Arkansas Men's Basketball Looks to Improve Defense

Razorbacks face challenge against Mississippi State's top scorer Josh Hubbard

Feb. 6, 2026 at 2:55am

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The No. 21 University of Arkansas men's basketball team is looking to improve its defense after a recent loss to Kentucky. Coach John Calipari has emphasized the need for better defensive play, as the Razorbacks currently rank 11th in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 77.6 points per game. Arkansas will face a tough test against Mississippi State and their leading scorer Josh Hubbard, who averages 20.8 points per game.

Why it matters

Arkansas' defensive struggles could hinder their ability to achieve their goals for the season. Improving their defense will be crucial as they face tough SEC opponents, including Mississippi State and their high-scoring guard Josh Hubbard.

The details

The Razorbacks will need to focus on containing Hubbard, who takes 32.8% of Mississippi State's shots when he is on the floor. Last season, Hubbard scored 17 points against Arkansas in an overtime loss. The Razorbacks will also need to contend with Jayden Epps, who contributes 15.3 points per game for the Bulldogs. Arkansas has the second-worst effective field goal defense and third-worst two-point defense in the SEC during conference play.

  • The Razorbacks face Mississippi State at 11 a.m. Central on Saturday, February 11, 2026 in Starkville, Mississippi.
  • Arkansas last played on Saturday, February 4, 2026, losing to Kentucky 85-77.

The players

John Calipari

The head coach of the University of Arkansas men's basketball team.

Josh Hubbard

The leading scorer for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, averaging 20.8 points per game and taking 32.8% of the team's shots when he is on the floor.

Jayden Epps

A scoring threat for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, contributing 15.3 points per game.

Chris Jans

The fourth-year head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Chuck Martin

An assistant coach for the University of Arkansas men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We've got to get better defensively.”

— John Calipari, Head Coach, University of Arkansas

“He's a good player, man. ... He is an elite, elite scorer. And so, yeah, we're trying to prepare for that here in the next two days.”

— Chuck Martin, Assistant Coach, University of Arkansas

“Their record does not reflect how good they are.”

— Chuck Martin, Assistant Coach, University of Arkansas

“I think it's a nice reset for everybody, and everybody gets it, generally speaking, around the same time. A lot of teams use it to get healthier, certainly, and we're pretty good that way.”

— Chris Jans, Head Coach, Mississippi State

What’s next

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The takeaway

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