We recap Arkansas' 0-2 showing at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, plus our first impressions of the field for the Fayetteville Regional. Game recaps from Hoover and plenty of thoughts on the NCAA Tournament ahead of the regional round.

There was no YouTube version of today's episode due to technical difficulties. You can still download it on your favorite podcast provider, including Apple and Spotify.

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From @KylerSwaim


The 2023 Minor League Baseball season is a month old and one former Razorback — Dominic Fletcher — has already made his debut in The Show. There are 29 former Razorbacks currently minors looking to make their mark in the big leagues.

With nine former players on Major League rosters, who will be the next to make the jump? Well, there are five players that have compelling arguments:

​

Heston Kjerstad, OF, Bowie Baysox (AA - Baltimore Orioles)​

After missing the 2021 season with myocarditis, Heston Kjerstad has skyrocketed through the Orioles system with quick stops at Single-A Delmarva and High-A Aberdeen. He is currently with Double-A Bowie and has offensive numbers rivaling his shortened 2020 season in Arkansas.

The former No. 2 overall pick is starting to show why he was selected so high and why he can play anywhere on the field, with starts at first base, left field and right field in 2023.

Kjerstad was named the Orioles Minor League Player of the Month for slashing .284/.392/.612 with six home runs in the month of April. He is ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the Orioles system.

2023 Stats: 26 games, 102 AB, .294 BA, 30 H, .385 OBP, 9 HR

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Grant Koch, C, Indianapolis Indians (AAA - Pittsburgh Pirates)​

Koch spent the first month of the season with the Indianapolis Indians and quickly climbed through the Pirates' A and AA teams in Bradenton, Florida, and Altoona, Pennsylvania, respectively, in 2022. Koch’s appearances at catcher for the Indians have been few and far between, as he has played in just 13 of the 32 games this season, splitting time behind the plate with Endy Rodriguez. Most of Koch’s early 2023 numbers offensively are career highs through his first four seasons.

2023 stats: 13 games, 35 AB, .257 BA, 9 H, .325 OBP, 1 HR, .990 fielding pct.

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Matt Cronin, LHP, Rochester Red Wings (AAA - Washington Nationals)​

Cronin is one of two former Razorback pitchers playing Triple-A baseball, and he was on the Washington Nationals 40-man roster at the beginning of the season. The Navarre, Florida, native has always been a bullpen arm with zero starts in his time at Arkansas and minor leagues in 163 total appearances. Cronin is ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the Nationals system.

2023 Stats: 10 games, 5.56 ERA, 11 ⅓ IP, 11 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 11 BB, 11 K, 1.94 WHIP

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Barrett Loseke, RHP, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders (AAA - New York Yankees)​

A regular pitcher out of the bullpen for the Razorbacks in 2018, Loseke has done more of the same with the Yankees' minor league teams and spent of all of last season with Double-A Somerset. He opened the 2023 season with a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Batters are hitting just .163 — a career-best — against Loseke so far in this young season.

2023 Stats: 9 games, 1.84 ERA, 14 ⅔ IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 10 BB, 15 K, 1.23 WHIP

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Jake Reindl, RHP, Tennessee Smokies (AA - Chicago Cubs)​

Reindl is a pitcher who has made a slower rise up the ladder than other former Razorbacks and has had a slow start to 2023. It’s not Reindl’s fault, as he has just been bit by the injury bug numerous times in last two years — he has been on the 7-day injured list twice this season already and five times dating back to last year. Reindl only pitched in 12 games last season and six so far in 2022, but he has delivered for the Smokies in his limited time.

2023 Stats: 6 games, 0.93 ERA, 9 ⅔ IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K, 0.83 WHIP

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FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks earned the No. 5 national seed for the 2024 NCAA Tournament and they are set to host a regional in Fayetteville for the 11th time in program history.

This marks the fifth time in the last six seasons that Arkansas has earned a top-8 national seed, which guarantees that the Razorbacks will have home-field advantage during regionals and super regionals. Arkansas finished at No. 5 in the RPI rankings, right behind North Carolina and just ahead of Georgia.

Also included in the Fayetteville Regional is 2-seed Louisiana Tech, 3-seed Kansas State and 4-seed Southeast Missouri State. The regional will start on Friday and go through Monday if necessary. Beginning Friday, Arkansas will take on SEMO and Louisiana Tech will face Kansas State.

The Fayetteville Regional is paired with the Charlottesville Regional, which features Virginia (No. 12 national seed), 2-seed Mississippi State, 3-seed St. John's and 4-seed Penn.

Arkansas (43-14) won the SEC Western Division after going 20-10 in conference play this year. The Diamond Hogs most recently posted an 0-2 record at the SEC Tournament and they were eliminated Thursday by Kentucky, which split a share of the overall SEC regular season championship with Tennessee.

Louisiana Tech (45-17) most recently fell to Dallas Baptist, 17-10, in the Conference USA Tournament championship game. Led by eighth-year head coach Lane Burroughs, the Bulldogs rank seventh nationally in team strikeouts (604).

Former Razorback-turned-two-way star Ethan Bates owns a .343 batting average with 15 home runs and a team-best 74 RBIs at the plate, plus he owns a 3.50 ERA and he leads the nation with 17 saves across 35 appearances on the mound.

