An open line Friday where we learn what a bushel is, talk about some of the news of the day, then we all give our bums of the week.
Fox Sports’ Aaron Torres on John Calipari’s second year with Razorbacks
In Los Angeles ran into Eric Musselman on Wednesday when media got to see Hogs’ practice, Cal’s press conference.
Razorbacks pitching coach Matt Hobbs on building new staff
Looking back on pitchers that got them to College World Series and Gage Wood’s no-hitter in Omaha, MLB Draft prospects.
Finland’s Miikka Muurinen lists seven finalists in basketball recruitment
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Miikka Muurinen, a 6-foot-10 forward from Finland ranked as the top power forward in the 2026 recruiting class and Arkansas is in that list.
Muurinen has narrowed his list of potential college destinations to six other schools with Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina State and North Carolina.
Muurinen, who currently plays at AZ Compass Prep in Arizona, is ranked No. 8 overall nationally and No. 1 among power forwards in his class by the On3 Industry Ranking. He has drawn attention from coaches and scouts for his size, skillset and international experience.
Muurinen has taken official visits to Arkansas and Michigan, with additional visits expected this fall but not yet scheduled.
He previously received scholarship offers from Kansas, Illinois, Alabama, UCLA, Nebraska, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Utah, Iowa, Texas, Creighton, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, St. John’s and Ohio State, among others.
In an interview with On3, Muurinen said his biggest priority is how he would be used by a college program.
“The biggest factor for me will be how are the schools going to play me?” Muurinen said. ”That’s what matters. I’m comfortable as a stretch four, shooting the ball, catching it at the top of the key and using my dribble, catching lobs, you know the basic stuff as a four or five man today.”
He also said he sees himself expanding his role at the next level.
“I haven’t really been able to handle the ball much this season at AZ Compass, but that’s something I’m looking a little more at doing in college,” he said
Muurinen has played for Finland’s national youth teams in FIBA competitions and has been steadily building his reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. He moved to the United States for high school and has competed against top prep talent at AZ Compass Prep.
Recruiting analysts and coaches have praised Muurinen’s versatility, noting his ability to play inside and out, shoot from the perimeter and defend multiple positions. His experience in international play is considered an asset as he transitions to college basketball.
“He’s a matchup nightmare,” one college assistant coach said. “If you put a big on him, he’ll take them outside. If you go small, he’ll punish them inside.”
All seven schools on Muurinen’s final list have strong basketball traditions or recent success developing talent for the next level.
Duke and Kentucky have each produced multiple NBA forwards, while North Carolina and Indiana are known for their histories with skilled big men.
Michigan and Arkansas can point to recent NCAA Tournament runs, and North Carolina State could offer an immediate opportunity for playing time.
Muurinen’s decision is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the 2026 recruiting class. His commitment could boost a college’s recruiting haul and have implications for the national landscape next season.
The coming months will be critical as Muurinen completes his visits and coaching staffs make their final pitches.
With the recruiting calendar in full swing, his choice will be monitored by college basketball fans, coaches and scouts in the United States and abroad.
Muurinen’s rise from Helsinki to the forefront of American high school basketball underscores the increasing international influence on the college game.
His next step is likely to shape the direction of one of college basketball’s top programs.
Razorbacks to host Mount St. Mary’s in December game at Bud Walton
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has added another challenge to a schedule that is rapidly becoming a way for John Calipari to find out early what he’s put together this year.
The Razorbacks have agreed to host Mount St. Mary’s on December 16 at Bud Walton Arena. This matchup, confirmed by national scheduling analyst Rocco Miller, positions the Razorbacks for a December packed with high-caliber opponents and meaningful tune-ups before a daunting SEC slate.
Mount St. Mary’s, a program that knows how to peak at the right time, enters this season with fresh momentum. The Mountaineers finished last season 23-13, heated up in March, and won the MAAC tournament as a No. 6 seed before dispatching American University 83-72 in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four.
Their run ended quickly in a lopsided loss to No. 1 Duke put them on the radar of power conference teams looking for meaningful non-league competition.
For the Hogs, the matchup is part of a non-conference schedule that could end up being among the nation’s toughest. Calipari has orchestrated a series of marquee games.
Beyond Mount St. Mary’s, Arkansas will face Duke at Chicago’s United Center on Thanksgiving, Texas Tech and Houston in neutral-site contests and will host Louisville in the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Additional home-and-homes with Baylor and Michigan State are pending, creating a schedule loaded with former NCAA Tournament contenders.
“I came here saying I want eight or nine guys because of NIL. I can’t pick 12,” Calipari has said in the offseason. “Now I’m like, ‘Let’s have eight or nine that can really go.’”
He’s no stranger to balancing blue-blood non-conference games with strategic mid-major matchups, the value is clear.
“You want your guys to see different styles, different sizes, and to have to adjust,” he’s said of his scheduling philosophy in previous stops.
The Mountaineers fit the bill.
Calipari’s arrival after a decade and a half at Kentucky has brought national scrutiny, a top-10 recruiting class, and a collection of transfers that includes several former McDonald’s All-Americans.
The early non-conference schedule reflects both the pressure and the opportunity with Duke, Texas Tech, Houston, Louisville, Baylor, Michigan State, and now Mount St. Mary’s, the Razorbacks will face a gauntlet of big games before New Year’s Day.
The significance of these games is not lost on those around the program.
“This showed me some good stuff. We got a lot of work to do. I still think my team’s pretty good. Gotta make a shot or two,” Calipari said Wednesday after a summer practice. “You don’t have to be perfect in November or December. But you better know who you are.”
If history is any indication, Arkansas will have plenty of chances to find out. The non-conference schedule is not only a litmus test for a retooled roster, but also a showcase for college basketball’s evolving landscape.
The December 16 matchup is also a rare opportunity for Mount St. Mary’s to play in one of college basketball’s most raucous settings. Bud Walton Arena, famed for its sellout crowds and home-court advantage, will provide a different kind of pressure for a team accustomed to the intimate gyms of the MAAC.
For the Razorbacks, it’s a chance to reinforce their identity before heading into a January SEC schedule that features home-and-away showdowns with Auburn, LSU, and Missouri.
The implications stretch beyond the win-loss column. With the NCAA Tournament selection committee placing renewed emphasis on strength of schedule and quality non-conference wins, games like Arkansas-Mount St. Mary’s can tip the scales in March.
That’s exactly the conversation Razorback fans were expecting to hear often when Calipari was hired.
HawgSports’ Danny West on if Razorbacks’ defensive front will hold up
One of many questions Hogs have is how does Deke Adams’ rebuilding project on the line turns out this season.
HawgSports’ Kevin Bohannon on which Razorbacks might miss draft expectations
Even with several projected, all may not got as planned for former Hogs as selection day rapidly approaching.
Hogville’s Dudley Dawson on new Razorbacks’ roster Calipari has assembled
With lots of new faces and a little experience how new approach could play out smoother in coach’s second season.
Ruscin & Zach July 10
We hear about the greatest summer of all time; that of one Tom Brady. Plus our show’s official stance on cargo shorts and more.
Brett Dolan on where Wehiwa Aloy could play in major league after draft
Former Razorback won Golden Spikes as shortstop for Dave Van Horn’s team, but does he play there in pros.
