Vanderbilt and Arkansas to Face Off in SEC Tournament Final

Guard play will be key as the Commodores and Razorbacks battle for the conference championship.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:35pm

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No. 22 Vanderbilt will take on 17th-ranked Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference tournament final on Sunday. The Commodores, playing just two miles from their campus, routed fourth-ranked Florida in the semifinals, while the Razorbacks survived a close overtime win over Ole Miss to advance. Both teams have been led by strong guard play, with Vanderbilt's Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles going up against Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. The Razorbacks handed the Commodores their most lopsided loss of the season earlier this year, but Vanderbilt has been on a roll lately, winning four straight games away from home.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top teams in the SEC, with the winner earning the conference tournament championship. Both squads have been led by their elite guard play, setting up an intriguing battle between the backcourts. The outcome could have implications for the teams' seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The details

Vanderbilt (26-7) is looking to win its first SEC tournament title since 2012, while Arkansas (25-8) is seeking its first conference tournament championship since joining the SEC. The Commodores routed top-seeded Florida in the semifinals, while the Razorbacks survived a close overtime game against Ole Miss to advance. Vanderbilt has been led by the guard duo of Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles, who have been a "wrecking crew" this season with their quickness and playmaking ability. Arkansas counters with its own elite backcourt of SEC Player of the Year Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. The Razorbacks handed Vanderbilt a 93-68 loss in their previous meeting this season, taking advantage of their height advantage at the guard positions.

  • The SEC tournament final will be played on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Vanderbilt and Arkansas both won their semifinal games on Saturday, March 14, 2026 to advance to the championship.

The players

Tyler Tanner

Vanderbilt's starting point guard, a first-team All-SEC selection who is averaging 19.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.

Duke Miles

Vanderbilt's starting shooting guard, who is scoring 16.5 points per game and adding 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals.

Darius Acuff Jr.

Arkansas' starting point guard and the SEC Player of the Year, averaging 22.7 points and 6.5 assists per game.

Meleek Thomas

Arkansas' starting shooting guard, who is scoring 15.6 points per game and played all 45 minutes in the Razorbacks' overtime win in the semifinals.

Mark Byington

Vanderbilt's head coach, who led the Commodores to the SEC tournament final.

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What they’re saying

“Proud of the guys. Not really much celebrating. It's on to Sunday, and that's what we started this tournament for, is to play for a trophy on Sunday, and that's what we have a chance to do tomorrow.”

— Mark Byington, Vanderbilt Head Coach (statenews.net)

“There is no one that would say to Meleek anything that would believe him to believe he's not as good as good as any player in the country. He has otherworldly -- otherworldly, now -- confidence. Like, he could run for president one day. ... I've gotta let him do some crazy stuff. I get on him but he'll look at me like, 'You're nuts. You don't have any idea how good I am.' And I love that.”

— John Calipari, Arkansas Head Coach (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of the SEC tournament final between Vanderbilt and Arkansas will earn an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This championship matchup features two of the top guard-oriented teams in the SEC, setting up an exciting battle between the backcourts of Vanderbilt and Arkansas. The outcome could have major implications for the teams' seeding and paths in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.