West Virginia is just the sort of team Arkansas needs at this point of the season.
The Razorbacks host the Mountaineers on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. seeking a sixth straight win. Such a victory would drop West Virginia to a fifth straight loss, too.
Arkansas could use a final bout of confidence before its schedule goes bonkers over the back two-thirds of SEC play. A sixth straight win would provide breathing room to hold on to a likely NCAA Tournament spot even with a loss soon.
The numbers suggest Arkansas will get it Saturday, too. A win, not a bid. The Hogs have a 74% chance at victory per ESPN’s Basketball matchup predictor. They’ve jumped five spots in the last week up to No. 30 in the Basketball Power Index while West Virginia has dropped six spots to No. 46.
The game is the eighth Arkansas has played in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The Hogs are 3-4 in such matchups, most recently falling to Oklahoma State in 2021.