Kansas State (32-24) is making its first regional appearance since 2013. The Wildcats went 15-15 in Big 12 conference play before going 1-2 at the Big 12 tournament last week. Led by First Team All Big 12 selection Brady Day, the Wildcats rank 45th in RPI.

Southeast Missouri State (34-25) earned an automatic bid by defeating Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship Saturday. The Razorbacks own an 11-5 all-time record against SEMO and they most recently won a midweek matchup, 12-2, over the Redhawks on March 21, 2023.

Arkansas owns a 68-45 (.602) overall record in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament. The last time Arkansas hosted a regional was in 2023, when the Diamond Hogs beat Santa Clara and Arizona, but were eliminated with two losses to TCU.

The Razorbacks last won a regional during the 2022 season, when they won the Stillwater Regional before making a deep run at the College World Series a couple weeks later.

Arkansas last won a regional in Fayetteville in 2021, when Arkansas went 3-1 with wins over Nebraska and NJIT to advance to the super regional round, which saw NC State eliminate the Razorbacks.

From @RileyMcFerran


The Arkansas Razorbacks (43-14) are set to host the Fayetteville Regional as the No. 5 national seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The first squad the Diamond Hogs will face is the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks, who are the 4-seed in the Fayetteville Regional.

Southeast Missouri State won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament last week as the 2-seed, going 3-1. The Redhawks defeated 3-seed Morehead State 9-6 to secure their sixth OVC conference tournament title since in program history. This also marks Southeast Missouri State's sixth postseason appearance and first since the 2022 season.

Much like the other teams in Arkansas' regional (Louisiana Tech and Kansas State), Southeast Missouri State is relatively close to Fayetteville at 338 miles away. Fans should expect a fun atmosphere according to head coach Dave Van Horn.

"Our regional is a true regional with Louisiana Tech about four or five hours away," Van Horn said on Monday. "SEMO probably five hours away, something like that. I just feel like … And K-State, same thing. Probably 5 and a half maybe. Should be really good crowds.

"I would think the other teams would be able to bring a lot of fans. You just think that anyway. But I don’t know, you never know what’s going to happen this time of the year, who’s hot or who’s not. Who’s hurt, who’s not? Who’s sick, who’s not? Been on both sides of it. So just excited to be back playing here."

Seventh-year head coach Andy Sawyers leads Southeast Missouri State and was once an assistant and player under Van Horn at Nebraska. Former Razorbacks first baseman Trevor Ezell is also part of the Redhawks' coaching staff as an assistant.

An offensive coach by heart, Sawyers helped lead the Kansas State Wildcats to high levels of success as an Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. In his time as an assistant (2009-10), the Wildcats finished with an 80-30-1 record and the first two NCAA Regional appearances in school history.

"Yeah, you know, Lane (Burroughs) and Andy, both really good people," Van Horn said. "Not only outstanding coaches, but good human beings and good dads. It’s been fun watching those guys’ careers grow. We’ve played against them a few times. Just happy that they’re having success. Not excited about having to play them. Just happy for them and their families and their baseball programs."

This season, Sawyer's squad led the OVC with a .972 team fielding percentage and they ranked second in the conference with a batting average of .292.

The Redhawks ranked third in the OVC with a team earned run average of 5.72 and they ranked second in home runs (100) and runs scored (457).

Southeast Missouri State will enter the postseason winners of 12 of its last 14 games dating back to May 3. The 34 wins so far this season are the most since the 2022 campaign, when the team won 37.

Notable wins for the Redhawks include a midweek victory over Missouri on Feb. 27 (8-3) and a midweek win against Missouri State on May 7 (5-3).

Two players were named first team All-OVC — outfielder Josh Cameron and RHP Kyle Miller. Utility Ty Strauss, short stop Ben Palmer and second baseman Brooks Kettering were all-conference second team members.

Arkansas and Southeast Missouri State will play the first game of the Fayetteville Regional on Friday at 2 p.m. CT at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville. The game will be streamed live on ESPN Plus.

Below is a comparison of the Arkansas and Southeast Missouri State's metrics and stats, as well as a look the projected starting lineup and noteworthy pitchers for the Redhawks...

Team Metrics Comparison


Team Stats Comparison

SEMO Projected Starting Lineup (based on 5/25 lineup)​

1. 2B Brooks Kettering — Freshman, L/R, 5'11", 175 pounds

2024 stats: 236 AB, 63 R, 72 H, 12 2B, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 39 BB, 51 K, 8 SB,
.305/.425/.458

2. SS Ben Palmer — Senior, R/R, 6'3", 180 pounds

2024 stats: 221 AB, 51 R, 63 H, 10 2B, 1 3B, 17 HR, 48 RBI, 37 BB, 51 K, 9 SB,
.285/.412/.570

3. DH Ty Stauss — Senior, L/R, 5'10", 190 pounds

2024 stats: 200 AB, 45 R, 64 H, 17 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 36 BB, 46 K, 2 SB,
.320/.435/.535

4. RF Josh Cameron — Senior, R/L, 6'4", 195 pounds

2024 stats: 219 AB, 47 R, 67 H, 19 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 23 BB, 65 K, 6 SB,
.306/.393/.571

