St. John’s will meet 10th-seeded Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at Amica Mutual Pavilion after it knocked off No. 7 Kansas 79-72 on Thursday. Here’s a look at the Razorbacks:
— This will be the biggest team St. John’s has faced all season. Arkansas starts two players 6-foot-10 or taller in Trevon Brazile and Jonas Aidoo, and brings 7-footer Zvonimir Ivisic off the bench.
They are seventh in the country in block percentage at 15.3 — the Division I average is 9.4.
— Arkansas has played shorthanded the past few weeks, without leading scorers Boogie Fland and Adou Thiero. Fland, a five-star freshman from The Bronx, returned in the tournament opener from thumb surgery, while Thiero remained out.
Coach John Calipari said Thiero, a 6-foot-8 forward, practiced some on Friday and could play in a limited capacity against St. John’s. He’s been out since Feb. 22 with a hyperextended knee.
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— After starting 0-5 in SEC play, the Razorbacks have come alive, going 10-6 over their past 16 games. Five of those losses came to tournament teams by single digits.
They also won at Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Texas in that impressive stretch.
