For an audio preview of tonight’s contest, click here to hear the Gameday Insider with Morning News sports writers Nathan Allen and Ryan Malashock.

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Many Arkansas fans weren’t even alive the last time the Razorback basketball program lost 9 of 10 games. The year was 1972, in fact, and current coach John Pelphrey hadn’t yet turned 4 years old when the Larry Van Eman-coached Hogs lost again to drop 10 of 11. A similar fate awaits Arkansas tonight when No. 23 LSU visits Bud Walton arena if the Razorbacks don’t overachieve in every way.

No. 23 LSU (21-4, 9-1) at Arkansas (13-10, 1-9)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville
TV: None
Radio: 107.9-FM, 92.1-FM, 105.3-FM, 97.9-FM, 1290-AM in our readership area
Line: LSU by 4.5
Series: Arkansas leads 28-19 (Arkansas leads 13-4 in Fayetteville)
Last Meeting: LSU beat Arkansas 79-69 on Jan. 31 in Baton Rouge, La.

About LSU

Under-manned Arkansas outplayed LSU for 15 of the last 20 minutes on Jan. 31, when the Tigers beat the Hogs 79-69 in Baton Rouge, La. But fueled by Bo Spencer, Marcus Thornton, Tasmin Mitchell and Chris Johnson, LSU simply overwhelmed Arkansas in the first half. And the Tigers have only gotten better since then.

LSU, the only ranked Southeastern Conference team, has won six straight under first-year coach Trent Johnson. The Tigers 4-1 on the road in the SEC, but will be without Spencer, the sophomore point guard who made 5 of his 6 shots from 3-point range in the teams’ first meeting.

The Tigers did struggle in nonconference losses to Texas A&M, Utah and Xavier. But Thornton (21.4 points per SEC game) and Mitchell (20.6) have scored at a phenomenal pace during league play.

Players To Watch

Arkansas
Michael Washington, 6-9, 239-pound junior forward

It’s time for the McGehee native to lead Arkansas to a victory. Washington has been solid all season — as his stats indicate (16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds) — but he hasn’t been as productive in his last three games. Washington had one of his better SEC efforts against LSU, scoring 24 points on 11-of-21 shooting and grabbing five rebounds.

LSU
Terry Martin, 6-6, 210-pound senior guard

The Tigers actually gain experience with the loss of Spencer. Martin, normally LSU’s sixth man, shifted to the starting lineup with Spencer out against Ole Miss on Saturday. He is known most for his 3-point shooting ability. Martin has made only 5 of his 20 shots from 3-point range but tallied 11 points Saturday.

Gameday Links

• Here’s my story in today’s Morning News on LSU’s success on the road. Robbie Neiswanger has the scouting report on Mitchell, the Tigers’ surging scorer, and here are my keys to an Arkansas victory.

• Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate describes how LSU won’t let his Tigers underestimate Arkansas. Laney also writes about the lack of depth behind Spencer.

• LSU’s quality bench play is the topic of Jim Kleinpeter’s story in the New Orleans Times Picayune.