5. LF Keoni Coloma — Junior, L/R, 5'11", 185 pounds

2024 stats: 102 AB, 25 R, 31 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 15 BB, 24 K, 5 SB,
.304/.424/.490

6. 1B Bryce Cannon — Junior, L/L, 6'3", 200 pounds

2024 stats: 189 AB, 43 R, 51 H, 17 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 50 RBI, 30 BB, 58 K, 5 SB,
.270/.373/.577

7. CF Ian Riley — Senior, L/R, 6'1", 185 pounds

2024 stats: 29 AB, 10 R, 6 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 8 K
.207/.361/.621

8. 3B Chance Resetich — Senior, R/R, 5'11", 185 pounds

2024 stats: 91 AB, 16 R, 22 H, 5 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB, 23 K, 2 SB,
.242/.349/.330

9. C Nolan Ackerman — Senior, R/R, 6'0", 205 pounds

2024 stats: 70 AB, 9 R, 20 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 5 BB, 9 K, 1 SB,
.286/.354/.400

​

SEMO Noteworthy Pitchers​

LHP Haden Dow — Senior, 6'1", 200 pounds

2024 stats: 17 APP, 16 GS, 4-2 W/L, 77.1 IP, 81 H, 44 R, 42 ER, 30 BB, 57 K, 4.89 ERA

RHP Sam Heyman — Sophomore, 6'2", 180 pounds

2024 stats: 14 APP, 13 GS, 5-3 W/L, 54.2 IP, 67 H, 37 R, 33 ER, 21 BB, 34 K, 5.43 ERA

RHP Brian Strange — Junior, 6'1", 200 pounds

2024 stats: 15 APP, 15 GS, 4-2 W/L, 70.2 IP, 75 H, 47 R, 47 ER, 35 BB, 52 K, 5.99 ERA

LHP Logan Katen — Senior, 6'0", 170 pounds

2024 stats: 19 APP, 0 GS, 2-0 W/L, 1 SV, 33.2 IP, 31 H, 16 R, 12 ER, 18 BB, 33 K, 3.21 ERA

RHP Payton Lawrence — Senior, 6'3", 180 pounds

2024 stats: 21 APP, 6 GS, 2-1 W/L, 1 SV, 41.0 IP, 40 H, 26 R, 19 ER, 16 BB, 50 K, 4.17 ERA

RHP Kyle Miller — Senior, 6'2", 210 pounds

2024 stats: 20 APP, 0 GS, 4-3 W/L, 7 SV, 27.2 IP, 22 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 8 BB, 35 K, 4.88 ERA

RHP Collin Wilma — Senior, 6'4", 190 pounds

2024 stats: 20 APP, 4 GS, 3-3 W/L, 3 SV, 51.2 IP, 51 H, 33 R, 31 ER, 18 BB, 44 K, 5.40 ERA

LHP Alex Hayes — Junior, 6'2", 215 pounds

2024 stats: 21 APP, 2 GS, 3-2 W/L, 1 SV, 35.2 IP, 43 H, 27 R, 26 ER, 13 BB, 36 K, 6.56 ERA

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June 21-23. Hogs offered in January and he took a one-day visit to watch practice on March 29.

Going to LSU the weekend before Arkansas.

Texas-based guard Kayden Edwards is on the verge of moving into the top 100 in the 2025 Rivals150 on the back of an impressive spring that has garnered additional offers and added attention. The Duncanville High School star is nowhere near a commitment, however, as he’s just now starting to kick around the idea of official visits.

Rivals recently caught up with Edwards to discuss where things stand in relation to his impending college choice and which schools are pursuing him hardest.

ON SCHOOLS IN CONTACT AS OF LATE:

“I talked to coach [Ronnie] Brewer at Arkansas. He’s still there (under the new staff) and has told me they still want me there. I talked to coach [Tony] Benford at TCU. I talked to the new staff at Oklahoma State when they were at one of my practices awhile back. Also, the new staff at SMU.”

ON VISITS HE KNOWS HE WANTS TO TAKE:

“I haven’t set anything up yet, but I know I'll be going to TCU for one because it’s right down the street and all that.”

ON TCU:

“It’s all love over there. Win or lose, at TCU I know they care about me and their players as individuals – as people. They let their dogs play and shoot the ball really well, and that’s what I do”

ON WHAT HE’S LOOKING FOR IN A COLLEGE:

“I want something that is more than basketball but also a place that is getting me ready for the highest level – the NBA. I want a place that can prepare me for my dream.”

ON HOW HE DETERMINES WHICH SCHOOLS WILL BEST PREPARE HIM FOR THE NBA:

“I look at the plans they have – workout plans. I want them to know what’s good for me and my body, Also, if the coaches have put anyone in the league. I know it’s a lot to look into.”

ON HOW HE DESCRIBES HIS GAME:

“Quick, fast, electric three-level scorer. I finish at the rim and can score over guys.”

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RIVALS' REACTION​

Creighton and USC have both offered Edwards in the time since the above interview was conducted and both seem to have the juice to be players in the four-star’s recruitment should they decide to press.

