Have the Razorbacks found their groove again? John Calipari’s Arkansas team finally snapped a five-game losing streak with a crucial victory against Georgia. Much to the delight of a packed Razorback crowd, the timing couldn’t have been better, as the win injected fresh energy into the fanbase. Adding to the optimism, a former walk-on basketball player shared a positive perspective on the team’s direction, helping to restore faith in Calipari’s leadership.

In the latest episode of Mark Titus’ show, Mark mentioned; “The one good thing about Arkansas is that they have a lot of individually talented guards. That theoretically, if they were on other teams could put up monster numbers, but they’re all on one team, and the pieces haven’t really fit perfectly together this year. So maybe you remove, yes Boogie Fland is probably their best player, you remove him, it feels like they’re gonna be in a disaster situation.” 

Arkansas boasts one of the strongest backcourts in the SEC, but not all five talented guards can share the court at once. Among them, Boogie Fland stands out, he continues to set himself apart from the pack. The freshman averages 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, tied 32nd nationally. However, after undergoing thumb surgery, his availability for the remainder of the season remains uncertain.

“I don’t know if I believe this, maybe the pieces will fit better now, not to say it’s Boogie Fland’s fault, but it’s that you have DJ Wagner, and Johnell Davis, and Adou Thiero who’s their leading scorer, maybe those three guys, their role step up and it actually works a little better and Calipari doesn’t have to figure out where the ball has to go on any possession”

In Boogie Fland’s absence, the trio of DJ Wagner, Johnell Davis, and Adou Thiero stepped up, combining for 34 points in a hard-fought 68-65 victory against Georgia. Their ability to share the scoring load has brought more fluidity to the offense, reducing the reliance on a single player and allowing the team to play a more balanced and unpredictable style.

Adou Thiero has been leading the team in scoring with an impressive 16.4 points per game, surpassing Fland, who ranks second. This collective effort has eased Calipari’s play-calling as the offense naturally finds its rhythm with multiple contributors stepping up, with Calipari finally returning to the win column in the SEC, their next challenge awaits as they go head-to-head against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma and Arkansas battle for crucial SEC win

The Oklahoma Sooners and Arkansas Razorbacks took similar paths to their first Southeastern Conference wins, and now they’re set to face off on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark. Both teams hope their hard work in practice will help them move past early SEC struggles.

Oklahoma (14-4, 1-4 SEC), in its first season in the conference, hasn’t played since a dominant 82-62 victory over South Carolina on January 18. The Sooners, led by Jalon Moore’s standout performances, are eager to carry that momentum into a crucial matchup against an Arkansas team fresh off its first SEC win.

With the Razorbacks missing key players, including point guard Boogie Fland, Oklahoma plans to exploit Arkansas’ defensive weaknesses, particularly their struggles in guarding the three-point line.

Much like Oklahoma, Arkansas has just one SEC win, sitting at 1-5 in the conference. The Razorbacks are in desperate need of a turnaround. Coach John Calipari, once known for deep NCAA Tournament runs at Kentucky, has yet to recapture that form.

His last Elite Eight appearance was in 2019, and his teams no longer strike fear in their opponents. Like Oklahoma, Arkansas must find a way to string together wins and push closer to a .500 record in SEC play if they hope to turn their season around.

While the Razorbacks still have plenty of work ahead, their recent win against Georgia showed a more balanced and collective effort, which could be the spark they need for a turnaround under Calipari. This upcoming game is more than just a chance to improve their record—it’s an opportunity to build the confidence and momentum they’ll need to navigate the rest of the season and unlock their full potential. It could be the beginning of something special for Arkansas if they can keep pushing forward together.