Arkansas guard Keyon Menifield to enter transfer portal

Arkansas sophomore guard Keyon Menifield to enter transfer portal

According to multiple reports, Arkansas guard Keyon Menifield has entered the transfer portal after only one season with the Razorbacks program.

Menifield, who transferred from Washington last offseason, appeared in 14 games with the Razorbacks during the 2023-24 season, four of which he started. A year in which the Razorbacks went 16-17 overall, as well as 6-12 in SEC play, Menifield averaged a combined 7.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 1.6 APG, while also shooting 31.7% from three, as well as 74.3% from the free throw line.

Prior to Arkansas, Menifield started 21-of-32 games at Washington during the 2022-23 season as a freshman, averaging 10 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.1 SPG. Menifield also shot 41% from the field that season, as well as 33% from three, and helped lead the Huskies that year to a combined 16-16 overall record.

The sophomore guard will now have three years of eligibility remaining, and is one of the SEC’s biggest names to enter their name in the transfer portal so far this offseason.

With spring football just starting, Arkansas looks to replace RB coach

After four years at Arkansas, running backs coach Jimmy Smith has decided to take TCU job.

Just two days into spring football practice and there is already more turnover on the Arkansas coaching staff.

Jimmy Smith, who has coached the Razorbacks’ running backs since Head Coach Sam Pittman hired him in 2020, has announced that he is leaving for the same position at TCU.

With the obvious connected between Smith and former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendall Briles, who departed Fayetteville to fill the Horned Frogs’ OC position before last season, the move is understandable.

The loss of Smith is a setback for a Razorbacks program that went just 4-8 last season. But, expectation for an improved offense are rising heading into the 2024 season, as former head coach Bobby Petrino returned to Fayetteville as the offensive coordinator, and hand-picked 6-foot-6 Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green out of the portal.

But the value of Smith will be tough to replace, especially with his close ties to Georgia, where the Razorbacks have found success in recruiting the past four years. He is credited with bringing in the Hogs’ likely starting tailback, Rashod Dubinion, a 4-Star recruit out of Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove High School.

Smith also helped land two more 4-Star tailbacks, in redshirt-freshman Florida-native Isaiah Augustave, as well as the recently departed A.J. Green, out of Oklahoma. He was also key in helping develop former Razorback Raheem “Rocket” Sanders into one of the SEC’s top ball-carriers.

Pittman gave Smith his first Power 5 job, after he served one season as the running backs coach at Georgia State. He had previously been the head coach at Cedar Grove High School.

Arkansas will begin an immediate search for Smith’s replacement.

Hogs aim to keep head above water in regular-season finale at Alabama

The Razorbacks basketball team is fighting to stay above .500 in finale against Alabama.

It’s been 14 years since the Arkansas basketball team finished with an overall record below .500. Currently, at the break-even mark of 15-15, heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale at No. 16 Alabama, pride is still on the line.

The last time the Razorbacks finished with more losses than wins was under former Head Coach John Pelphrey, when they ended the season at 14-18 in 2009-10. The Mike Anderson-coached Hogs finished 16-16 in 2015-16.

A win against the Crimson Tide all be guarantees that Arkansas will finish at least 16-16, even with a first-round loss in next weekend’s SEC Tournament. A loss to Alabama on Saturday would force the Hogs into winning at least two games in the conference tournament, for a chance to break even. That could also change with any further postseason tournaments.

Arkansas, who is just 6-11 in SEC play, put on one of its best performances of the season in Wednesday’s 94-83 win over LSU, as the Razorbacks shot 60.8 percent from the field and senior Khalif Battle broke the SEC’s four-game scoring record.

Battle’s game-high 29 points left him one point short of being the first Razorback to ever score at least 30 points in four straight games. But it also game him 141 points over his past four outings, surpassing the previous four-game scoring total of 134, set by Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks in 2009.

Going into Wednesday’s game, Battle had put up a career-high 42 against Missouri, 36 against Vanderbilt and 34 in a slugfest loss to Kentucky.

“I always feel really confident,” Battle said following the LSU game. “I don’t think anyone can guard me one-on-one. Coach told me to go for those and-ones, where they had to make a decision whether to foul or just let me score.”

Although he is listed as a graduate senior, Battle still has two years of eligibility remaining after this season – thanks to COVID. Following the LSU win, he sounded like he was all in for at least one more season in Fayetteville, clarifying to the media that he had “another year left,” when asked about the Senior Night honors.

