GAME DAY: Arkansas vs. Kentucky

GAME INFO

The Razorbacks have won 12 in a row at Bud Walton Arena.

TIME: 3 p.m. Central

TV: CBS (Brian Anderson, Dan Bonner)

RADIO: Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett, Rich Shaeffer); Sirius 123, XM 199

SERIES: Kentucky leads 25-8.

LAST MEETING: Kentucky won 86-63 on Jan. 17, 2012, in Lexington, Ky.

THE STORYLINE

B.J.’s struggling, and Archie’s back in Arkansas as two tradition-rich programs in the midst of sub-par seasons meet at Bud Walton Arena.

A packed house and a rowdy crowd are expected for former Sylvan Hills star Archie Goodwin’s return to Arkansas. Goodwin, Kentucky’s leading scorer as a true freshman, spurned Arkansas to sign with Kentucky.

Meanwhile, Arkansas sophomore guard B.J. Young is slumping big-time. He’s averaging 15.3 points per game this season, but has scored a combined 15 in the past three games, including a season low three in the loss at Florida and four in Wednesday’s loss at LSU.

Kentucky has won three straight and seems to have regrouped since losing star freshman forward Nerlens Noel to a knee injury a couple of weeks ago. The Wildcats are an NCAA Tournament bubble team and need every win they can get.

Arkansas has lost two straight on the road after a three-game winning streak and appears headed to the NIT barring an SEC Tournament run.

PROBABLE STARTERS

ARKANSAS (17-11, 8-7 SEC)

G BJ Young (6-3, Soph., 16.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

G Mardracus Wade (6-2, Jr., 6.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

G Rickey Scott (6-3, Jr., 4.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

F Marshawn Powell (6-7, Jr., 14.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

F Coty Clarke (6-7, Jr., 7.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

COACH: Mike Anderson (35-25 in 2nd season, 235-123 overall)

KENTUCKY (20-8, 11-4)

G Archie Goodwin (6-4 ½, Fr., 13.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

G Ryan Harrow (6-2, So., 10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg)

G Julius Mays (6-2, Sr., 10.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

F Willie Cauley-Stein (7-0, F, 8.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

F Alex Poythress (6-7, Fr., 12.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

COACH: John Calipari (122-22 in 4th season, 525-160 overall)

GAME NOTES

Arkansas

Kentucky

NOTEWORTHY

Arkansas has won 12 straight at Bud Walton Arena, where Coach Mike Anderson is 32-4 as a head coach and has four wins over ranked teams. … The Razorbacks’ average of 11.8 turnovers per game is the lowest in program history. … The Wildcats average 13.2 turnovers per game and have a minus-0.8 turnover margin.

QUOTEWORTHY

Anderson on Young’s struggles: “People are just packing it in on him. You’ve got to make shots. I think B.J.’s puts a lot of pressure on himself to try to make plays. He’s made plays all his life. And I think there are times when you’ve got to defer and trust other guys.”