That said, TCU will likely be involved until the end based on proximity and a strong bond. The picture of Edwards’ recruitment won’t truly clear until he begins to take official visits later this summer or in the fall.

we had the question as "who do we like the best" so, let's hear whom you may not like so well?

I know this day is meaningful for much more important reasons but I'd be lying if I said my main event of the day is the selection show.

We didn't get to go through this in basketball in March for the first time in quite a while.

I want to see what the matchups will be this week and potential super regional matchup.
Can we start Bybee game one? Can we go 3-0 and avoid that potential elimination game?

I want so badly to have that super regional at home with a celebration at the end to send this team to Omaha. Haven't had that since 2019 vs Ole Miss.

LETS GO!

The Arkansas baseball team will host its sixth NCAA Regional of the last seven postseason tournaments this weekend thanks to a team culture that drives a well-oiled machine of consistency under head coach Dave Van Horn.

After finishing with a 43-14 (20-10 SEC) record, the Razorbacks received the fifth overall seed in the field of 64 for the NCAA Tournament that starts on Friday. Joining Arkansas is 2-seed Louisiana Tech, 3-seed Kansas State and 4-seed Southeast Missouri State. Arkansas also hosted a regional at Baum Walker-Stadium during the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 NCAA Tournaments.

"A few things are involved there," Van Horn said on Monday. "Obviously we have good players that care about winning and they take care of business. They find a way to show up every day mentally, even if they’re not feeling great or whatever. They’re humans, it’s just the way it is."

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It's not uncommon to see programs falter after having great seasons. Mississippi State (2021), Ole Miss (2022) and LSU (2023) all missed the NCAA Tournament or had underperforming regular seasons the year after they won the national championship, after all. The Diamond Hogs have yet to reach the pinnacle of college baseball, but it's hard to imagine them falling off a cliff like others have. Year after year, the Razorbacks find themselves in position to make a deep run to Omaha.

"I think the coaches do a great job of preparing their guys mentally to play," Van Horn said. "I think it’s a little bit of our culture that’s gone on for years, as far as the way we do things here, what’s expected. It all adds up. Because you look around, there’s a handful of teams that have done it, but it’s hard to do and it’s hard to be consistent, especially these days with kids being able to jump around, coaches jumping around.

"We’ve done a good job of keeping our staff together and I think the players, they can see the coaches all like each other and that we get along, we hang out a little bit away from the ballpark. It just all adds up. The kids are maybe a little bit more comfortable early. I think it’s helped us over the years."

Van Horn went on to discuss the advantages and disadvantages that Arkansas faces in its home regional. Of their last six hosting opportunities in Fayetteville, the Hogs have only failed to advance on two occasions (2017, 2023).

"The advantages are you get to sleep in your own bed and your own surroundings that you’re used to and play in front of your own fans when they get loud and maybe help you flip an inning here or there," Van Horn said. "Just knowing your surface and the sun and the wind and all of those things.

"Sometimes a disadvantage about playing at home is there are a lot of distractions. People wanting tickets and getting texts and calls. Media. I mean, there are a lot of things that can distract you when you’re at home."

The Razorbacks will start postseason play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday against Southeast Missouri State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT and it will stream on ESPN+.

Hope everyone is good.

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks are set to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history, the NCAA announced Sunday night.

After posting a 43-14 (20-10 SEC) record this season and earning an SEC Western Division title, the Razorbacks will be hosted their sixth regional since 2017. The full NCAA Tournament Field of 64 seeding and the regional paired with the Fayetteville Regional will be revealed Monday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2.

Arkansas currently sits at No. 5 in the RPI (Rating Percentage Index), which is the primary metric used to measure seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

Based on that, the Razorbacks have a strong shot at earning a top-8 national seed, which would also guarantee that the Hogs will host a super regional if they advance through the regional.

RELATED: Teams that Arkansas could face in NCAA Tournament Regional

Arkansas owns a 68-45 (.602) overall record in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament. The Diamond Hogs hosted a regional last season in Fayetteville, when they beat Santa Clara and Arizona, but were eliminated with two losses against TCU.

Prior to last year's regional, the Razorbacks had won the last three regionals played at Baum-Walker Stadium, including 2018 (3-0 record), 2019 (3-0 record) and 2021 (3-1 record).

Arkansas enters the NCAA Tournament on a three-game losing streak. The Hogs dropped the regular season finale, 14-4, in rule-rule fashion at Texas A&M before they went winless at the SEC Tournament with losses against South Carolina and Kentucky.

ALSO READ: Does SEC Tournament exit predict postseason success for Arkansas?

The Razorbacks last won a regional during the 2022 season — a year they also went 0-2 in the SEC Tournament — when they won the Stillwater Regional before making a deep run at the College World Series a couple of weeks later.

Arkansas will find out Monday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2 what their seed will be and who will be traveling to the Fayetteville Regional. The regional round will begin Friday and run through Monday, May 31, if needed. Super regionals run through June 7-10 and the College World Series will begin Friday, June 14.

The Arkansas baseball team is all but a lock to host its sixth NCAA Tournament Regional of the last seven complete seasons after compiling a 43-14 overall record, but it's anyone's guess who the Razorbacks will face at Baum-Walker Stadium when postseason play starts on May 31.

