0:01
It rots wood and tears docks apart.
0:03
Unless you build with trecks.
0:05
Trek's marine grade decking is 100% submersible,
0:08
built to resist rod and salt and fresh water.
0:10
Water has met its match.
0:12
Visit trecks.com slash docks.
0:15
Get in the game with the college branded Venmo debit card.
0:19
Record your team with every tap and earn up to 5% cash back with Venmo stash,
0:23
a new rewards program from Venmo.
0:26
No monthly fee, no minimum balance,
0:28
just school pride and spending power.
0:31
Get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit card at Venmo.com slash college card.
0:36
The Venmo master card is issued by the bank court bank NA.
0:38
Select schools available.
0:39
Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo.me slash stash terms.
0:42
Max $100 cash back per month.
0:45
When you want spring break to feel like
0:48
and a moment away from the kids to feel like
0:53
and your reward status to feel like.
0:55
Thank you for being a Hilton Honors Gold member.
0:57
Enjoy your daily food and beverage credit.
0:58
And now that nightcap in the lounge can feel like it matters where you stay.
1:05
With Hilton Honors earned the most valuable gold status faster
1:08
and unlock benefits at over 9,000 locations worldwide.
1:12
Hilton for this day.
1:15
It's Arizona vs Arkansas in the sweet 16 for a spot in the Elite 8.
1:18
Well Tommy Lloyd break through to his first Elite 8 appearance
1:22
or will John Calipari get his 13th Elite 8 appearance in his first since 2019?
1:27
My name is Kevin Thomas of the AZ Wildcats podcast.
1:29
Let's break down this must-see matchup.
1:32
Now let's start off with how these two squads made it to the sweet 16.
1:35
Arkansas is coming off of a close game against high point where they nearly lost
1:39
to Rob Martin and the Panthers.
1:41
But we're able to come out on top in the end.
1:42
Before that in the round of 64, the Razorbacks absolutely dominated Hawaii.
1:47
Where Darius, Acuff and Malik Thomas became the first freshman duo in NCAA tournament history
1:52
with at least 20 points and five assists in the same game.
1:54
Acuff has also broken Arkansas records for single season points and assists.
1:59
It feels like the Razorbacks are really rolling right now.
2:01
Now Arizona experienced a similar fate in the round of 32 as they were able to overcome a scrappy,
2:06
tough underrated Utah State side that gave it the best they had all the way to the very end,
2:12
pushing Arizona to the brink.
2:13
It's officially survived in advanced season and both these teams have learned the very valuable
2:18
lesson that there are no style points in March.
2:20
It is about winning and moving on to the next round.
2:22
Now the last time these two teams faced off was in 1995 where Arizona got a revenge victory
2:27
for the 1994 Final Four that saw Arkansas defeat Arizona on route to a national title.
2:32
Arizona might be just two and six against Arkansas all time,
2:35
but in this matchup they certainly sport the better resume coming into it as the one seed in the
2:39
West region. Arizona is 6-0 against teams in this year's Sweet 16. Meanwhile, Arkansas is just
2:45
two and four. Now Arizona has been completely steamrolling top 10 teams.
2:49
Six and one in seven opportunities attempting only 12 and a half threes per game,
2:54
holding their opponents to a very low three point percentage and just 40 percent overall from
2:58
the field. Arizona is 33 and 15 against top 25 teams under Tommy Lloyd.
3:03
That is one of the best records against ranked teams in all of division one.
3:06
The 33 wins against top 25 teams broke Tom Izzo's record for the most in a coach's first five
3:12
seasons of a career, but that does not mean they cannot get bested by one of the hottest teams in
3:16
this tournament. The Arkansas razor backs who are on a seven game win streak are coming off of an
3:20
SEC tournament championship and have one of the best guards in the country in Darius A cup.
3:25
And it's not just A cup. Arkansas is loaded with high octane athletes, DJ Wagner,
3:30
Malik Thomas, Trevon, Brazil, Malik Ewan as well. John Calipari has assembled a high level roster
3:37
this year. Let's get to know this Arkansas team a little bit better. What are some of their strengths
3:40
and weaknesses coming into this game? Let's go ahead and start with their strengths.
3:43
Now, the number one thing about this year's Arkansas team is they're an offensive
3:46
juggernaut. They have the third best offensive rating in D1, the eighth best field goal
3:50
percentage in D1. Water usually wins. It rots wood and tears docs apart,
3:55
unless you build with treks. Treks marine grade decking is 100% submersible,
3:59
built to resist rod and salt and fresh water. Water has met its match. Treks decking,
4:04
visit treks.com slash docs. Get in the game with the college branded Venmo debit card.
