Tournament breakdown

Arkansas’ appearance in the Houston Classic will remind some older fans of the Razorbacks’ days in the Southwest Conference, when the Razorbacks faced Texas Tech, Houston and Texas on a regular basis.

This time, the games are mostly an opportunity for Arkansas to test itself against some top competition in a tournament format before opening SEC play at home March 16 against Alabama.

Arkansas is 9-1, but three of the four teams the Razorbacks have played are from cold-weather areas where opponents have had few opportunities to practice outdoors. Texas Tech, Houston and Texas are farther along and should provide Arkansas with a tougher test than Villanova, Valparaiso and Brigham Young.

Today’s game features a marquee pitching matchup between Arkansas’ Ryne Stanek and Texas Tech’s Duke von Schamann, who has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings. Arkansas will face Houston before closing out the tournament against Texas.

Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said staff ace DJ Baxendale will start against Texas because the Longhorns are a bunting team and Baxendale is a good fielder off the mound. Sounds logical, but Van Horn is also a former Arkansas player and he knows how important a victory over Texas remains to longtime Razorbacks fans.

Arkansas wins 2 of 3 games in the tournament, including a victory

over Texas

PREDICTION