Teams in the field of 64 are typically positioned based off proximity to other programs, hence the term "regional." Outliers are expected, but fans should expect to see relatively nearby programs in their home regional.

Recent Fayetteville Regional History


Arkansas has been on the opposite end of the stick since the 2018 season, though. As seen above, only TCU (twice) and Nebraska have traveled to the Natural State from the local area. Three west-coast and three northeast teams have journeyed across the country in that same span, which is important to keep in mind when thinking about who could show up in 2024.

HawgBeat takes a look at the potential contenders for the two, three and four-seeds in Arkansas' upcoming regional with notes:

2-Seed Possibilities:​

Texas:

This potential matchup will be the final time both programs play as non-SEC foes. The history here is extensive, and the Longhorns would have Baum-Walker Stadium rocking in Fayetteville.

Record: 35-22 (20-10 Big 12)

Nebraska:

Speaking of history, Arkansas faced Nebraska in a regional during the 2021 postseason. We all remember the Charlie Welch home run right? A rematch with Van Horn's former club is certainly one to watch.

Record: 34-20 (16-8 Big 10)

Louisiana Tech:

A game against Louisiana Tech features a potential Ethan Bates revenge storyline, as Bates transferred from Arkansas after the 2021 season and is one of the best two-way players in the country now for the Bulldogs. The Hogs last faced Lousiana Tech in 2023, a sweep for Arkansas at home.

Louisiana Tech is projected to end up in Arkansas' regional according to the latest update from D1Baseball.

Record: 42-15 (18-6 CUSA)

Dallas Baptist:

The team that no one wants to face in its Regional, Dallas Baptist has a long history of success in the postseason and can mash the baseball. The Patriots rank 22nd in the country in home runs with 104, and are familiar with the Razorbacks after their stay in the Fayetteville Regional in 2018.

Record: 47-16 (25-5 CUSA)

Louisiana:

Hailing from the Sun Belt, Louisiana ranks 21st in ERA (4.32) and 27th in hits (584), making it a dangerous two-seed with the chops needed for an upset.

Record: 40-18 (23-7 Sun Belt)

3-Seed Possibilities:​

Kansas State:

A member of the tournament field bubble after going 1-2 in the Big 12 Tournament, Kansas State has had an up-and-down year after being viewed as a darkhorse Omaha candidate in the preseason. If everything comes together at the right time, the Wildcats could be a Cinderella in the postseason.

Kansas State is the current favorite to end up at Baum-Walker Stadium according to D1Baseball.

Record: 32-24 (15-15 Big 12)

Troy:

The Trojans rank sixth in the nation in runs (510) and first in base on balls (371), so they're built to outscore opponents rather than win 1-0 type games. It would be interesting to see Troy go up against a team like the Hogs, who thrive off low-scoring matchups.

Record: 37-21 (18-12 Sun Belt)

TCU:

Uh oh. Arkansas fans and Hagen Smith have bad memories of what the Horned Frogs did the last time they appeared in a Fayetteville Regional. Last season, TCU defeated the Razorbacks 20-5 and 12-4, respectively, to advance and eventually end up in Omaha.

Record: 33-21 (14-16 Big 12)

California:

Here's the obligatory west-coast flavor everyone was looking for. It's also a familiar name, as the Golden Bears were the two-seed in Arkansas' 2019 Regional.

Record: 36-18 (17-13 Pac-12)

4-Seed Possibilities:​

SEMO:

The home of former Razorback first baseman Trevor Ezell, SEMO is a constant in the NCAA Tournament but has yet to break through. Could Arkansas be its big break? Probably not, as the Redhawks are a solid all-around team that doesn't necessarily thrive in any one area.

Record: 33-24 (18-9 Ohio Valley)

Oral Roberts:

Oral Roberts needs to win its conference tournament to make the field of 64, but they're a program known for giving teams issues. Still, the Golden Eagles rank 108th in ERA (5.60) and 106th in hits (535) so Arkansas would probably enjoy seeing them at Baum-Walker Stadium again after hosting ORU during the regular season.

Record: 26-30-1 (13-15-1 Summit League)

Wright State:

Typically a team you see in Tennessee's Regionals, Wright State can bop with the best of them with their 10th-best scoring offense (9.2 runs per game) and 11th-best home run-hitting offense (111).

Record: 32-24 (20-10 Horizon League)

Pennsylvania:

Champions of the Ivy League Tournament, Penn is on a hot streak and ranked near the top of nearly every statistic in its conference. An honorary northeast team, Penn will likely end up elsewhere but don't count out a showing in Arkansas.

Record: 24-23 (11-10 Ivy League)

The Arkansas football team is no stranger to top-tier tight ends and the Razorbacks could have their next star, as sophomore Luke Hasz is the highest-graded returner at the position in the SEC ahead of the 2024-25 season according to Pro Football Focus.

Coming in with an 89.5 overall receiving grade, Hasz finds himself at the top of the league list in players with a minimum of 200 snaps above names like Oklahoma's Bauer Sharp (75.5), South Carolina's Joshua Simon (72.8), Ole Miss' Dae'quan Wright (72.7), Texas' Amari Niblack (72.0), Tennessee's Holden Staes (70.6), Ole Miss' Caden Prieskorn (70.5), Missouri's Brett Norfleet (70.2), Oklahoma's Jake Roberts (68.7) and Georgia's Benjamin Yurosek (67.8).

