UConn Basketball: 3 keys to beating Arkansas Razorbacks in Sweet 16 matchup

The West region moves to sin city, Las Vegas, Nevada this week and one of the two games on Thursday will feature No. 4 UConn Basketball taking on No. 8 Arkansas. Both teams earned tickets to the regional by virtue of somewhat surprising second-round wins, but for different reasons.

For Eric Musselman’s Razorbacks, they began the tournament with a convincing win over Illinois in a game in which Arkansas trailed just once when it was 2-0. That set them up for a game with defending champ and No. 1 seed Kansas. Arkansas would hold off the Jayhawks 72-71, ending their hopes of back-to-back titles and sending the Razorbacks to Las Vegas.

For their opponents, UConn began their tournament run by using a dominant second half to dispatch old (and new) Big East friend Rick Pitino and the Iona Gaels. In their second game, the second half would again be the difference against No. 5 Saint Mary’s, outscoring them 39-25 en route to a 70-55 win and a meeting with the Razorbacks.

This is the first Sweet Sixteen for head coach Dan Hurley and the Huskies who are starting to resemble the team that some were pegging as a potential overall No. 1 seed back in December. Getting to the Elite Eight won’t be easy because Arkansas also looks like they are rounding into form as well. To knock off the Razorbacks, UConn will need to carry over that defensive intensity and a full 40-minute effort. Here are three other keys to UConn beating Arkansas and reaching the West regional final.