“I’m a Razorback,” he said. “I’m right here. I’m a Razorback. Ain’t nothing changed. I’m a Razorback until the end.”

Alabama (20-10, 12-5 SEC) comes in with three losses in its last four games, falling to No. 17 Kentucky, 117-95, before bouncing back with a 103-88 win over Ole Miss. But the Crimson Tide has dropped two straight – 81-74 at home to Tennessee and a 105-87 loss at Florida.

In the 68 previous meetings between the Hogs and Tide, Arkansas holds a slight 36-32 advantage in the all-time series. But the two programs are deadlocked at 29-29 since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1991.

The game will tip at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN, with Tom Hart and former Razorback Jimmy Dykes on the call.

Razorbacks to honor nine seniors, host LSU in home-season finale

Senior Khalif Battle will challenge scoring record as Razorbacks host LSU in Bud Walton Arena.

With a winning or losing record still in the balance, the Arkansas basketball team will look to return to the break-even mark Wednesday night when rival LSU comes to Bud Walton Arena for a 6 p.m. tip-off.

Arkansas (14-15, 5-11 SEC) nearly pulled off a huge upset at No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday, but got the short end of the foul parade and stumbled late to a 111-102 loss.

A win or loss against the Tigers (16-13, 8-8 SEC) won’t mean much in the big picture, as Arkansas would need a miracle run to win the upcoming SEC Tournament, regardless. But I win over their long-time adversary would at least be a feather in the cap.

It will be Senior Night, so all nine of the Razorbacks’ seniors will be recognized, led by four-year Hog, Davonte “Devo” Davis.

The only real question is whether senior Khalif Battle can become the first Razorback to ever score at least 30 points in his fourth straight game. The 6-foot-5 Temple-transfer has lit up the scoreboard of late, knocking down a career-high 42 against Missouri, followed by 36 against Vanderbilt, then 34 in Saturday’s loss to Kentucky.

He helped bolster his output by making an astounding 45-of-49 free throws – 91.8 percent – over those three games.

Battle and former Hog Mason Jones are the only two players to tally three straight 30-point games. Jones did it in 2020, while eventually being named SEC Player of the Year.

This will be the 79th time the Razorbacks and Tigers have met on the court, dating back to 1949, when LSU claimed a 62-46 win in Baton Rouge. The teams split their first 10 matchups, before Arkansas went on an 11-game win streak against the Tigers. The Hogs leads the all-time series, 42-36, including 38-31 since joining the SEC in 1991.

Arkansas has won four of the last six overall meetings, but did fall at LSU earlier this season, 95-74. The Razorbacks also hold a 23-8 advantage in games played in Fayetteville.

Wednesday’s game will air live on the SEC Network, with Mike Morgan and former Razorback Joe Kleine on the call.

Johnson plates a run in the eighth to lift Arkansas softball over SEMO

Sophomore leadoff hitter Reagan Johnson ends the 6-5 Razorbacks win with a sacrifice fly.

Arkansas sophomore Reagan Johnson continues to swing a deadly bat in crucial situations for the No. 16 Razorbacks’ offense. But the speedy leadoff hitter switched roles on Sunday, becoming the run-producer, instead of the run-scorer.

Johnson lifted a 1-0 pitch to center field, bringing home freshman pinch-runner Nyjah Fontenot for the winning run in a 6-5 win over Southeast Missouri State in the finale of the Wooo Pig Classic at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks (17-4) fell behind 5-0 in the top of the first, before bringing a single hitter to the plate.

Sophomore left-hander Robyn Herron (6-4) enter the game with two out in the first inning and completely shut down the Redhawks, limiting SEMO to just two hits, and striking out seven, in the final 6.1 frames.

Junior Bri Ellis got the Hogs on the board with an RBI-single in the bottom of the first.

Senior Hannah Gammill’s led off the second with a solo home run to left, her fifth of the season. Sophomore Hannah Camenzind the scored junior Spencer Prigge with a single up the middle. Freshman Kennedy Miller then cut the Arkansas deficit to 5-4, when she knocked in Johnson with a ground-out.

Prigge tied the score at 5-5 in the third, with a liner to right field, scoring junior Raigan Kramer. From there, the score stayed the same until the eighth.

Cylie Halvorson got things going in the final inning, reaching second base on a throwing error. Following Halvorson, After Gammill was intentionally walked, Fontenot came in to run for Halvorson. After Prigge delivered a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Fontenot, Johnson stepped up to end it.