For reference, former Georgia standout tight end Brock Bowers finished with a receiving grade of 87.1 last season for the Bulldogs. He was picked 13th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after catching 56 passes for 714 yards and six touchdowns. Pretty good company, no?

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Hasz was named a Freshman All-American by the College Football Network after catching 16 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns in five games for the Hogs last season.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Oklahoma native's season was cut short after suffering a season-ending broken clavicle injury against Texas A&M in Week 5, but the elite pass-catcher is primed for a breakout year after an important offseason.

"I think where he’s improved is his route running," head coach Sam Pittman said on March 8. "He rounded some things off a year ago, I think he’s improved that. I really like what they did in (individuals), Coach (Morgan) Turner did a really good job in indy, they’re playing more physical. If you had a knock on Luke, it would be his run blocking, which I really didn’t. But, he’s gotten better there too. He’s playing with an extremely high amount of confidence."

After adapting to a reworked offense under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, Hasz will be a staple of Arkansas' passing attack and should be a favorite of new quarterback Taylen Green.

"It’s been awesome," Hasz said on March 12. "It’s been really exciting just to learn from (Petrino's) perspective, what he’s going to do with the tight ends and just the offense in general. Having (Var'Keyes Gumms) back and Andreas (Paaske) coming is going to be really good for us. He’s (Petrino) been great and I think he’s going to be really good for us as tight ends and also for the team.

"I like just being able to hear (Green), not even, he’s obviously a leader in the field, but in the locker room he’s very vocal and we’re just talking about each other’s lives. I just think his leadership is tremendous compared to any other quarterback that I’ve had. I just love everything about it."

Hasz and the Hogs will begin fall camp in early August before opening their season against the UAPB Golden Lions on Aug. 29 at War Memorial Stadium.

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Interesting morning at the PGA Championship

Patience is wearing thin for the Arkansas fanbase, as the Razorbacks basketball team still has glaring needs ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft withdrawal date on May 29.

Fret not, as head coach John Calipari is shifting through the shadows behind the scenes to ensure the Hoop Hogs have one of the most competitive rosters in the country during the 2024-25 season.

Arkansas has already made appearances in preseason rankings despite only having seven scholarship players, though it helps when some of those are names like Johnell Davis, Jonas Aidoo and Boogie Fland.

RELATED: Arkansas Basketball 2024-25 Roster Tracker

The latest rumblings seem to indicate that Calipari is focused on adding 1-to-3 more contributors either from the NBA Draft withdrawal pool or the overseas market.

HawgBeat provides a recap with the latest intel, along with best-fit rankings of Arkansas' known priority targets:

No. 1 - F Coleman Hawkins, Illinois​

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Besides an experienced point guard, a forward capable of stretching the floor and initiating some offense is the biggest remaining need for the Razorbacks.

Hawkins is the unequivocal best fit, as the 6-foot-10, 225-pound senior averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season while shooting 45.1% from the field, 36.9% from beyond the arch and 79.2% from the charity stripe.

Still scheduled to meet with NBA teams this week, Hawkins has made it known that his main goal is to stay in the draft and forego his last year of collegiate eligibility. However, he'd likely earn a large NIL payday if he chose to return to college and Arkansas isn't scared of using its resources to get what it wants.

Should Hawkins delay his professional career by another year, Arkansas will be a major contender for his services. North Carolina was another program with interest, though that may me moot after the Tar Heels landed the commitment of transfer forward Ven Allen-Lubin.

No. 2 - PG DJ Wagner, Kentucky​

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Tick tock, Mr. Wagner. After visiting the Razorbacks two weeks ago, Wagner's recruitment has been at an apparent standstill. He hasn't taken any other known visits since then, and the connections to the Arkansas program are too hard to ignore.

In a world where experience and continuity are valuable, Wagner is a crucial piece of the puzzle for the Hogs' roster construction. Without him, Arkansas would have to rely on someone like Fland to lead the way in only his freshman campaign.

For the Wildcats under Calipari last season, Wagner earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman team after averaging 9.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-4, 192-pound transfer shot 40.5% from the field, 29.2% from beyond the arch and 76.6% from the charity stripe.

No. 3 - F Jaylen Wells, Washington State​

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When you think of a true NBA wing prototype player, Wells fits the mold nearly perfectly. Standing at 6-foot-8, 205-pounds, he has the size to hold his own on the perimeter and is a deadly sharpshooter as he made 41.7% of his shots from distance last season.

Wells ranked in the 99th percentile out of spot-up shooting and is the roster piece to elevate a team from darkhorse to a contender. Will an NBA team take a chance on him in the second round? Will he want to turn down massive NIL for a contract that will almost definitely pay him less?

If the answers to those two questions lead him to a college return, expect Arkansas to push for his signature if the Hogs can't land Hawkins.

