No. 18 Arkansas hosts No. 6 Kentucky as two of the heavyweight programs in the SEC clash at 2 p.m. ET on CBS in one of the marquee matchups of the weekend in college basketball. It's the only scheduled meeting of the season between the teams, both of whom are on track for double-byes in the SEC Tournament next month.
Arkansas (22-6, 11-4 SEC) counts fellow SEC powers No. 3 Auburn and No. 17 Tennessee among the teams it has beaten over the past month at Bud Walton Arena in an environment that appears to be one of college basketball's best. Invigorated by last season's Elite Eight run and the energy of third-year coach Eric Musselman, the Razorbacks have rebounded from an 0-3 start to league play to win 12 of their last 13 games.
Kentucky (23-5, 12-3) is entering off consecutive home victories over Alabama and LSU but lost by 13 at Tennessee the last time it played away from home. The Wildcats are navigating injuries to point guards Sahvir Wheeler (wrist) and TyTy Washington (leg), which has forced John Calipari to improvise and reach into his bench. A win here would keep UK on Auburn's heels for at least a share of the SEC regular season title. But if Washington and Wheeler need to sit in order to preserve themselves for the postseason, then taking down Arkansas on the road will be a tall order.
How to watch Kentucky vs. Arkansas live
Date: Saturday, Feb. 26 | Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Bud Walton Arena -- Fayetteville, Arkansas
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App
Kentucky vs. Arkansas prediction, picks
Kentucky showed in wins over Alabama and LSU over the past week that it is getting better at improvising when forced to play without Washington and/or Wheeler. But the possibility of one or both of those players being out as the Wildcats enter a rowdy environment at Arkansas' Bud Walton Arena portends a bleak outlook for UK. Look for the Razorbacks to use their up-tempo style in tandem with a decided home-court advantage to secure another big win. Prediction: Arkansas 75, Kentucky 65
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