Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. is playing like the one-and-done he was supposed to be. Fifth-year senior forward Trevon Brazile seemingly saved the best for last.
Acuff and Brazile have been the main drivers of the No. 14 Razorbacks’ fast start as they prepare to face No. 8 Houston in the Never Forget Tribute Classic on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
Arkansas (9-2) has won four straight, including wins over then-No. 6 Louisville and then-No. 16Texas Technology. The Cougars (10-1) have won four straight since a 76-73 loss to then-No. 17 Tennessee in Las Vegas.
“We can all score,” Acuff said after Tuesday’s 108-80 win over Queens. “Different game, different people, and that’s how we play.”
Acuff recorded a career-high 23 points and matched career highs with 10 assists and four 3-pointers with no turnovers against Queens. He was the first Razorback in the last 30 seasons to total at least 23 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in the same game, according to HogStats.com.
“When you have a guy who scores the ball at will and is a willing passer, you can’t really ask for more from a point guard,” said teammate Nick Pringle, who had 14 points and seven rebounds against Queens.
“His ability to hit shots and go downhill and get everyone involved is special, honestly. It’s all contagious. It makes us all want to play together and we do, and it’s exciting.”
Acuff had two double-doubles during the Razorbacks’ winning streak, during which he averaged 18.5 points and nine assists.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson noticed.
“Elite talent,” Sampson said of Acuff. “Elite basketball IQ. Elite passer. Tough. He makes everything look easy. He gets shots from guys. He knows when to go for it. He knows when to change speeds. The biggest separator for him is his ability to make threes. A lot of point guards can do everything except shoot. He does it all.”
Brazile, a 6-foot-9 forward, has career-high averages with 15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds and has become a perimeter threat. He made a career-high five 3-pointers against Queens after scoring four against Texas Tech.
Arkansas has scored 100 points three times this season for the first time since 2020-21. The Razorbacks are averaging 89.9 points per game and their 22.7 fast break points rank second in Division I.
Sampson’s teams in Houston are designed to counter that. His group allowed an average of 57.7 points per game, third lowest in Division I, and held opponents to 37.1 shots from the field.
The Cougars, who haven’t played since a 99-57 win over New Orleans on Dec. 13, haven’t given up 100 points since a 104-83 loss to UCF on March 7, 2014 — before Sampson’s tenure.
Houston guards Emanuel Sharp (17.2 points) and Milos Uzan (11.2 points, 5.1 assists) and forward Joseph Tugler (23 blocked shots) are complemented by two freshmen, guard Kingston Flemings (14.8 points, 4.9 assists) and center Chris Cenac Jr. (9.5 points, 7.5 rebounds). Cenac is likely to get the defensive assignment over Brazile.
Uzan had 10 assists with no turnovers against New Orleans, while the Cougars had 23 assists on 32 field goals.
“Milos is so comfortable with it,” Sampson said. “He doesn’t care about his stats. Other people might, but he sure doesn’t care.”
–Field level media