No. 4 - G Wooga Poplar, Miami​

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Buzz around Poplar's recruitment with Arkansas had gone to the wayside in recent weeks, but a report from Jack Pilgrim of KSR stating that the Miami transfer is expected to visit Arkansas along with Kentucky and Oregon changed that.

A lights-out three-point shooter who has impressed at the G-League Combine, Poplar has been there and done that throughout his collegiate career with Final Four experience and a true scoring mentality.

The only reason Poplar isn't higher on this list is because there can only be one player with the ball in his hands. Assuming Wagner commits and plays the lead guard position and Davis works off the ball, that would leave a lot of mouths to feed if Poplar joined the fold as well.

Still, landing a player that averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in the ACC while shooting 38.5% from beyond the arch is something you can live with.

No. 5 - G Egor Demin, Real Madrid​

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Calipari is no stranger to recruiting overseas, as he already has one foreign player in big man Zvonimir Ivisic on the roster. Real Madrid versatile combo-wing Demin has picked up a lot of steam with the Hogs, and could potentially fit multiple needs at once.

Because of his reported 6-foot-9 size and playmaking abilities, Demin could realistically play anywhere from 1-to-4 on the court if needed. Viewed as a high-end 2025 NBA Draft prospect, Demin recently dropped a 19-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist performance in 28 minutes against Milan in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament.

Illinois was once the perceived favorite to land Demin, but BYU and the Razorbacks are now the two known programs in contention for the do-it-all prospect.

From @DanielFair


The Arkansas Razorbacks currently have six commitments in the fold of their 2025 class, but that number is expected to grow soon as official visits start next week.

These official visits usually last roughly 48 hours, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday morning. They’re different from unofficial visits in that the entire visit is paid for on the school’s dime.

The big official visit weekends start May 31 and run all the way through to June 23, at which point the NCAA will enter a dead period with no in-person contact allowed.

Next weekend's visitors are headlined by two four-star recruits, defensive lineman Kevin Oatis and linebacker Tavion Wallace.

The first group of recruits who will be on campus this weekend features some high-level talent, but isn't as loaded from a numbers standpoint as some of the later weekends.

So far, HawgBeat has confirmed four athletes who will be on Arkansas' campus for official visits next weekend, and there are sure to be more as the weekend gets closer. Stay tuned to HawgBeat for the latest in Arkansas football recruiting.

HawgBeat takes a closer look at the recruits who will be at Arkansas.

Kevin Oatis — Defensive lineman​

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Oatis has had his official visit date set for a while now, as he told HawgBeat on March 14 of his plans to visit Arkansas.

The four-star defensive tackle out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is also being heavily pursued by LSU and Mississippi State, with USC in the mix as well.

In addition to his trip to Arkansas, Oatis has official visits set up for Southern Cal and Mississippi State.

As far as where Arkansas stands, it's going to be an uphill battle, with the main competition believed to be Mississippi State at the moment, but the Hogs have been a constant in his recruitment and defensive line coach Deke Adams has pulled high-profile talent out of the high school ranks before.

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Tavion Wallace — Linebacker​

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Tavion Wallace has a top-five of Georgia, LSU, Arkansas, Florida State and Florida, and will make his decision public on July 15.

The Jesup, Georgia, native is one of the best linebackers in the country in the 2025 class, currently ranked No. 12 at his position nationally by Rivals.

Wallace is not the only standout athlete in his family. His brother Trevin played for Kentucky and was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers in April.

Right now, it's an uphill battle for Arkansas to get his commitment, as Georgia is seen to be a frontrunner. Getting an official visit is huge, but given that it'll be the first of a loaded visit schedule, the Hogs will need to impress to gain some ground on the others in his recruitment.

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Good morning from Hoover. We've got Arkansas baseball today! The Hogs are taking on the 10-seed South Carolina Gamecocks, who eliminated Alabama yesterday. Game preview:


We'll have live inning-by-inning game coverage in this thread, plus full postgame coverage following!

Live stats

Watch on SECN

SC Line Up

South Carolina Starting Pitcher
#14 Eli Jones

AR Line Up

Arkansas Starting Pitcher
#40 Ben Bybee

hell of a game to start. Going heavy on LSU and the over.

Arkansas junior left-hander Mason Molina is done overthinking and ready to reignite in his newfound late-season role for the Razorbacks.

After allowing 17 earned runs across his final six SEC starts, Molina was moved to the bullpen in the Diamond Hogs' final regular season series against Texas A&M and then again in the SEC Tournament against Kentucky.

Molina has combined to toss five scoreless frames with five strikeouts and only one hit allowed in relief, a positive sign for a pitching staff in need of some consistency from its frontliners.

"But it was really good to see Mason pitch well again," head coach Dave Van Horn said on Thursday. "He threw well in relief, Game 2 against A&M, the game we needed to win to wrap up the West. And this is his first outing since, and he matched it again, threw really well."

The recent success has left an interesting question ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Does Arkansas move Molina back into a starting role? The Razorbacks could certainly use him, especially with Brady Tygart's struggles and the lack of serious punch behind Gage Wood. No matter where he's used, Molina will be ready to do his job.

"I'm going to throw where I'm needed," Molina said on Thursday. "That's up for them to decide, and I'm just going to go out there and pitch to the best of my ability wherever they want me. So we haven't talked about it yet, but I'm just going to go out there and throw to the best of my abilities."

