Overview
- The 94-88 win Saturday in Portland sent No. 4 Arkansas to the Sweet 16, with Darius Acuff Jr. posting 36 points and six assists to oust No. 12 High Point.
- Tied at 83 late, Acuff strung together two layups and a contested three in a personal 7-0 run that stopped Rob Martin’s 30-point push.
- Arkansas said Sunday that Acuff’s 60 points across the first two NCAA games are the most by a freshman in tournament history, after he also broke the program’s single-season scoring record.
- Evaluators slot the consensus All-American and SEC Player of the Year in the top 10 of mock drafts as offense drives his rise and defense remains the main question, with Mike Krzyzewski calling him NBA-ready.
- ESPN reported Tuesday that Acuff landed a Reebok signature shoe, the first for an NCAA men’s player with a major U.S. brand while still in college, as Arkansas awaits Arizona or Utah State on Thursday in San Jose.