Johnson and Ellis each finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Razorbacks will continue their 17-game homestand Thursday, when the face Nebraska in the first game of the four-day Razorback Rumble at Bogle. The Hogs and Huskers will begin at 5 p.m. and be available to stream on SEC Network+.

No. 12 Gymbacks set all-time high for second time this season

Arkansas set a new high score on the balance beam, while also setting overall mark.

The No. 12 Arkansas gymnastics team continued it’s record-breaking season on Sunday, setting a new all-time high score in a win over No. 13 Missouri.

The Gymbacks (7-5-1, 4-2-1 SEC) posted a team score of 197.650 against the Tigers, topping the previous high score by just over a tenth of a point. Ironically, the previous top score was also set this season, 197.525, in a tie with Alabama on Jan. 19.

It was also the fifth time this season that Arkansas has posted a score over 197, matching the program’s single-season record.

It was the final regular-season SEC contest for the Gymbacks, as they finish with a conference record of  4-2-1, which is their most victories since 2016 and most under fifth-year Head Coach Jordyn Wieber.

Adding even more punch to the day, the Razorbacks also set a program-record on the balance beam, with a team score of 49.575. 

Five Gymbacks finished with at least a 9.9 on the beam, with junior Maddie Jones, freshman Hailey Klein and sophomore Cami Weaver, all tying for second-place with scores of 9.925. Missouri senior Sienna Schreiber claimed top honors with a perfect score of 10.0.

Sophomores Frankie Price and Lauren Williams came in a four-way tie for first on vault with 9.875 scores, while Jones claimed the bars crown with a season-high 9.925, and Williams also got a victory on floor with her 9.950.

Arkansas will next face the best team in the land, as back-to-back national champion, No. 1 Oklahoma comes to town for a dual meet on Sunday at Bud Walton Arena. The meet starts at 4 p.m., and will be aired live on SEC Network+.

With just three games remaining, Hogs fans ready for season to end

Arkansas enters Saturday’s showdown at Kentucky as a 13.5-point underdogs.

The Arkansas basketball team has just three regular-season games remaining, including today’s trip to Kentucky’s Rupp Arena for a showdown with the No. 15 Wildcats.

For most Razorback fans, the end can’t get here soon enough. Although there is still a good chance that the Razorbacks qualify for at least one game in the upcoming SEC Tournament, the true interest level is waning.

After Arkansas had won it’s two prior games, before Tuesday night’s disappointing defeat at home to Vanderbilt, there was a last-sap effort to bring hope to the season. The Commodores made sure to crush those hopes.

Most of the chatter on X and social media has focused on baseball and softball, of late – two programs that have a chance to pull Hog fans out of the doldrums.

There is the somewhat positive fact that Arkansas has defeated Kentucky the last two games they have played in Lexington. But being 13.5-point underdogs when they tip off today at 12:30 on CBS, that fact seems meaningless.

Here is some of what was posted on X:

No. 16 Arkansas softball stays hot, sweeps a pair in Wooo Pig Classic

Arkansas Razorbacks softball outhit their opponents 16-6 over a two-game sweep on Friday.

The No. 14 Arkansas softball team outhit its opponents 16-6, including nine extra base hits, on Friday to sweep a pair of victories in the Wooo Pig Classic at Bogle Park.

The Razorbacks (16-3) shutout Southeast Missouri State in the first game, 5-0, then turned in a 6-2 win over Florida Atlantic. They are now 8-1 at home this season.

Senior slugger Hannah Gammill began the scoring with her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the third inning. Senior Cylie Halvorson then opened the fifth with another solo blast, before sophomore leadoff hitter Reagan Johnson doubled in sophomore Atalyia Rijo, to make it 3-0.

Junior Bri Ellis then continued her sizzling start to the season with a two-run single to right-center to make it 5-0.

Senior right-hander Morgan Leinstock (4-0) twirled a gem in the circle, scattering just three hits and striking out six. She sat down the side in order in three of those innings.

Sophomore lefty Robyn Herron (5-3) tossed her second complete game of the season in Game 2, giving up just three hits and one earned run, while fanning four Owls.

Freshman Kennedy Miller remained on fire at the plate, with her first multi-homer game as a Hog, After Ellis began the barrage with her team-leading seventh bomb of the year in the bottom of the first, Miller quickly made it 3-0 with a two-run tater over the left field fence.

The 5-foot-8 catcher from Georgetown, Texas, finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Hannah Camenzind went a career-best 3-for-3 at the dish and slapped her first-career triple to left center in the third, knocking in Halvorson. Gammill then drilled a shot down the left field line to plate Camenzind for a 5-0 advantage.

