Pringle says Arkansas still learning how good it can be ahead of opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas center Nick Pringle believes the No. 14 Razorbacks are only beginning to understand how good they can be.

With the regular season starting Monday night against Southern, Arkansas is coming off two exhibition wins over Cincinnati and Memphis. The Razorbacks were picked to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference, but Pringle said their potential goes far beyond preseason projections.

“I just can’t wait to see us at our full potential,” Pringle said Friday. “Because we are high on the scale, but we are just scratching the surface. And I don’t think we understand how good we really can be.”

The Razorbacks beat Cincinnati easily, then came from 15 points down to top Memphis. Those results have fueled optimism for coach John Calipari’s first season in Fayetteville.

Freshman guard Meleek Thomas was one of the breakout players in the two exhibitions, totaling 41 points — 18 against Cincinnati and 23 against Memphis.

Thomas’ energy lifts teammates

Pringle said Thomas’ effort and personality have quickly earned him respect from veterans.

“One thing about him that nobody’s going to ever be able to take from him is his competitive spirit,” Pringle said. “He’s stealing balls, he’s just a competitor. He likes to talk trash, like that gets him going. That’s one thing I love to see — somebody beside me competing because it makes me want to go even harder.”

He added that Thomas’ energy spreads throughout the team. “Once you do that,” Pringle said, “it kind of carries over to everybody in the gym.”

Pringle said the Razorbacks have spent the preseason learning how to channel their athleticism into consistent play. That maturity, he said, will define how far they can go this season.

The fifth-year senior has seen what championship-level basketball looks like, having faced UConn’s national title team while playing at Alabama in 2023.

Veteran leadership and comparisons to UConn

Pringle said this Arkansas roster reminds him of that UConn team in terms of depth and athleticism.

“It kind of reminds me of the UConn team that I lost to, and we are way more athletic,” he said. “We are probably not as old, but it still gives me that feeling.”

He said the Razorbacks’ challenge will be maintaining focus through the season. “We know it,” Pringle said. “But it’s all part of not being complacent and continuing day by day to compete with each other.”

For Arkansas to reach its potential, players like Trevon Brazile will need to deliver consistent defensive performances. The senior forward averaged 1.1 blocks per game last season, ranking 15th in the SEC.

Pringle praised Brazile’s improvement and said his development could be a major factor. “TB, defensively, he’s just scratching the surface,” Pringle said. “Things coach is telling him to go do, he’ll go do it the next play.”

Calipari’s expectations for Brazile

Calipari, speaking at SEC Media Day on Oct. 14, said he expects Brazile to take another step. “I want him to have a ball playing,” Calipari said on the SEC Network. “Listen, he should be a double-double with four to five blocks every game. And if he’s not, he’s not giving us what he’s capable of giving us.”

Pringle said that kind of feedback helps everyone. “That’s the type of coaching we need,” he said. “Him getting us to our fullest potential is going to be big because all of us are just scratching the surface.”

The Razorbacks’ blend of veterans and newcomers has created excitement for a new era under Calipari. The energy from preseason games suggests a team capable of making a quick impact.

Arkansas now turns its attention to the opener, where the challenge will be turning promise into production.

Season tips off Monday night

The Razorbacks face Southern on Monday at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. Central, with television coverage on the SEC Network.

Arkansas will rotate several new faces alongside returning contributors such as Brazile and Davonte Davis. Pringle said the key to early success is simple — don’t get satisfied.

“It’s about not being complacent,” he said. “We’ve got the pieces — we just have to keep pushing each other to reach that next level.”