Bucknell @ Arkansas preview

Basically everything went right for Arkansas in its season opener on Friday. Two days later, the Razorbacks hope to mirror that performance when they host Bucknell in a quality non-league matchup.

Arkansas defeated Samford 95-56 on Friday behind a dominant effort that saw the team dish out 28 assists and record 12 dunks in the convincing win. Daryl Macon delivered 16 points and eight assists, and Jaylen Barford added 16 points to pace six double-digit scorers for the Razorbacks. Anton Beard also had six assists, giving Arkansas three players with at least six assists for only the second time since it joined the SEC. That type of unselfishness should lay a solid foundation to defeat Bucknell, which has won the Patriot League regular-season title in six of the last seven years.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT BUCKNELL (0-1): The Bison fell at Monmouth in Friday's season opener, dropping a 79-78 decision on two free throws with five seconds remaining. Zach Thomas tied a career high with five 3-pointers and set career highs with 31 points and 16 rebounds. Nana Foulland added 15 points and Stephen Brown had 11 for Bucknell, which returns 10 of its 13 players from last season's team that nearly upset West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (1-0): Arkansas shot just over 57 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point arc in Friday's opener and forced 19 turnovers while limiting Samford to 32.8 percent shooting and 8-of-29 from the 3-point line. Adrio Bailey was 7-of-8 from the floor for 15 points while Trey Thompson was 4-of-4 and finished with eight points and eight boards. Macon and Barford combined to average 26.2 points last season, when Arkansas earned a No. 8 seed in the Big Dance before losing to eventual champion North Carolina in the Round of 32.

TIP-INS

1. Razorbacks freshman F Daniel Gafford began his collegiate career Friday with 10 points, four rebounds, three blocks and two assists in a 17-minute run.

2. Arkansas coach Mike Anderson has started 2-0 in 14 of his 15 seasons as a head coach. His only 1-1 start was last year.

3. The teams met only once -- in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Bucknell, seeded ninth, defeated the No. 8 Razorbacks by four.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 73, Bucknell 62