No. 21 Arkansas Razorbacks Gets Good News on Injury Front as They Face a Tough Stretch to Close Season

The Arkansas Razorbacks have gotten good news as they enter a tough seven-game stretch to close the regular season.  No. 21-ranked Arkansas (18-6), which has been shorthanded the past two contests, will get DJ Wagner and Karter Knox back for their home contest against Auburn (14-10) tonight.

“Arkansas’ Karter Knox (knee) and DJ Wagner (ankle) will both be available for today’s game against Auburn, ” John Calipari told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein earlier tonight. “Both have not played since 1/31.”

No. 21 Arkansas Razorbacks Gets Good News on Injury Front as They Face a Tough Stretch to Close Season

Knox and Wagner have been key parts of Calipari’s rotation all season long.

Knox has started 18 of his 21 appearances, including his last three games. The 6-6 forward has had hisupsp and downs this season and has shown only slight improvement over last season. He averages 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 threes while shooting 46.7% from the field and 38% from the 3-point line. Additionally, he has recorded two double-doubles.

Wagner has come off the bench in each of his last four contests after starting the first 18 games of the season. While Wagner has been the most efficient of his career, his role has been significantly reduced this year. The former consensus top-10 2023 recruit has struggled in SEC play and averages 7.5 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals this season. He has scored in double0figures in nine of his 22 appearances.

What Does Knox and Wagner Return Mean For The Razorbacks?

Arkansas won both games without Wagner and Knox, winning each contest by 20 points. The Razorbacks defeated Mississippi State (88-68) and LSU (91-62) on the road. As usual, Razorbacks leading scorer Darius Acuff Jr. led the way with 52 combined points against Miss State and LSU as he connected on 22 of 41 shots. Acuff Jr., who averages 20.8 points per game, added 13 assists and seven rebounds in these two contests. He has scored in double-figures in five straight contests.

Freshman guard Meleek Thomas, who topped the 20-point mark in SEC play for just the second time against LSU, and Trevon Brazile were also very productive over the last two games.  Brazile, who has scored in double-figures in a season-high three straight games, produced his most complete game of the season against LSU with 14 points along with 12 rebounds, five blocks,s and four steals.

Six-foot-10 senior Nick Pringle recorded his first double-digit rebound game of the season versus Miss State. Additionally, Billy Richmond III has stepped up his production in SEC play lately, hitting double-figures four times. Richmond averages 12.1 points and nearly four boards during this past five contests.

Knox will likely be heading back to the starting lineup. It is conceivable that Calipari will keep Richmond, who has started eight times this year,r including both of the most recent contests, with the first unit. Meanwhile, Wagner projects to once again come off the bench, backing up both Thomas and Acuff.

Either way, the Razorbacks will be deeper against Auburn, which has lost three straight. As Malique Ewin is probable for tonight. Ewin suffered a facial injury that required four stitches against LSU the last time out.

Arkansas sits tied for second inthe  SEC with Kentucky at 8-3. The Razorbacks are just one game back of Florida (9-2). The Razorbacks last won an SEC regular-season title in 2000. But it won’t be easy for the Hogs.

After facing Auburn, which blew out Arkansas earlier this season (95-73), the Razorbacks travel to Alabama. Arkansas then closes out the season against Missouri (home), Texas A&M (home), Florida (road), Texas (home), and Missouri (road).

“We go from here, we’ve got seven games. We could lose all seven,” Calipari said a few days ago. “They’re all at the top of our league. And now, we’ll see if we’re getting better. Maybe we get healthy now.”