Known for throwing too many pitches and being too fine with pitch placement, Molina has fought himself and his command multiple times throughout the year. Based on his latest two outings, it seems he's finally letting his arm take over on the mound.

"I think my command has been much better," Molina said. "I've just been filling up the zone with strikes with all four pitches, just being able to command my fastball, which is a huge part of how I pitch. So that, and the slider getting a little bit harder has really helped me go at hitters."

Switching from a starting role to a bullpen crutch can be a difficult adaptation to make for some pitchers, but Molina has taken it in stride and used the opportunity to let the game come to him.

"I think it was a really good thing for me," Molina said. "It allowed me to reset and not overthink things. So that was something we were talking about over the last weeks, just, you know, I was overthinking things and I was trying to be too fine, and now I really don't have the luxury of thinking.

"It's just kind of get hot, go in the game and let your stuff work. So I think if I end up starting at some point again, whether that's up to them or not, it would be -- I would try to transfer that over as much as I can."

Up next, the Razorbacks will await their postseason destiny ahead of the NCAA Selection Show on Monday. The 64-team bracket will be revealed starting at 11 a.m. CT and it will broadcast on ESPN2.

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The Arkansas Razorbacks only have five football commitments in the class of 2025, but that number should grow in the coming week with official visits starting on May 31.

Three of those official visits are coming out of Parkview High School in Little Rock, a program coming off a perfect 14-0 season capped by a 5A State Championship.

2025 athletes four-star safety Omarion Robinson, three-star quarterback Quentin Murphy and athlete Monterrio Elston posted on X saying that they had locked in their official visit dates.

Robinson is the most highly-regarded athlete coming out of the school, as he is ranked the No. 1 player in the state of Arkansas and the No. 117 player in the nation for 2025, according to Rivals.

There is another prospect out of Parkview that is working out an official visit, as running back Cameron Settles told HawgBeat that he's talking with his family about a date next month.

Parkview has brought a few prospects to Fayetteville in recent years, with three joining the Hogs since 2021 — Landon Rogers, James Jointer and Erin Outley. None are still on the team, however.

HawgBeat has more on each of the prospects coming on official visits:

Omarion Robinson — June 7​

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Robinson has been coveted by many of the nation's top programs, as he holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Oregon and many others in addition to Arkansas. He released a top five on March 30 that included Oregon, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia and Arkansas.

Last season, Robinson did pretty much whatever was asked of him on the field, as he played quarterback, safety, punt returner and more to help the Patriots to a 14-0 record and state championship.

Robinson also has official visits set up at Georgia and Oregon so far and is set to go to Athens on May 31 and Oregon on June 21.

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Monterrio Elston — June 14​

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Monterrio Elston was the second Parkview athlete in the class of 2025 to report an offer from the Razorbacks, which was extended on Jan. 2, 2024.

Since then, he's reported offers from Arkansas State, Memphis and Missouri. He took an unofficial visit (with the above-mentioned Robinson) on Dec. 9, 2023.

He also has an offer from Kansas State, which he received on Oct. 11, with an official visit set up to the Little Apple on June 21.

Elston may seem undersized, but he has no problem making an impact on the field. The shifty athlete plays in the backfield and at the slot receiver position and he has a quick burst of speed that allows him to get behind the defense in a hurry.

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Quentin Murphy — June 7​

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Quentin Murphy is new to Parkview, as he transferred from Joe T. Robinson last season. He'll play quarterback for the Patriots this year, but the Razorbacks are recruiting him to either side of the ball.

In addition to Arkansas, Murphy holds offers from Georgia Tech, Georgia, Syracuse and others. He hasn't announced any other official visit dates so far.

Last season for Joe T. Robinson, Murphy threw for 892 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also added 697 yards on the ground with six scores.

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Omarion will be here June 7-9.

1. Yes this first point is a major reach but cool to think about, we could’ve potentially had a rotation last year of Skenes, Hagen, Wiggins, had everything went our way.

2. I already hate the SEC tournament, but Arkansas has been on the road the last series before the sec tournament 6/7 times. Brutal numbers there and another reason why I don’t think what they do in Hoover as a top 4 seed in a big deal.

The Arkansas Razorbacks dipped into the Sunshine State on Tuesday and gained the commitment of 2025 three-star wide receiver Kamare Williams.

Williams chose Arkansas from a top seven that consisted of Louisville, Ole Miss, Indiana, Florida, Florida State and Pitt in addition to the Razorbacks. Auburn also made a strong push for his services, but was not included in his latest cut.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound receiver made the announcement on his Instagram account.

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As a junior for Palm Beach Central High School, Williams played on both sides of the ball but primarily at wide receiver and sparingly at cornerback.

Offensively, Williams caught 49 passes for 695 yards and six touchdowns last season. He intercepted one pass and made two tackles on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Williams is the first Arkansas commit to come out of the state of Florida since running back Isaiah Augustave in the class of 2023, who transferred following spring practice.

A native of Wellington, Florida, Williams is the first wide receiver to jump on board for the Razorbacks in the 2025 cycle and is the sixth commitment added to Arkansas’ class.

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