Texas basketball's (16-11, 5-9 SEC) tough double-digit road loss this past Saturday to the South Carolina Gamecocks (11-17, 1-14 SEC) showed a lack of intensity in a big conference game in the SEC for head coach Rodney Terry's squad in the first half.
The Longhorns were outmatched physically in the paint by forward Collin Murray-Boyles and the Gamecocks last weekend in Columbia. Terry said in his press conference this week that Texas has to emphasize more physicality and effort in the tough areas of the floor in the paint.
"Against South Carolina, we knew that they were a physical team and I think you have to have that mindset to be able to go into those games and being compete at that level."Rodney Terry
Terry and the Longhorns face a tough test on the road on Wednesday night against the rival Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville. This is the second of two meetings between the Longhorns and Razorbacks in SEC play this regular season, after Arkansas defeated Texas 78-70 in Austin a few weeks ago.
Here's a look at the TV/streaming information, game time, betting odds, and game prediction for Texas vs. Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, AR, on Feb. 26.
How to watch Texas basketball vs. Arkansas
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio/Audio Stream: Longhorn Radio Network/Sirius XM 392
Game time: 8 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tom Hart and Ron Slay are on the call for the Texas-Arkansas matchup tonight in Fayetteville on ESPN2.
Craig Way and Eddie Oran will be on the radio broadcast on Longhorn Radio Network.
Texas basketball vs. Arkansas betting odds
Texas is a 3.5-point underdog against Arkansas in Fayetteville on Feb. 26 (per FanDuel). The over/under is 147.5 points.
Arkansas is favored in the moneyline (-162) over Texas (+134).
Texas is 13-13-1 against the spread this season (per TeamRankings). Arkansas is 11-16-0 against the spread.
Texas vs. Arkansas prediction
Texas has gotten healthier over the past couple of weeks after getting a full seven days off last week. Senior forward Arthur Kaluma returned to the starting lineup for the Longhorns after missing two games against South Carolina this past Saturday.
The latest SEC injury report lists junior guard Chendall Weaver with a status of "out" for the Longhorns against Arkansas.
Arkansas and head coach John Calipari are missing freshman guard Boogie Fland and junior wing Adou Thiero due to various injuries. Fland is out for the season with a hand injury.
Texas must be able to contain guards Johnell Davis and DJ Wagner, who combined for 35 points in Arkansas' impressive 92-85 win last Saturday vs. No. 15 Mizzou at home.
Freshman guard Tre Johnson scored a game-high 29 points in Texas's loss to South Carolina this past Saturday. Johnson needs more scoring support from the Longhorns' other capable offensive playmakers, including Kaluma and senior guard Tramon Mark. He was the only Longhorns player who scored in double figures in the loss to the Gamecocks.