The March Madness thrill is electrifying! Everyone expected St. John’s to make it to the second round but their opponents? Not so much. John Calipari’s Razorbacks defied all odds against Kansas as they forced their way to the Round of 32. With Boogie Fland coming back from injury, and a lot of momentum behind them, the Hogs might cause some real issues for Rick Pitino and his team.

On the latest episode of The Field of 68: After Dark, an expanded panel of experts discussed the second-round matchup. Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster, in particular, answered a very important question—does Arkansas stand a chance against the Red Storm? “I think they actually do.” Goodman answered, with Dauster nodding in agreement. “Because now they have confidence, they have a little bit of swagger. And again, it’s not like the St. John’s team, I know they’ve run through the ‘Big East’, but this isn’t the BIG EAST!” 

Goodman raised an excellent point about conferences. The Red Storm absolutely dominated the Big East, winning the regular season championship and the conference title. However, 14 teams made it to the Tournament from the SEC. It’s a different game out there, and Arkansas mustered up a bit of a comeback at the end even without their two star players.

But what about the talent pool? Rick Pitino is known for making something out of nothing, turning whatever team he touches into gold. All St. John’s have is a couple of four-star recruits, and not much else. According to Goodman, the disparity isn’t too major, but Dauster pointed out how the experience gap is too large even without the talent.

Not only that, he posed an important question to his co-hosts. “When I look at this Arkansas team, I just think about what would happen if you gave Rick Pitino the talent that they have and what they can do.” Pitino’s team will need to put everything they have into this game if they want to make the Sweet 16. While Arkansas might have a larger talent pool, the Red Storm has amazing chemistry and co-ordination.

However, Rick Pitino’s problems only seem to be increasing. A potential injury update might overhaul the Hogs, enabling them to leave the Red Storm in the dust. But what exactly is the good news for Arkansas? Let’s find out!

A Razorbacks star eyes potential comeback against Rick Pitino

Arkansas basketball got a sudden shot in the arm with the return of five-star prospect Boogie Fland. The six-foot-two guard had been out with a thumb injury, but his comeback was everything Hogs supporters could have asked for and more! While Fland did not record outstanding numbers, his energy and efficiency on the court was a positive sign for the Razorbacks.

And the better news is that it seems like Adou Thiero might be making his comeback for Arkansas! The six-foot-eight forward was crucial in the Hogs’ journey to the Big Dance, as he averaged nearly 16 points and 6 rebounds a game. Unfortunately for Calipari and his team, the forward has been out with a knee injury for quite a while now.

Jon Rothstein reported that the Razorbacks wing might be fit to play against St. John’s on Saturday. “Arkansas’ Adou Thiero (knee) might play on Saturday in the Round of 32 against St. John’s if he practices today, per John Calipari.” He posted on X, much to the delight of Arkansas fans.

If Thiero comes back, Arkansas’ rebounding and defense would improve drastically. His return would be a real punch in the gut for Rick Pitino, as the Razorbacks are already a talented team. With Adou? They’re gonna be a force to reckon with. However, there have been no official confirmations of his return.

Elimination tournaments are always fun to watch. Regardless of how talented a team is, they always give it their 100%. There’s no doubt that Arkansas vs St. John’s will be an exciting matchup with all the narratives in the air. Will John Calipari make a huge upset? Or will Pitino follow through for a shot at his third national title? Only time will tell.