Bob Huggins, no stranger to facing strong foes, is set to encounter another one in this season’s Big 12/SEC Challenge.
The Arkansas Razorbacks, coming off of an Elite Eight run, are set to host West Virginia on Jan. 29, 2022, the first matchup between the two teams since 2007 and only the second matchup all time.
Led by former NBA head coach Eric Musselman, Arkansas finished last season with a 25-7 overall record, ending the year ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll.
Moses Moody, the team’s leading scorer from a season ago, is gone, but the Razorbacks’ offense appears, on paper, to still be a threat.
Despite only returning two of the team’s top five scorers from last season, Arkansas has been an active participant in the transfer market, bringing in four new players — including three former four-star recruits.
Arguably the most important to Arkansas’ national championship hopes this season is Chris Lykes, a former Miami guard who has developed into one of the ACC’s most prolific scorers over his collegiate career.
In each of the last two seasons, Lykes averaged more than 15 points per game. During his sophomore season, he averaged a team-high 16.4 points per game.
Au’Diese Toney, a Pitt transfer who averaged 14.4 points per game in 16 appearances last season, also relocated to Fayetteville. His previously-shown scoring ability would also place him among the Razorbacks’ top offensive players.
Around the rim, the Razorbacks have padded their depth. Justin Smith, the team’s leading rebounder from a season ago, is gone, leaving guard Davonte Davis and 7-foot-3 forward Connor Vanover to man the spot. The addition of Texas A&M transfer Jaylin Williams, who is 6-foot-10, aids this position.
Despite the roster overhaul that Arkansas has seen, they still pose a chance to win this game, especially considering West Virginia’s struggles against SEC opponents in recent years.
Last season, hosting Florida, the Mountaineers narrowly lost 85-80. The year prior a 7-0 WVU squad was handed its first loss of the season against St. John’s, 80-78.
West Virginia has not won a game in the competition since 2016-17 and has only won once since it began in the 2013-14 season.
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