FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ men’s basketball team is scheduled to participate in the Big 12/SEC Challenge in the 2020-21 season, an SEC spokesman told WholeHogSports.
Because last season was the first year of a two-year cycle and the Razorbacks hosted TCU in Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas will likely play away from home in the event next season. The Razorbacks defeated the Horned Frogs 78-67 on Jan. 25.
On a Zoom conference call with reporters last week, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said he was unsure if the Razorbacks would be included in the event this upcoming season.
“I have no idea. I really don’t,” said Musselman, who went 20-12 in his first season at Arkansas. “I have no idea either way. I don’t know. That’s all I can say.”
Arkansas has been a part of the challenge six times in its seven-year history, alternating home and away games each season. The Razorbacks are 3-3 overall with home wins over Texas Tech (2016), Oklahoma State (2018) and TCU (2020), and road losses at Iowa State (2015), Oklahoma State (2017) and Texas Tech (2019).
Big 12 teams that played a road game in the event last season and could potentially host the Razorbacks next season include Iowa State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Kansas State and Baylor.
In addition to the Big 12/SEC Challenge, Arkansas' 2020-21 nonconference schedule will also include games against Oklahoma at BOK Center in Tulsa on Dec. 12, Old Dominion at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock on Dec. 19, and at Tulsa on a date to be announced.
The Razorbacks are also scheduled to play in the MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas on Nov. 20 and 22. Louisville, Colorado State and San Francisco round out the four-team event.