Fayetteville, (AR.) — with only 3 quad-one wins to show the selection committee, Arkansas had 3 chances to gain another one in its last three games. A poor second half against Alabama and a blowout loss to Tennessee meant that the game against the Wildcats would be Arkansas’s last shot before the SEC tournament to boost its resume.
Arkansas started things off with a 3-point jumper by Nick Smit Jr. Kentucky was without a point guard as Cason Wallace would miss the game due to an injury, but that didn’t stop the Wildcats. Kentucky answered quickly with 2 made free throws and a 2-point jumper on back-to-back possessions to take the lead.