DALLAS – A Texas-sized showdown comes to Dallas when Arkansas battles Texas Tech on Saturday, Dec. 13 at American Airlines Center. The two teams played an epic Sweet 16 game last season which saw the Red Raiders stage a furious comeback before winning 85-83 in overtime. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports announced the event today which is dubbed the “Revocruit Rematch.”
Tip time is slated for 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Networks.
Texas Tech is expected to be a top-10 team entering the new season coming off last season’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight finish. The Red Raiders return JT Toppin who was named the Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year along with Christian Anderson after he earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors last season. Tech has bolstered its roster through the transfer portal with the additions of Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara), LeJuan Watts (Washington State), Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro), Josiah Moseley (Villanova) and Luke Bamgboye (VCU) along with freshman Nolan Groves (Long Lake, Minnesota).
“We’re looking forward to returning to downtown Dallas and matching up against Arkansas,” Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland said. “This is a historic series that dates back to the 1940s and always proves to be a great game. I’m excited to play in front of our fanbase at American Airlines Center and to renew the rivalry.”
Excitement is high in Fayetteville once again as Hall of Fame coach John Calipari reloads for his second season with the Hogs. Arkansas welcomes the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class with two recruits in the top-11 of the ESPN 100 in Darius Acuff (No. 7) and Meleek Thomas (No. 11). The Razorbacks return four of their top contributors from last year’s NCAA team in D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond III as well as transfers Malique Ewin (Florida State) and Nick Pringle (South Carolina).
“We are excited to return to Dallas,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said. “Our experience last year in the American Airlines Center was first class and our fans and alums in the Metroplex helped make it great too. Dallas has traditionally been good to the Razorbacks, and we expect nothing different this year. The Arkansas-Texas Tech rivalry means a lot to both fan bases and, if recent history holds true, this game should be a great match-up. We like our team and have great respect for Coach McCasland. This game will help prepare both teams for another NCAA Tournament run.”
Tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. CT through Ticketmaster. For the latest information, fans can visit www.revocruitrematch.com or follow @bdglobalsports on social media.
Texas Tech owns a slight 41-40 advantage in the all-time series with Arkansas. The last four meetings between the two programs have either gone into overtime or been decided by three points or less in regulation.