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Arkansas vs. Hawai’i: NCAA Tournament 2026 Preview

3 months agoUS
Arkansas vs. Hawai’i: NCAA Tournament 2026 PreviewSource: arkansasrazorbacks.com
The Arkansas Razorbacks are set to face the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Here’s a preview of the matchup and what to expect.

Key Insights

Arkansas (26-8) enters as a No. 4 seed after winning the SEC Tournament.

Hawai’i (24-8) is a No. 13 seed, having won the Big West Tournament.

The game will be held in Portland, Oregon, on March 19, 2026.

SportsLine’s model predicts Arkansas to win, with the total score going over 158.5 points.

John Calipari, Arkansas’ coach, has a history of March Madness upsets in previous years with Kentucky.

In-Depth Analysis

Arkansas, led by Darius Acuff Jr., aims to continue their strong season, while Hawaii looks to pull off an upset. The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts a high-scoring game with Arkansas favored by 14.5 points. However, John Calipari’s past experiences with early tournament exits add an element of unpredictability. His tenure at Kentucky saw several surprising losses, including a defeat to No. 14 seed Oakland in 2024 and an overtime loss to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s in 2022. The Razorbacks won the first two meetings on back-to-back days in December of 1977 in Honolulu. With a first-round win, Arkansas would face the winner of No. 5 seed Wisconsin and No. 12 seed High Point on Saturday, March 21, in Portland.

FAQs

Q: When and where is the game?

March 19, 2026, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Q: What are the betting odds?

Arkansas is favored by 14.5 points, with an over/under of 158.5 points.

Q: Has John Calipari had March Madness upsets in the past?

Yes, his Kentucky teams suffered early exits in recent years.

Key Takeaways

Arkansas is favored but be aware of potential for an upset.

Expect a high-scoring game based on projections.

John Calipari’s history adds intrigue to the matchup.

Discussion

Do you think Arkansas will advance, or is Hawai’i poised for an upset? Share your predictions below! Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!

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