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Time: 7 p.m. CT
TV: SECN+
Line: n/a
Location: Bud Walton Arena
The Hogs have a quick turnaround after their easy win over Montana State. UT-Arlington should provide a stiffer test for the Hogs but they still should be comfortable favorites in this one.
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Same starters for the Hogs. I expect Jabari Narcis to start for the Mavericks even through he hasn’t started a game for them this year. Why? Because he’s the only player on the roster taller than 6’6”. If you’re going to go five out and put a guy giving up at least five inches and potentially 20-30 pounds on Daniel Gafford that would be suicidal. Big Dan should feast in this one more than he did yesterday at thanksgiving.
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The numbers really back up UT-Arlington’s struggles inside. They’ve been excellent against defending the three this year. They only lost by 14 to Indiana largely by their ability to stop the outside shot, holding them to 2/12 shooting from deep. But they couldn’t stop Juwan Morgan, who had 23 and 10. They’ve been allowing teams to shoot nearly 60% from in close this year and if you do that to a team like Arkansas they’re going to make you pay. UT-Arlington is a stronger team than Montana State, so I wouldn’t expect a 25 point blowout, but the Hogs should control this game from the start and win comfortably.