Arkansas returns to Dallas this weekend for another marquee neutral-site matchup, facing Texas Tech on Dec. 13 in a rematch of last season’s NCAA Sweet 16 showdown.
Tipoff is set for 11 at American Airlines Center, with the game televised on ESPN2. The matchup has been dubbed the “Revocruit Rematch,” a nod to last year’s postseason meeting that ended with a Texas Tech overtime win.
The Razorbacks and Red Raiders, former Southwest Conference rivals, have met 81 times, with Texas Tech holding a slim 41-40 series advantage. Despite that edge, Arkansas has won 10 of the last 14 meetings, including a victory over the Red Raiders in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech answered last season by knocking Arkansas out in the Sweet 16.
Texas Tech leads the neutral-site series 7-5 and owns a 3-1 advantage in games played in Dallas. Arkansas’ lone win at American Airlines Center came in the 2005 O’Reilly Christmas Classic, a 78-65 Razorbacks victory. The other Dallas meetings occurred during Southwest Conference tournaments in Moody Coliseum and Reunion Arena.
Overall, Arkansas is 24-14 all-time in Dallas, bolstered by four Southwest Conference tournament championships won in Reunion Arena between 1982 and 1991. The Razorbacks are 2-3 at American Airlines Center. Head coach John Calipari is 2-1 all-time at the venue.
Individually, Arkansas has received strong early-season contributions from several key players. Sophomore Karter Knox leads the team in 3-point shooting at 50 percent and free-throw shooting while ranking second in rebounding at 5.5 per game. Knox has recorded the first two double-doubles of his career in nine games this season.
Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. has also surged, totaling 18 assists over the last two games. That stretch moved him to 41st nationally in assists per game and second in the SEC. Acuff ranks second among NCAA freshmen in assists and seventh in scoring at 17.4 points per game.
Arkansas enters the matchup riding momentum, climbing from 45th to 23rd in the NCAA NET rankings following its last two victories.
After the trip to Dallas, the Razorbacks return home to Bud Walton Arena to host Queens on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Tipoff is scheduled for 8, with the game airing on SEC Network.
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