SEC Basketball: 5 takeaways from 2022 SEC/Big 12 Challenge games

Arkansas Stays Hot

Don’t look now, but Arkansas has quietly won six in a row after an 0-3 start to SEC play, a stretch that continued with a dominant 77-68 win over West Virginia on Saturday afternoon inside Bud Walton Arena.

A game in which the Razorbacks never trailed, Arkansas completely dominated West Virginia on the glass out-rebounding the Mountaineers 44-26, as well as making the most of their 34 trips to the free throw line by knocking down 28. Led by guard Au’Diese Toney with a game-high 19, the Razorbacks also received a few notable performances from the likes of Jaylin Williams with a double-double, as well as two others in double figures.

While not a conference game, this only continues what has been an impressive recent stretch for the Razorbacks after some may have written Arkansas off after a slow start to SEC play. Make no mistake, however, Arkansas is still a very dangerous team, and is entering a key month of February playing some of their best basketball of the season.

Home matchups against Auburn, Kentucky, and Tennessee will be key for Arkansas to pick up quality wins across the next month, as well as road games at Alabama and Florida.