Arkansas' disappointing season gets worse as star player set to miss remainder of campaign

The hits just keep coming for John Calipari in his first season as the head coach at the University of Arkansas. 

On Tuesday, CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein reported that Arkansas guard Boogie Fland — a top-25 player in the class of 2024 — will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season with a hand injury. Fland averages 15.1 points per game for the Razorbacks and is expected to be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

In what has been a rough season for Arkansas (11-7, 0-5 SEC), Fland has been a major bright spot. The freshman from New York City has been among the Hogs' most consistent players through 18 games. Fland was initially ruled out for Wednesday's game against Georgia before the news of his availability for the rest of the season was made public. 

Perhaps Fland's best performance of the season came on Dec. 10 against Michigan. In Arkansas' biggest victory of the season, Fland scored 20 points to lead the Razorbacks to victory in Madison Square Garden. 

In SEC play, Fland is averaging 12.8 points per game. However, he was held to just four points in Saturday's 83-65 loss to Missouri and shot just 2-of-13 from the field. 

Arkansas will now have to ask to guards Billy Richmond III, D.J. Wagner and Karter Knox to step in Fland's absence, which will undoubtedly affect an Arkansas team desperate for any semblance of momentum.