4:11
Record your team with every tap and earn up to 5% cash back with Venmo stash,
4:15
a new rewards program from Venmo. No monthly fee, no minimum balance, just school pride and
4:21
spending power. Get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit card at Venmo.com slash college
4:27
card. The Venmo master card is issued by the bank court bank NA, select schools available,
4:31
Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo.me slash stash terms max $100 cash back per month.
4:37
When you want spring break to feel like
4:40
and a moment away from the kids to feel like
4:44
and your reward status to feel like. Thank you for being a Hilton Honors Gold member.
4:48
Enjoy your daily food and beverage credit. And now that nightcap and the lounge can feel like
4:55
it matters where you stay. With Hilton Honors, earn the most valuable gold status faster and
5:00
unlock benefits at over 9,000 locations worldwide. Hilton for this day.
5:31
Arkansas has three of last but not least ball security. Arkansas has the best turnover percentage
5:36
in all of the one the ninth best turnovers per game number and the third best assist to turnover
5:41
ratio. Ball security is going to be key in this game. The turnover battle is cliche but it's
5:46
true it's going to be huge in this match up between Arizona and Arkansas. Arizona has a
5:50
disruptive physical tough defense. Arkansas does not turn the ball over a lot. Something has to
5:55
give and if there was a place where there's some given this Arkansas team it is here with their
5:59
weaknesses and it's pretty clear. Defense, defense and defense are the three weakest things about
6:05
this Arkansas team. They cannot stop a runny nose, a parked car, anything that gets in their way,
6:12
gets right through. If Arizona is going to win this game they do have to expose Arkansas on the
6:17
defensive end of the court. This is not a defense first team like Arizona is. This is an offence
6:22
first side. And if Arizona is going to break through into the elite eight and get things done
6:26
they're going to have to do this. These are my keys to the game for Arizona versus Arkansas.
6:30
You're going to have to play bully ball. You're going to have to utilize your physical advantages
6:33
to overpower the razor backs like Houston, Florida and Duke did. I think we've seen when Arkansas
6:38
has gone up against bigger, more physical, burly front lines. They've had issues dealing with that
6:43
over the course of a full 40 minutes. You and for Arkansas is going to be huge in this game.
6:47
He's had back to back double doubles in Portland and I think could play a huge role for the
6:52
Arkansas razor backs in this game defensive discipline. Bigs got to stay out of foul trouble.
6:56
Arkansas likes to do a lot of driving kicks, seeking contact, finishing at the rim,
7:00
simply spacing the floor. And it does create a lot of open looks for the guards and kick out
7:06
opportunities. Arizona is going to have to stay disciplined, sit in their spots, stay on those
7:10
tendencies and get stops. And last but not least Arizona is going to have to win the guard battle
7:14
in this game. Arizona's guards have to play an elite two way game against Arkansas.
7:19
Brayden Burry's offense will be required. Jaden Bradley's defense and closing ability could
7:23
be massive for Arizona. Additionally, Arizona needs to win the turnover battle against Arkansas.
7:28
As I already mentioned, Arkansas can be very stingy with the ball. Arizona is going to have to
7:32
turn them over if they want to win this game. And not only that, they have to keep the ball
7:35
and avoid turning it over themselves. Eight of Arizona's 11 turnovers against Utah State came
7:39
in the final 20 minutes of that game and you absolutely cannot afford that against an Arkansas
7:43
team as potent as this one is. And to round out this preview, I wanted to give a shout out
7:48
to all the NBA drafts that goes out there. They're going to be glued to their TV watching this one
7:52
to see Brayden Burry's Darius A-Cuff, Malik Thomas, Koa, Pete, Motiaeus, Krivas, Yvonne,
7:57
Karchenkov. The list goes on and on a future NBA talent playing in this game. I just hope you
8:03
all enjoy it. There you have it. Arizona versus Arkansas, sweet 16 matchup. My name is Kevin Thomas
8:08
of the AZ Wildcats podcast. For more Arizona coverage, follow us at phnex underscore wildcasts,
8:13
subscribe to this YouTube channel and tune in to the AZ Wildcats podcast with myself and my
8:18
guy Damon Farrell. Until next time, peace out, bear down, and go cats.
8:44
When you want spring break to feel like, in a moment
9:12
away from the kids to feel like, and your reward status to feel like,
9:18
thank you for being a Hilton Honors Gold member. Enjoy your daily food and beverage credit.
9:21
And now that nightcap in the lounge can feel like, it matters where you stay. With Hilton honors,
9:28
earn the most valuable gold status faster and unlock benefits at over 9,000 locations worldwide.
9:34
Hilton for this day.