Outstanding Guard Play Keeping Arkansas Afloat Heading into First of Two Matchups Against Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky is looking to end a two-game losing streak to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Tuesday night inside Rupp Arena.

The Wildcats are coming off of a sixth consecutive win in SEC play — a 72-67 rock fight against Florida. With just four weeks left in the regular season, coach John Calipari's team is beginning to trend upward.

On the other end of the floor, coach Eric Musselman will lead the Hogs into Lexington on a four-game SEC win streak, turning around what was an ugly start to conference play, as Arkansas lost five of its first six against SEC foes.

The Razorbacks entered the season with high expectations, fresh off of their second consecutive appearance in the Elite Eight. A 16-7 (5-5 SEC) record is nowhere close to the bar that's been set in Fayetteville, but there's reasons to back up the underwhelming campaign.

Nick Smith Jr — a 5-star freshman guard and consensus lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft — has played just five games this season, most recently back on Dec. 17. The Arkansas native has been battling a lingering knee issue and isn't expected to suit up on Tuesday.

On Dec. 6, essential forward Trevon Brazile went down against UNC Greensboro with a torn ACL, ending his sophomore season. At the time of the injury, he was providing 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds-per-game, pacing the Hogs down low.

Without two of its most important players, Arkansas stumbled at times, but has began to pick up the pieces. That can be contributed to a trio of guards that lead the way on offense for Musselman and Co.

Ricky Council IV, Anthony Black and Davonte Davis combine to average 40.5 PPG. In SEC play this season, the number jumps to 41.9 PPG.

Council is the workhorse of the group, as the junior Wichita State transfer is second in the SEC, averaging 17 PPG, as well as 3.2 RPG and 2.4 assists-per-game. Simply put, he's a scorer who's getting his points regardless, shooting at a 45.8 percent clip this season.

"He's a tough matchup," UK associate coach Orlando Antigua said of Council on Monday. "Ricky Council is certainly one of those guys that on any given night can go off for 30. We have a great challenge in terms of trying to contain him."

While he's yet to drop 30 in a game this year, he has eclipsed 20 points on seven occasions.

Council will present his fair share of challenges for the UK defense, as will 6-foot-7 freshman guard and McDonald's All-American Anthony Black.

He won't match the scoring output of Council, but Black knows how to stuff a stat-sheet with the best of them. In the Razorbacks' most recent win on the road against South Carolina, the Duncanville, Texas native contributed the following stat line:

13 points, six rebounds, four assists, two blocks, one steal, playing all 40 minutes.

Black's 4.0 APG leads Arkansas, while his 12.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG are both second among active players on the team.

"6-foot-7 point guard," Antigua chuckled when asked about Black. "200-pound guard that can really pass the ball, has a great feel for the game, they put him in positions so he can have success.

Davis may appear the least threatening of the three, but the junior has hit his stride in conference play, averaging 14.5 PPG, tied for the top of the team along with Council. He's shooting 40 percent from 3-point range across the 10-game span, easily the best among the usual starting five.

He will enter Rupp Arena with a streak of eight games in a row with 15-plus points. Antigua noted that the veteran's scoring stretch has been "ridiculous."

Scoring then takes a steep drop-off afterward. Just two other Hogs — guard Jordan Walsh and forward Makhi Mitchell — average over 7 PPG. As a team, Arkansas averages 74.4 PPG, just the 121st-best mark in the nation.

As most teams in the SEC this season, the Razorbacks' calling card is their defense. Allowing just over 65 PPG (58th in Division I), Arkansas forces 13.3 turnovers a night, acquires 8.5 steals and 5.1 blocks.

"Expecting a tough challenge," Antigua said. "They've won four in a row in conference. They've got a really talented team. Three of the best guards in the league. They're going to be well prepared, they got a great coach — Coach Musselman — we know that games in-conference right now at this point in the season in February, they're all hard."

The game on Tuesday is one of two between the teams late in the season. Kentucky will return the trip to Fayetteville to close out the regular season on March 4. Despite holding the same underwhelming record as UK, Arkansas is still a top-30 team in the NET rankings as well as KenPom. The matchup will serve as one of six Quadrant 1 opportunities left on Kentucky's schedule.

Tipoff on Tuesday night is set for 9 p.m. EST and will be televised on ESPN.

Kentucky is still unranked in the new AP Poll. More HERE.

Cason Wallace earns third SEC Freshman of the Week Award. More HERE.

More on the win over the Gators HERE.

WATCH: Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick, Jacob Toppin speak after win.

WATCH: Mike Pratt's jersey retirement ceremony

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