Hogbeat – How to watch Arkansas-Kansas, projected lineups, and more

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The 8-seed Arkansas Razorbacks have an opportunity to beat the 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

Both teams took care of business in the first round, as the Razorbacks defeated 9-seed Illinois 73–63 and Kansas defeated 16-seed Howard 96–68.

Matching up with 1-seed teams has become familiar to Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman, as the Razorbacks will face a top-seeded team for the third time in three years. The Hogs lost to 1-seed and eventual national champion, Baylor in the 2021 Elite Eight, and they defeated the overall 1-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in the 2022 Sweet 16.

“We talked this morning over breakfast,” Musselman said Thursday. “We talked about our experiences playing Baylor. We talked about our experiences playing Gonzaga. Some things we did really well, some things maybe we could have improved against Baylor.

“We talked about the mindset you need to have going into this particular game. I don’t know what — no luck playing at number three in three years. I don’t know if that’s ever happened before. But if it’s happened before it certainly hasn’t happened with many programs.”

Jayhawks – who could be without head coach Bill Self for a fifth straight game a reported heart catheterization — what Musselman described as probably the best starting five in the country. Under the leadership of Big 12 Player of the Year Jalen Wilson, Kansas is going to shut down.

“This is March Madness for a reason,” said Kansas guard Kevin McCullers. “Anyone is beatable and everyone is in the tournament for a reason. It really doesn’t matter your seed once you get here. You have to worry about your next matchup and go out there and play.”

While the Razorbacks struggled with three consecutive losses in the regular season, and then saw a 1–1 performance in the SEC Tournament, they still believed it was win or go home, especially after a first round win over Illinois.

Forward Kamani Johnson said, “You have to trust Muss because he clearly knows what he’s doing.” “Like any great fan base, whenever we’re struggling it feels like the world’s on fire, but credit goes to Muss for what he’s done since he’s been here. Two back -Two back Elite Eights, and tomorrow will be a big statement for our program. I cannot say enough about the coach he has been and a leader for the program.”

The winner of Saturday’s contest will advance to the Sweet 16 for a matchup with the winner of 4-seed UConn and 5-seed St. Mary’s on Thursday or Friday.

Here are details to watch/listen, notes, projected lineups, stats, odds and more for Saturday’s game between Arkansas and Kansas:

~ Arkansas and Kansas have met on 13 previous occasions. The Jayhawks hold an 8–5 advantage in the series.

~ This is the second time that Arkansas has faced Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Then the No. 2 Razorbacks (seeded 2nd) lost 93–81 to then-No. 12 Kansas (#3 seeded) in the 1991 NCAA Elite Eight in Charlotte.

~ Arkansas is coming off a first round win over Illinois. This is the first time since 1996, ’95 and ’94 that the Razorbacks have won three straight NCAA openers.

~ For the third straight year, Arkansas will face the 1 seed. Prior to this, Arkansas lost to 1st seed (#3 ranked) Baylor in the 2021 Elite 8 and defeated 1st seed Gonzaga in the 2022 Sweet 16.

~ Ricky Council recorded his first double-double as a Razorback and third for his career in Thursday’s win over Illinois. He had 16 points (11-of-12 at the free throw line) and pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds, including eight defensive.

~ Anthony Black is the only player in the SEC to rank in the top 25 in all five major categories (Pts • Rebs • Asts • Stl • Blk). He is third in steals (2.00), fourth in assists (4.06), 18th in points (12.82), 22nd in rebounds (5.11) and 23rd in blocked shots (0.62).

WHO: 8-seed Arkansas Razorbacks (21-13) vs. 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks (28-7)

When: Saturday, March 18 at 4:15 PM CT

Where: Des Moines, Iowa – Wells Fargo Arena (16,110)

Television: CBS (Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Eli LaForce)

Stream/Online: NCAA Game Center

radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)

Gameday info and how to listen online/mobile: razorback gameday app

Sirius/XM National Broadcast: 136 (Sirius) / 206 (XM) || sxm app: Channel 967

#0 – G Anthony Black – Fr., 6’7″, 198 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 34.7 Min, 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.0 steals, 3.1 turnovers, 0.6 blocks, 46.0 fg%, 30.7 3fg%

#1 – G Ricky Council IV – Jr., 6’6″, 205 lbs.

2022-23 Stats Per Game: 33.9 Min, 16.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.1 turnovers, 0.3 blocks, 44.3 fg%, 27.4 3fg%

#3 – G Nick Smith Jr. – Fr., 6’5″, 185 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 26.5 minutes, 13.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.7 turnovers, 0.1 blocks, 38.1 fg%, 33.3 3fg%

#4 – G Devonte Davis – Jr., 6’4″, 185 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 33.3 minutes, 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.1 turnovers, 0.1 blocks, 41.6 fg%, 34.9 3fg%

#20 – F Kamani Johnson – Sr., 6’7″, 230 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 11.4 minutes, 2.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 turnovers, 0.2 blocks, 50.0 fg%

#3 – G Dajuan Harris Jr. – R-Jr., 6’1″, 175 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 34.2 minutes, 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.9 turnovers, 0.4 blocks, 47.3 fg%, 41.2 3fg%

#4 – Gee Grady Dick – Fr., 6’8″, 205 lbs.

2022-23 Stats Per Game: 32.6 Min, 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.3 turnovers, 0.3 blocks, 41.1 fg%, 39.9 3fg%

#15 – G Kevin McCullers – R-Sr., 6’6″, 210 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 30.7 minutes, 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 2.1 turnovers, 0.7 blocks, 43.5 fg%, 29.5 3fg%

#10 – F Jalen Wilson – R-Jr., 6’8″, 225 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 35.4 minutes, 20.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.4 turnovers, 0.5 blocks, 42.5 fg%, 33.8 3fg%

#24 – F KJ Adams Jr. – So, 6’9″, 270 lbs.

2022-23 Stats per game: 27.3 minutes, 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 turnovers, 0.8 blocks, 63.1 fg%

Vegas: Arkansas is a 4.5-point underdog (BetaSarsen)

ESPN: Arkansas has a 40.4% chance of winning

(Some information courtesy of Arkansas and Kansas Communications)

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