Arkansas basketball has size and length on its 2026-2027 roster. The Hogs have a skilled backcourt. They have depth. They have balance at both ends of the floor. This team, as we have said – and seen in The Bahamas – is hungry and active. The effort is there. Tenacity won’t be in short supply on this young team of go-getters. What is going to make the difference between a good Sweet 16-caliber season and a great Final Four season? We can answer this question in multiple ways from different angles, but one perspective on this topic is to emphasize the need for the little details to be right.
Best of Arkansas Sports underscored the point that while Arkansas has size and length, a number of its prime opponents this coming season will have the same ingredients:
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Best of Arkansas Sports dug up the data on some of the other tallest teams in America. Arkansas, as a point of reference, is tied with Gonzaga as the nation’s tallest team in 2026-2027. Here’s BOAS’s data on Michigan State:
Average Height (ranking): 6-foot-7.1 (t-9th in America)
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Anton Bonke (7-foot-2, 270)
Here’s Arizona, another Arkansas opponent in nonconference play:
Average Height (ranking): 6-foot-7.3 (6th in America)
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Derek Dixon (6-foot-5, 200)
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Caleb Holt (6-foot-5, 200)
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Ivan Kharchenkov (6-foot-7, 230)
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RJ Godfrey (6-foot-8, 230)
Here’s SEC foe Alabama:
Average Height (ranking): 6-foot-7.2 (8th)
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London Jemison (6-foot-8, 205)
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Drew Fielder (6-foot-11, 225)
Here’s SEC opponent Kentucky:
Average Height (ranking): 6-foot-7.7 (3rd)
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Alex Wilkins (6-foot-6, 170)
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Ousmane N’Diaye (7-foot, 210)
That’s a small taste of what Arkansas will go up against. Several teams will bring comparable size and length to the court against the Razorbacks, in some cases with a beefier, thicker big man who can hammer UA with flinty strength inside.
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Arkansas will not just be able to play volleyball on the glass against these specific teams. The Hogs won’t be able to play over the top against these opponents. They will against a lot of smaller teams, but not the four mentioned above plus SEC and national title favorite Florida.
What will John Calipari need to really get through to his team? It’s simple conceptually but could prove difficult to replicate faithfully enough to win. The message: Get your footwork and positioning right. The little details are going to matter so much.
Rebounding involves and requires effort, but not effort alone. Boxing out is a detail-oriented skill incorporating the use of footwork and agility to gain the right body position which confers leverage against the opposing player. Footwork – making that tiny, choppy split-step to seal out an opponent and get the right angle to the ball – will be so important for this Arkansas team.
The great coaches nail down those kinds of details. John Calipari, if he can hammer home good footwork habits with his teenage-dominant roster, will prove he’s a great coach once again. Arkansas will play basketball in April of 2027 inside a big dome at the Final Four.
