Can Arizona STOP Darius Acuff And DANGEROUS Arkansas Offense?

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It's Arizona vs Arkansas in the sweet 16 for a spot in the Elite 8.

Well Tommy Lloyd break through to his first Elite 8 appearance

or will John Calipari get his 13th Elite 8 appearance in his first since 2019?

My name is Kevin Thomas of the AZ Wildcats podcast.

Let's break down this must-see matchup.

Now let's start off with how these two squads made it to the sweet 16.

Arkansas is coming off of a close game against high point where they nearly lost

to Rob Martin and the Panthers.

But we're able to come out on top in the end.

Before that in the round of 64, the Razorbacks absolutely dominated Hawaii.

Where Darius, Acuff and Malik Thomas became the first freshman duo in NCAA tournament history

with at least 20 points and five assists in the same game.

Acuff has also broken Arkansas records for single season points and assists.

It feels like the Razorbacks are really rolling right now.

Now Arizona experienced a similar fate in the round of 32 as they were able to overcome a scrappy,

tough underrated Utah State side that gave it the best they had all the way to the very end,

pushing Arizona to the brink.

It's officially survived in advanced season and both these teams have learned the very valuable

lesson that there are no style points in March.

It is about winning and moving on to the next round.

Now the last time these two teams faced off was in 1995 where Arizona got a revenge victory

for the 1994 Final Four that saw Arkansas defeat Arizona on route to a national title.

Arizona might be just two and six against Arkansas all time,

but in this matchup they certainly sport the better resume coming into it as the one seed in the

West region. Arizona is 6-0 against teams in this year's Sweet 16. Meanwhile, Arkansas is just

two and four. Now Arizona has been completely steamrolling top 10 teams.

Six and one in seven opportunities attempting only 12 and a half threes per game,

holding their opponents to a very low three point percentage and just 40 percent overall from

the field. Arizona is 33 and 15 against top 25 teams under Tommy Lloyd.

That is one of the best records against ranked teams in all of division one.

The 33 wins against top 25 teams broke Tom Izzo's record for the most in a coach's first five

seasons of a career, but that does not mean they cannot get bested by one of the hottest teams in

this tournament. The Arkansas razor backs who are on a seven game win streak are coming off of an

SEC tournament championship and have one of the best guards in the country in Darius A cup.

And it's not just A cup. Arkansas is loaded with high octane athletes, DJ Wagner,

Malik Thomas, Trevon, Brazil, Malik Ewan as well. John Calipari has assembled a high level roster

this year. Let's get to know this Arkansas team a little bit better. What are some of their strengths

and weaknesses coming into this game? Let's go ahead and start with their strengths.

Now, the number one thing about this year's Arkansas team is they're an offensive

juggernaut. They have the third best offensive rating in D1, the eighth best field goal

percentage in D1. Water usually wins. It rots wood and tears docs apart,

unless you build with treks. Treks marine grade decking is 100% submersible,

built to resist rod and salt and fresh water. Water has met its match. Treks decking,

visit treks.com slash docs. Get in the game with the college branded Venmo debit card.

Record your team with every tap and earn up to 5% cash back with Venmo stash,

a new rewards program from Venmo. No monthly fee, no minimum balance, just school pride and

spending power. Get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit card at Venmo.com slash college

card. The Venmo master card is issued by the bank court bank NA, select schools available,

Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo.me slash stash terms max $100 cash back per month.

When you want spring break to feel like

and a moment away from the kids to feel like

and your reward status to feel like. Thank you for being a Hilton Honors Gold member.

Enjoy your daily food and beverage credit. And now that nightcap and the lounge can feel like

it matters where you stay. With Hilton Honors, earn the most valuable gold status faster and

unlock benefits at over 9,000 locations worldwide. Hilton for this day.

Arkansas has three of last but not least ball security. Arkansas has the best turnover percentage

in all of the one the ninth best turnovers per game number and the third best assist to turnover

ratio. Ball security is going to be key in this game. The turnover battle is cliche but it's

true it's going to be huge in this match up between Arizona and Arkansas. Arizona has a

disruptive physical tough defense. Arkansas does not turn the ball over a lot. Something has to

give and if there was a place where there's some given this Arkansas team it is here with their

weaknesses and it's pretty clear. Defense, defense and defense are the three weakest things about

this Arkansas team. They cannot stop a runny nose, a parked car, anything that gets in their way,

gets right through. If Arizona is going to win this game they do have to expose Arkansas on the

defensive end of the court. This is not a defense first team like Arizona is. This is an offence

first side. And if Arizona is going to break through into the elite eight and get things done

they're going to have to do this. These are my keys to the game for Arizona versus Arkansas.

You're going to have to play bully ball. You're going to have to utilize your physical advantages

to overpower the razor backs like Houston, Florida and Duke did. I think we've seen when Arkansas

has gone up against bigger, more physical, burly front lines. They've had issues dealing with that

over the course of a full 40 minutes. You and for Arkansas is going to be huge in this game.

He's had back to back double doubles in Portland and I think could play a huge role for the

Arkansas razor backs in this game defensive discipline. Bigs got to stay out of foul trouble.

Arkansas likes to do a lot of driving kicks, seeking contact, finishing at the rim,

simply spacing the floor. And it does create a lot of open looks for the guards and kick out

opportunities. Arizona is going to have to stay disciplined, sit in their spots, stay on those

tendencies and get stops. And last but not least Arizona is going to have to win the guard battle

in this game. Arizona's guards have to play an elite two way game against Arkansas.

Brayden Burry's offense will be required. Jaden Bradley's defense and closing ability could

be massive for Arizona. Additionally, Arizona needs to win the turnover battle against Arkansas.

As I already mentioned, Arkansas can be very stingy with the ball. Arizona is going to have to

turn them over if they want to win this game. And not only that, they have to keep the ball

and avoid turning it over themselves. Eight of Arizona's 11 turnovers against Utah State came

in the final 20 minutes of that game and you absolutely cannot afford that against an Arkansas

team as potent as this one is. And to round out this preview, I wanted to give a shout out

to all the NBA drafts that goes out there. They're going to be glued to their TV watching this one

to see Brayden Burry's Darius A-Cuff, Malik Thomas, Koa, Pete, Motiaeus, Krivas, Yvonne,

Karchenkov. The list goes on and on a future NBA talent playing in this game. I just hope you

all enjoy it. There you have it. Arizona versus Arkansas, sweet 16 matchup. My name is Kevin Thomas

of the AZ Wildcats podcast. For more Arizona coverage, follow us at phnex underscore wildcasts,

subscribe to this YouTube channel and tune in to the AZ Wildcats podcast with myself and my

guy Damon Farrell. Until next time, peace out, bear down, and go cats.

When you want spring break to feel like, in a moment

away from the kids to feel like, and your reward status to feel like,

thank you for being a Hilton Honors Gold member. Enjoy your daily food and beverage credit.

And now that nightcap in the lounge can feel like, it matters where you stay. With Hilton honors,

earn the most valuable gold status faster and unlock benefits at over 9,000 locations worldwide.

Hilton for this day.