FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas is stepping up in class tonight.

After winning a series of claiming contests, the Razorbacks (9-1) will see if they can run with No. 4 Oklahoma (12-0) in Walton Arena.

"We're obviously not going to slow it down," Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. "We're going to be full throttle getting up and down the court.

"Certainly, we'll make adjustments, but I'm sure they're not going to cool their engines any, and we're not going to cool ours.

"I would expect a lot of athletic plays in the game."

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Oklahoma is by far the most challenging opponent Arkansas has faced in a schedule thus far loaded with teams from midmajor conferences with a combined 47-74 record.

The Razorbacks' strength of schedule - ranked No. 322 out of 347 by CollegeRPI.com and No. 344 of 347 by the Jeff Sagarin Ratings - should get a significant boost by playing the Sooners.

"I think we're all excited about the opportunity," Pelphrey said. "It's not every day that you get a Big 12 team in Oklahoma on your home court. Certainly, it's not every day that you get the fourth-ranked team in the country on your home court."

The Sooners are the first topfive ranked team to play at Arkansas in six seasons, since No. 2 Kentucky beat the Razorbacks 66-50 on Feb. 19, 2003.

"Our confidence is where it needs to be heading into this basketball game," said junior guard Stefan Welsh, who had a careerhigh 27 points in Arkansas' 95-56 victory over Northwestern (La.) State last Saturday. "Any time you can put together a winning streak, that's showing that you're building.

"It's a real big game for us. We understand that."

Pelphrey said the Razorbacks need to play their best game to win for the eighth consecutive time and extend their winning streaks at Walton Arena (14 games) and in nonconference home games (41).

"Hopefully, we can get some special performances from guys that have done it before, and maybe some guys that haven't done it before," Pelphrey said. "In order to compete in a game like this, that's what it's going to take."

Tonight's matchup figures to bring out the largest and most raucous Walton Arena crowd of the season.

"I'm sure it's going to be rocking in here," Arkansas freshman guard Rotnei Clarke said. "It's going to be fun to play in that kind of atmosphere.

"We're looking forward to it, and we'll be ready."

Pelphrey said he understands the Razorbacks will be ready to play their best tonight, but hopes they won't lose focus.

"You want to get yourself to the magic level," he said. "But being too high, too emotional, too revved up sometimes is just as bad as being not ready to play."

Freshman point guard Courtney Fortson said while the Razorbacks are excited about playing Oklahoma, they must careful not to be "overwhelmed" by it.

"We don't want all of our focus to be on them and forget what we do best," Fortson said. "We've got to fly around and play as hard as we can."

Fortson is averaging team-highs of 15.9 points and 6.8 assists along with 5.2 rebounds on a balanced team with junior forward Michael Washington averaging 15.1 points and 10.3 rebounds, Clarke 12.6 points and Welsh 12.4 points.

"I guess the Razorbacks are feeling good about themselves," Oklahoma Coach Jeff Capel said after watching Arkansas' 39-point victory over Northwestern State on ESPN2. "They should. They're a good team. They're taking care of their schedule. They have good players, good young players.

"Fortson is having a great year. He's playing as well as any freshman in the country. Because they haven't been on TV much, you haven't really heard about him.

"They're a very talented team. Pelphrey has done a really good job with them."

Oklahoma sophomore forward Blake Griffin, a preseason All-American, is averaging 23 points and 14.1 rebounds, but the Sooners are far from a one-man show.

Freshman guard Willie Warren is averaging 14.9 points and scored 31 in Oklahoma's last game, a 70-58 victory over Rice on Dec. 22.

Senior guard Austin Johnson scored 17 points last season when the Sooners beat Arkansas 83-72. Johnson is averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 assists this year.

Senior forward Taylor Griffin, Blake's older brother, is averaging 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, and junior guard Tony Crocker scored 12 points against Arkansas last season and is averaging 8.6 points this year.

"They do have a lot of talent at a lot of spots," Pelphrey said. "Jeff has done a great job."

Pelphrey said he's encouraged about the progress Arkansas has made against a schedule designed for a young team to gain victories and confidence leading up to tonight's challenge.

"Would I like to see more?" Pelphrey said. "Sure. Are there things we can get better at? No doubt about it.

"Is it good enough to compete against Oklahoma and the type of competition we're going to face the rest of the way? We're going to find out."