Arkansas vs. Virginia tips off homecoming test for two Hogs in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Arkansas has never played a basketball game inside the city limits of the nation’s capital.

That changes Sunday.

No. 9 Virginia (2-0) is the opponent, and Capital One Arena is the stage for the No. 12 Razorbacks (1-0) in the Capital Showcase.

It’s a noon CST start. ESPN has the game, with Kevin Brown and Sean Farnham on the call.

The Hogs cruised in their opener against UAPB. This one figures to be a whole lot tougher.

John Calipari knows it. He wasn’t selling the Cavs short after the win over the Golden Lions last week when he talked about them.

“We’re going to be playing a veteran team that’s older, that’s established,” Calipari said. “They’re a top 10 team. We got work to do. We do. If we’re not more physical, it’s hard to be in that game. You’re going to have to be physical. It means you’re going to have to hold your position.

“You can’t always be the one that’s getting bounced and then fumble balls and then not get a rebound. You hit first. We still aren’t there. We don’t have that mentality yet. But they did some good things.”

Two Razorbacks get a trip home

Two guys on the Arkansas roster won’t need directions to the arena.

Jordan Smith Jr. is a D.C. native, while Cooper Bowser comes from Bridgewater, Va.

Now, about that “never played in D.C.” line. Arkansas did face No. 2 Georgetown on Feb. 3, 1985, but that game was across the line in Landover, Md. Georgetown won 56-39.

Coach Cal has been here before. Sunday is his third time bringing a college team into the city, and the first two didn’t end well.

Back on Feb. 4, 1995, his No. 2 UMass team fell 78-75 at George Washington’s Smith Center. Bill Clinton, the president at the time, watched from the stands.

Then came Dec. 13, 2008. His No. 19 Memphis team lost to No. 17 Georgetown 79-70 in overtime in this very arena, back when it went by the Verizon Center name.

A short series with a few big moments

Sunday’s game is only the eighth time these programs have met.

Virginia owns a 4-3 edge thanks to wins in the first three games. The Razorbacks are 3-1 since.

The biggest of those came in the 1995 Elite Eight. Beating Virginia punched Arkansas’ ticket to the Final Four.

The most recent neutral-floor game between the two was way up in Alaska at the 1998 Top of the World Classic. Arkansas squeaked by 85-83.

As for the head coach, he’s faced Virginia only once. His UMass team lost that 1993 NCAA Tournament second-round game 71-56.

Ryan Odom is in his second season with the Cavs. His teams there have gone 32-6 overall and 15-3 against ACC opponents. Last season ended at 30-6 with a trip to the Round of 32.

Sam Lewis does most of the scoring. The senior guard is putting up 20 points a game with 3.5 assists. Virginia has knocked off Drexel and Northeastern so far.

Arkansas likes to run

The opener against UAPB was over early. Arkansas won 106-61.

The Razorbacks’ defense created 24 turnovers, and 16 of them came on steals.

Arkansas then piled up 45 fast-break points. No Razorback team has posted more since record keeping for that stat began in 2011-12. The previous best was 38 against Texas a season ago.

Running isn’t new for this group. Only one team in the country averaged more fast-break points than Arkansas did last season, when the Razorbacks put up 18.84 a game.

They also lived at the free-throw line. Arkansas hit 30 of 42 tries, and no Calipari team in Fayetteville has made or attempted more in a game.

He’s 51-23 since taking over and 21-15 against SEC teams. His group last season went 28-9 and made it to the Sweet 16.

Where the odds stand

BetSaracen has Virginia favored by 2.5 points. The total sits at 162.

If you’d rather pick a winner straight up, Arkansas is +110 and Virginia is -130.

A few player props are posted as well. Bowser scoring more than 11.5 points and grabbing more than 6.5 rebounds pays +175. Maper Maker needs over 6.5 points and over 1.5 blocks to cash at +165. Davion Thompson going over 5.5 points and over 2.5 rebounds is listed at +230.

Odds could shift before tipoff. You have to be 21 to bet, and help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER or 1800gambler.net.

Radio listeners can find Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman statewide on the Razorback Sports Network. You can listen on ESPN Arkansas 93.7 and 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in Fort Smith and the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

The Hogs return to Fayetteville after this one. Robert Morris visits Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday, and Central Arkansas comes in Friday. SEC Network+ will carry both at 7 p.m.