Kentucky Comes to Bud Walton

The University of Arkansas basketball team hopes to rebound from a pair of tough road losses on Saturday afternoon, Mar. 2, in front of a sell out crowd when it hosts the Kentucky Wildcats at Bud Walton Arena at 3 p.m.

The first 10,000 fans at the game will receive a rally towel and the entire crowd will be entertained by the amazing feats of Quick Change during halftime.

Arkansas (17-11, 8-7 SEC) rallied from a 22-point hole against LSU on the road to get within a bucket, but time ran out before the Razorbacks could grab the lead.  Junior Marshawn Powell scored 17 points in the contest including 12 in the second half as he led the comeback with dribble penetration from the perimeter.  The Razorbacks also got a very good performance from junior Mardracus Wade who sank 15 points, the most he’s had in a game since late December, and three three-point baskets.

The Razorbacks put a 12-game home winning streak on the line against the Wildcats on Saturday and have not lost a conference game at home since the 2011-12 season.  Arkansas is an astounding 32-4 at Bud Walton Arena during Mike Anderson’s tenure and have four wins over ranked teams at “The Basketball Palace of Mid-America.”

Kentucky (20-8, 11-4 SEC) is beginning to hit its stride after the loss of the nation’s leading shot blocker and have won each of its last three games.  Interestingly, all three were at home and the Wildcats have yet to win a road game without their best player.  Five healthy Kentucky players average double digit scoring and as a team the Wildcats are shooting 48 percent from the field.  Kentucky can get a little loose with the ball and have a negative turnover margin.

Kentucky leads the all-time series, 25-8, but the Razorbacks have had success against the Wildcats at home with four wins at Bud Walton Arena including one on Kentucky’s last visit to Fayetteville.

The Razorback game against Kentucky will be broadcast on the radio across the Razorback Sports Network from IMG College with Chuck Barrett and Rick Schaeffer giving the call.  The game will also be carried live on CBS with Brian Anderson and Dan Bonner on air.

Looking ahead, the Razorbacks travel to Columbia, Mo., to face Missouri on Tuesday, Mar. 5, at 6 p.m.