inning.
The Hatters began the rally with a solo home run that tied the score at 1-1. Soon after, a defensive mistake by Arkansas allowed the inning to continue.
With runners on base, Jayden Hylton stepped in and delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon. His three-run homer to left field turned a tie game into a 4-1 Stetson lead.
That swing ended up deciding the game.
The Razorbacks still had time to respond, but the Hatters’ pitching staff kept the offense quiet over the final innings.
Pitching keeps Arkansas within reach
Although the Hogs fell behind, the bullpen kept the deficit manageable.
Cole Gibler entered in relief and delivered several scoreless innings, limiting Stetson’s offense and giving Arkansas a chance to rally.
Ethan McElvain later finished the game on the mound and struck out three batters in the final two innings.
The pitching effort prevented the Hatters from adding insurance runs.
But the Razorbacks couldn’t take advantage on the other side.
Series still belongs to Arkansas
Despite Sunday’s result, Arkansas controlled most of the weekend series.
The Razorbacks opened with a 7-1 win Friday behind strong pitching from Gabe Gaeckle and a balanced offensive performance that produced hits throughout the lineup.
One day later, the Hogs followed with their most dominant performance of the weekend.
Hunter Dietz struck out 12 batters over six innings as Arkansas rolled to a 13-1 victory in Game 2. The Razorbacks collected 13 hits and built a big early lead that never faded.
Those two wins secured at least a tie in the series.
Sunday simply prevented a sweep.
A reminder before conference play
The Razorbacks will move forward knowing they still won the weekend set.
At the same time, the finale offered a lesson about execution.
Arkansas scored early but couldn’t extend the lead. Stetson, on the other hand, made the most of one big inning.
Baseball often turns on a single swing, and that’s exactly what happened Sunday afternoon.
The two teams play the last of a four-game series on Monday at Noon in Baum-Walker Stadium and the game will be on ESPN+. Fans can listen on the Razorback Sports Network at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Razorbacks power past Stetson as Dietz strikes out 12 in 13-1 win
Hunter Dietz delivered one of the strongest pitching outings of the season Saturday as Arkansas rolled to a 13-1 victory over Stetson at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Razorbacks right-hander struck out 12 hitters across six innings while allowing four hits. He didn’t issue a walk during the outing as Arkansas improved to 12-3 this season.
Dietz controlled the pace from the first inning. His mix of pitches kept Stetson hitters off balance while Arkansas steadily built a lead behind him.
The strong start allowed the Hogs to extend their current winning streak to five games.
Dietz’s performance also showed why Arkansas coaches have viewed him as a future professional prospect since he signed in the 2023 recruiting class.
By the time his afternoon ended, the Razorbacks had already created a comfortable advantage.
Arkansas finished the game with 13 runs on 13 hits while drawing nine walks and striking out Stetson hitters throughout the afternoon.
The Hogs did all that without allowing a single walk on the mound.
Reliever Cooper Dossett later finished the run-rule victory in the seventh inning.
Early offense backs Dietz
The Arkansas offense quickly gave its starting pitcher room to work.
In the second inning, Reese Robinett reached base and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Razorbacks on the board first.
Camden Kozeal followed shortly after with a double that drove in two runs and stretched the lead to 3-0.
That early cushion allowed Dietz to stay aggressive against the Stetson lineup.
Arkansas kept adding to its lead in the third inning.
Maika Niu doubled to right field to bring home two runs, and Nolan Souza added a run-scoring single that drove in two more.
The surge pushed the Razorbacks ahead 7-0 and gave the pitching staff plenty of support.
The Hogs continued applying pressure in the fourth inning when patient plate appearances led to several walks and base hits.
By the middle of the game, Arkansas had built a 10-0 lead.
Balanced lineup produces big day
Arkansas received offensive help throughout the lineup.
Niu finished with three hits and three runs batted in while reaching base multiple times during the afternoon.
Kozeal also collected three hits and added multiple RBIs. The Razorbacks infielder now leads the team with 21 RBIs and carries a .400 batting average.
Souza contributed during the third-inning rally with a run-scoring single that helped stretch the early lead.
Arkansas didn’t rely on the long ball during the game. Instead, the Hogs used singles, doubles and walks to keep runners moving and create scoring chances.
The approach allowed Arkansas to score runs in multiple innings and maintain steady pressure on the Hatters pitching staff.
Pitching staff finishes strong
While the offense built the lead, Dietz continued controlling the mound.
The right-hander struck out hitters in nearly every inning while keeping Stetson from building momentum.
His 12 strikeouts marked a career-high total.
Stetson managed its lone run during the sixth inning when a single brought home a runner to make it 11-1.
Arkansas responded quickly.
The Razorbacks scored two more runs later in the inning to stretch the margin to 13-1.
Dossett then closed the game in the seventh inning to secure the run-rule victory.
The outing continued a strong stretch for the Arkansas pitching staff, which has limited opponents’ scoring opportunities during the current winning streak.
Razorbacks building a streak
Arkansas has started to find rhythm on both sides of the field.
