Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Arizona Wildcats: Sweet 16 Showdown Set
The No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks will face the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. This marks the ninth meeting between the two programs, but the first since a Wildcats victory in 1996.
Game Details
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 8:45 p.m. CDT / 6:45 p.m. PDT
Location: SAP Center at San Jose, California
TV Coverage: CBS
Series History
Arkansas holds a 91-82 victory over Arizona in the 1994 Final Four, propelling them to win their first and only national championship, defeating Duke 76-72. Arizona won the most recent matchup in 1996, 83-73, in Fayetteville. Arizona leads the series 2-6.
Arizona Wildcats Preview
Arizona (34-2) enters the Sweet 16 having secured the No. 1 overall seed in the West Regional. They defeated Long Island University 92-58 and Utah State 78-66 to reach this stage. Arizona has been a dominant force, with only two losses on the season, both in February to Kansas and Texas Tech.
The Wildcats boast a top-five ranking in both offensive and defensive efficiency, holding opponents to 43.5% on 2-point field goals and 31.4% on 3-point field goals. They lead the nation in opponent effective field goal percentage and rank sixth in offensive rebounding rate (38.3%).
Key Players for Arizona
- Brayden Burries: Leads the team in scoring with an average of 16.0 points per game, shooting 49.5% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range.
- Koa Peat: Contributes 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
- Motiejus Krivas: Averages a near double-double with 10.4 points and 8.0 rebounds.
- Jaden Bradley: The Big 12 Player of the Year, averages 13.1 points, 4.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals.
- Ivan Kharchenkov: Adds 10.2 points per game, shooting 49.8% from the field and 33% from deep.
Arkansas Razorbacks Preview
Arkansas (28-8) advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins over Hawaii (94-88) and High Point (82-79). Under the guidance of head coach John Calipari, this is his second NCAA Tournament appearance with the Razorbacks and his 25th holding an all-time tournament record of 61-23.
Betting Odds
As of March 23, 2026, Arizona is an 8.5-point favorite over Arkansas, with an over/under of 165.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. ESPN
Looking Ahead
This Sweet 16 matchup presents a significant challenge for Arkansas, facing a highly efficient and well-rounded Arizona team. The winner will advance to the Elite Eight, continuing their pursuit of a national championship.