Predictions and quick analysis ahead of Arkansas vs. Kansas basketball scrimmage

The No. 1 Kansas basketball team will enter a sold-out Bud Walton Arena tonight in Fayetteville when the Jayhawks and No. 16 Arkansas Razorbacks face off in a charity scrimmage. It is the first unofficial game of each team’s season, and although it will not count toward final records, the atmosphere will be intense.

Not too familiar with Arkansas? We’ve got you covered with a quick analysis of the Razorbacks’ roster and how KU matches up with them.

These are not the teams fans will see come the regular season

Win, lose, or draw, fans of either squad probably shouldn’t put too much stock into the exhibition. That’s because the lineups that each coach plans to utilize will look nothing like those in the regular season. 

Hunter Dickinson, the preseason Big 12 POY and a Consensus First Team All-American last year, is expected to be sidelined due to a foot sprain. Meanwhile, Alabama transfer Rylan Griffen is ‘doubtful’ with a hip flexor strain. 

On Arkansas’ end, projected staters such as Johnell Davis and Adou Thiero aren’t expected to suit up. Davis is a super-senior who averaged 18.2 PPG at FAU in 2023-24. Thiero is a 6-7 athletic forward who followed Coach Cal from Kentucky.

Ultimately, the Jayhawks are only as good as Dickinson is when he is on the floor. They will look like a completely different team in his absence, which could be a good thing for Coach Self if he wants to experiment with new lineups. That being said, it might not result in the prettiest brand of basketball you’ve ever watched.

How can Kansas steal a road win?

If KU is going to somehow escape with a victory, it must play clean, turnover-free basketball. Kansas needs to get high percentage looks up from beyond the arc. Without a clear-cut No. 1 scorer, things could get sloppy on the offensive end.

Kansas must contain Jonas Aidoo, an All-SEC player at Tennessee last year, in the paint. Doing so without Dickinson will certainly be a challenge. Freshman phenom Flory Bidunga is a solid rim protector, but Aidoo has the upper edge on him given his experience and size. Coach Cal will also give minutes to Zvonimir “Big Z” Ivišić, a 7-2 freak with massive potential. 

Other Razorbacks to watch are Trevon Brazile, Boogie Fland, and DJ Wagner. Expect Jayhawks forward KJ Adams to have a significant role in this contest. He’ll be cutting often to catch the defense sleeping, and the Jayhawks will look to get him the ball inside.

All the momentum will be on Arkansas’ side from the homecourt advantage, and the Jayhawks are simply too thin on depth right now. Don’t expect Coach Self to show his cards during a scrimmage that means nothing in the long run, especially against a team that could match up with them again in the postseason.

Final Score Prediction: 76-68, Arkansas