The Razorbacks have produced double-digit hits in several recent games while pitchers have continued to control opposing lineups.
That balance has helped the Hogs stack wins early in the season.
Arkansas hitters such as Camden Kozeal, Maika Niu and others have contributed to a lineup that consistently produces scoring chances.
When combined with strong pitching performances like Dietz’s outing Saturday, the Razorbacks have shown they can win in multiple ways.
Arkansas and Stetson are scheduled to conclude their weekend series Sunday at Baum-Walker Stadium with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
Calipari earns 900th win as Razorbacks beat Missouri in overtime
COLUMBIA, Mo. — John Calipari reached a historic coaching milestone Saturday as Arkansas took Missouri into overtime and came away with an 88-84 win at Mizzou Arena.
The victory marked the 900th career win for Calipari, placing him among the winningest coaches in men’s Division I basketball history.
With the result, Arkansas improved to 23-8 overall and 13-5 in SEC play while continuing to build up a head of going into next week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee.
Calipari became just the fifth coach in Division I history to reach 900 wins. He joined former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, former Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino and former Kansas and North Carolina coach Roy Williams in that group.
Trevon Brazile delivered the decisive moment in overtime. The forward knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to give the Razorbacks the lead for good.
Free throws by Malique Ewin and Meleek Thomas during the final seconds helped the Hogs hold off Missouri and secure the road victory.
Thomas leads Arkansas scoring effort
Meleek Thomas paced the Razorbacks offense with a career high-tying 28 points. The guard was especially effective from long range, hitting five of six shots from beyond the arc.
Thomas also handled extra ball-handling responsibilities with Arkansas missing its points and assists leader.
Star freshman Darius Acuff did not play against Missouri as he rested a nagging ankle injury before postseason play. Calipari told ESPN’s Seth Greenberg that the decision was made to give Acuff time to recover before tournament action begins.
Without Acuff on the floor, D.J. Wagner and Thomas shared the primary playmaking duties.
Wagner finished with 10 points and led the team with five assists, helping keep the Arkansas offense steady throughout the contest.
Razorbacks build early lead
Arkansas started the afternoon strong and built a double-digit advantage in the first half.
The Hogs led by as many as 15 points during the opening period while controlling the pace on both ends of the floor.
However, Missouri responded late before halftime. The Tigers made their final three field goals of the half to cut into the Arkansas lead.
When the teams headed to the locker room, the Razorbacks still held a narrow 39-36 advantage.
Early foul trouble also affected Arkansas in the first half. Both Nick Pringle and Malique Ewin picked up two fouls, forcing the coaching staff to adjust its frontcourt rotation.
With both big men sitting for stretches, Missouri used the opportunity to trim the deficit and stay within reach before halftime.
Missouri rallies in second half
Missouri came out aggressively after the break and eventually grabbed its first lead of the day.
With 16:42 remaining, Mark Mitchell connected with Shawn Phillips on an alley-oop dunk that gave the Tigers a 45-44 edge and prompted Calipari to call a timeout.
From that point forward, the teams exchanged baskets throughout much of the second half.
The loudest moment inside Mizzou Arena came with 11:30 remaining when Missouri’s Jayden Stone recorded a steal and finished with a slam dunk to give the Tigers a 58-57 lead.
Arkansas answered shortly after when Missouri entered a cold shooting stretch. The Tigers missed six of seven shots during a span of nearly four minutes.
During that same stretch, the Razorbacks made four of their five attempts. The sequence ended with an Ewin put-back dunk that restored the lead for Arkansas.
Later, a layup by Barrett tied the game at 65-65 and kept the contest tight heading into the closing minutes.
Brazile’s shot seals overtime victory
Missouri forced overtime behind a late push from Mark Mitchell.
Mitchell scored the Tigers’ final five points of regulation, including an and-one with 50 seconds remaining that briefly put Missouri ahead by one point.
Thomas answered moments later by hitting a free throw with 31 seconds left to even the score.
Missouri had a chance to win in the closing seconds of regulation, but Barrett missed a layup at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Ewin provided an important spark when he hit a 3-pointer with 2:21 remaining to give Arkansas an 81-77 lead.
The shot was notable because it marked Ewin’s first 3-pointer since Jan. 10 and only his fourth attempt from long distance this season.
Missouri answered with a quick 4-0 run after a timeout to tie the score again at 81-81.
That set the stage for Brazile’s decisive moment.
With under a minute remaining, Brazile connected from beyond the arc to give the Razorbacks the lead.
Arkansas then closed the game at the free-throw line as Ewin and Thomas made shots during the final 10 seconds.
The victory keeps the Hogs firmly in the mix for a top seed in the SEC Tournament.
Arkansas already secured a double-bye after its 105-85 win over Texas earlier in the week, meaning the team will open play in Friday’s quarterfinals.
The Razorbacks could earn the No. 2 seed if Alabama loses to Auburn. If Alabama wins that game, Arkansas would enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed because of its head-to-head loss to the Crimson Tide.
Either way, Saturday’s overtime win gave Calipari a historic milestone while sending the Hogs into postseason play with another close victory.
