Primetime at the Palace scheduled for Oct. 12

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas basketball teams will host Primetime at the Palace on Friday, Oct. 12, officially tipping off the 2012-13 basketball seasons.

The event, which is free to the public, is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena and will include an autograph session, short practices by both the Razorback men’s and women’s teams, performances by the Arkansas Spirit Squads and a dunk contest with celebrity judges.  Members of the both basketball squads will begin signing autographs at 8 p.m., when the doors to the arena open.  The first 1,500 fans to the arena will receive a Primetime at the Palace t-shirt courtesy of Pepsi and 5,000 fans will receive a Razorback basketball desk schedule.

Primetime at the Palace will also serve as a collection point for food items to benefit the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry.  A student-run emergency food assistance program that distributes food and personal products to all members of the University of Arkansas community.  All patrons are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation and collection bins will be located at each entrance to the arena.

The Razorback men are coming off a successful summer trip to Italy in which Head Coach Mike Anderson’s “Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball” style led Arkansas to a 4-0 record against teams from Italy and Lithuania.  The Razorbacks return 67 percent of their scoring from a year ago including the SEC’s leading scorer among freshmen, BJ Young, and the SEC leader in three-point percentage, Mardracus Wade.  Added to this year’s squad are junior Marshawn Powell who missed all but two games a year ago with an injury and eight players who are either new to the team or coming off a redshirt season.

Arkansas’ women’s team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago and return a pair of starters to the floor in senior Sarah Watkins and junior Dominique Robinson.  The Razorback’s experience does not end there as seven other letterwinners return and are joined by a talented class of freshmen who have the ability to make an immediate impact.

In addition to Primetime at the Palace, Razorback fans can begin a full evening of Arkansas athletic activities at the Razorback soccer game or volleyball match. Both events are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.