FAYETTEVILLE -- Just as Arkansas cracks the code for winning close conference games, it jumps out of SEC play to host Texas Tech on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Tipoff is at 3 p.m. at Walton Arena for the ESPNU broadcast.
"Coming off what we've been through, the 'almost' games and then playing such a very good Texas A&M team, and now all of a sudden you go out of conference and play, you're going like: 'Man, I wish we could continue to play in conference play,' " Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said.
"But I think when you talk about what we're trying to do for our conference and trying to get that series -- that Big 12 vs. SEC Challenge and get it where it's one of the premier events -- I'm all for that."
The Big 12 went 6-4 against the SEC in the second year of the challenge last season. Arkansas lost 95-77 at Iowa State in the challenge, when it was played in early December 2014.
Texas Tech downed Auburn 46-44 in the challenge Dec. 3, 2014, in Lubbock, Texas.
"Certainly when you step outside of the conference this time of the year, it is interesting," Texas Tech Coach Tubby Smith said. "I don't think I've stepped outside of the conference in years and played someone else during this time of the year. So it'll be a unique situation for me and for our program.
"There's always a challenge when you play somebody from another power conference. Arkansas and Mike Anderson's teams are one of the best and one of the toughest to play against, especially in Bud Walton Arena."
Toughest around
Texas A&M Coach Billy Kennedy doubled down on his stance Walton Arena is the hardest road venue in the SEC after his No. 5 Aggies' 74-71 loss to the Razorbacks on Wednesday. Kennedy also made the claim on Monday's SEC coaches call.
"I think here at their place, this place is the toughest place to play in our league," Kennedy said. "You've got to give them credit."
On pace
Senior guard Jabril Durham is averaging 7.2 assists per game and is on pace to break Kareem Reid's school record average of 6.6 per game established in 1995-96. Durham has 143 assists, 76 shy of Reid's school record of 219.
"We're seeing Jabril really do a good job of getting the ball in," Coach Mike Anderson said. "I can recall [Wednesday] night, with the shot clock running down and ... there's Trey Thompson. And he floats one over the top for an and-one to Trey Thompson."
Eight-ball life
Junior guard Manny Watkins said the Razorbacks adhered to Coach Mike Anderson's rule of enjoying a victory until midnight after their 74-71 upset of No. 5 Texas A&M.
"That's what this team does," Watkins said. "We won last night, and it was fun and a great atmosphere, but today we're worried about this next practice and getting better.
"One game doesn't make your season. We're still 10-10. Coach always says we're behind the eight ball. We're behind in the race, and we've got to do some catching up. We can't afford to be all happy about one win and pat ourselves on the back."
For starters
Manny Watkins rejoined the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time since the SEC opener against the Aggies on Jan. 2. Watkins made his fourth start of the season and will remain in the starting five for Saturday's game against Texas Tech.
Point guard Jabril Durham and center Moses Kingsley are the only Razorbacks to have started all 20 games. Guard Anthlon Bell made his 18th consecutive start against Texas A&M, while Dusty Hannahs started for the seventh consecutive game and the ninth time this year.
Keaton Miles, an 18-game starter, had his streak of 17 consecutive starts end against the Aggies. Freshman Jimmy Whitt started the first 10 games but has not been in the opening lineup since. Trey Thompson made his lone start against Akron on Nov. 18.
Big man down
Texas Tech will be without center Norense Odiase, who broke a bone in his foot during the Red Raiders' 76-69 victory at TCU on Jan. 18. Odiase, a 6-9 sophomore who was averaging 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, started the first 17 games.
Odiase is expected to be in a hard cast for another couple of weeks and probably miss six weeks total.
Minutes are expected to rise for 6-8 Zach Smith, 6-8 Aaron Ross of Little Rock and 6-10 Matt Temple, the only other big men to log significant playing time.
Line slip
The Razorbacks' 16-for-24 free-throw shooting against Texas A&M, including a 7-for-14 run during an eight-minute stretch late in the second half, was indicative of a larger trend.
Arkansas made 208 of 286 free throws (72.7 percent) in nonconference games to rank second in the league behind Mississippi State. The Razorbacks have made 123 of 181 free throws (.681) in eight SEC games to rank eighth.
Overall, Arkansas ranks third in the SEC with 70.9 percent free-throw shooting (331 of 467), behind Mississippi State (.745) and Tennessee (.742).
Tip-ins
• Guard Anthlon Bell will enter Saturday's game needing 26 points to become the 39th Arkansas player to reach the 1,000-point club.
• Arkansas' victory over No. 5 Texas A&M improved the Razorbacks' record against Top 5 teams at Walton Arena to 7-3.
• Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson is four victories shy of his 100th victory at Arkansas and his 300th as a head coach.
Sports on 01/29/2016