Miller completed the scoring with a solo shot to left in the fifth.

Arkansas will hit the diamond again on Saturday to face South Dakota State at 3 p.m. The game will be available on the SEC Network+, with Dorian Craft and former Razorback Sydney Parr Lee on the call.

Hogs tangle with No. 15 Kentucky; Battle on verge of scoring history

Arkansas has a two-game win streak at Rupp Arena, but the Razorbacks enter Saturday’s game as a 13.5-point underdog.

Just when it looked like it may finally be turning the corner this season, the disappointing Arkansas basketball team squashed any momentum with an 85-82 loss to Vanderbilt in Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night.

Now, the ravaged Razorbacks (14-14, 5-10 SEC), a 13.5-point underdog,  must now try to get back in the win column playing inside one of college basketball’s toughest environments, Kentucky’s legendary Rupp Arena. The Hogs and No. 15 Wildcats will tip off at 12:30 p.m. on CBS.

Arkansas had won its previous two games, prior to Tuesday, taking out Texas A&M on the road and Missouri at home – completing the season-sweep against both teams. But Vandy (8-20, 3-12) hobbled into Fayetteville and defeated the Razorbacks for the third straight time.

This will be the second meeting of the season for the Cats and Hogs, after Kentucky (20-8, 10-5 SEC) won 63-57 in Fayetteville on Jan. 27. Arkansas led at halftime of that game, and even held the advantage with 13 minutes left in the game, but then allowed the Wildcats to score eight unanswered points down the stretch to seal their fate.

Arkansas and Kentucky have a celebrated history against each other, although the Wildcats do hold a 35-14 lead in the all-time series. This will be the 50th meeting between the two schools on the hardwood. Although Kentucky does hold a 15-5 edge in Rupp, the Razorbacks have won the past two meetings in that arena.

Senior Khalif Battle has been on fire the past two games for Arkansas, putting up a career-high 42 points in the win over Missouri, then 36 against Vanderbilt. The 78 points in back-to-back games rank second in program history, only behind Martin Terry’s 82 in back-to-back games in 1973. Terry scored 35 at TCU, then 47 at home against SMU.

If Battle can score 30 points on Saturday, he would join Mason Jones as the only Razorbacks to score 30-plus in three straight contests. In 2020, Jones put up 34 against South Carolina, then 30 at Alabama, followed by 40 at home against Auburn. He was named AP SEC Player of the Year following that season.

After Kentucky, the Hogs have two regular-season games remaining Those include its final home game against LSU on Mar. 6, then the finale at Alabama on Mar. 9.

Arkansas freshman Kennedy Miller smacks RBI-double for the win

The Arkansas softball team continued to get clutch hits on Thursday to rally past South Dakota State, 4-3.

Freshman Kennedy Miller continues to impress during her first season at the collegiate softball level, again coming up with a key hit to help No. 16 Arkansas take down South Dakota State on the first day of the Wooo Pig Classic at Bogle Park.

After falling behind in the count 1-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the young catcher ripped an RBI-double to left-center field, plating senior Rylin Hedgecock for what would prove to be the game-winning run.

The 5-foot-8 Miller, a native of Georgetown, Texas, now leads the team with a .467 batting average, after beginning the year with 14 hits in her first 30 at-bats.

After the Jackrabbits took a 1-0 first-inning lead, Arkansas bounced back big in the bottom half of the inning.

Red-hot sophomore leadoff hitter Regan Johnson got things going with a quick single, followed by junior Bri Ellis‘ team-leading sixth home run of the year, a two-run blast to center. Senior Cylie Halvorson‘s sacrifice fly made in 3-1 after one.

South Dakota State (8-10) scored another run in the second, then tied it at 3-3 in the top of the fourth. Hedgecock lined a two-out double to get things rolling in the Arkansas fourth, which led to Miller’s heroics.

Senior Morgan Lienstock replaced sophomore starter Robyn Herron in the circle for the Razorbacks, after SDSU sophomore Keira Carollio led off the second inning with a homer.

Leinstock went 2.2 innings, allowing just one run, while striking out five. Sophomore lefty Hannah Camenzind (4-0) pitched the final 3.1 innings and retired all 10 batters she faced to earn the win.

Arkansas (14-3) will continue its current 17-game homestand with a doubleheader Friday, facing Southeast Missouri State at 3 p.m., then Florida Atlantic at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be available on the SEC Network+, with former Razorback Sydney Parr Lee and Dorian Craft calling the game.