NCAA tournament puts spotlight on 'NBA-ready' Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are one of the hard-working teams that have made it to the Sweet 16, and since they're a No. 4 seed, it certainly wasn't promised. Arkansas will take on the No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats on Thursday, March 26. So, three No. 1 seeds are left in the NCAA Men's Tournament: Michigan, Duke and Arizona. Arkansas is tasked with taking on one of them. The initial 68 teams are down to the Sweet 16. The action gets going again on Thursday, March 26, in San Jose, California, with Purdue vs. Texas, and the next round of games wraps up on Friday, March 27, with Iowa State and Tennessee. By the end of the night on Friday, the Elite 8 will rise. Following the NCAA tournament, the NBA draft will be on the basketball radar. Heading into the event, ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo has put together a mock draft of where he believes college players will land. "They are informed by ongoing conversations with NBA executives and scouts, as well as my own evaluation process from time spent on the road at games and watching film," he says in the piece. "With conference tournaments getting underway and a prospect-heavy NCAA tournament one week out, here are our latest projections looking ahead to the 2026 draft." Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas is a favorite to go early in the draft. Woo has him going as the No. 7 pick to the Dallas Mavericks. "Acuff was named SEC Player of the Year after a stellar season that solidified him as a lottery pick," Woo states in the piece. "His ability to navigate tight spaces on the court, create his own offense and find teammates has been a major separator." More sports news: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Tickets Soar to Record for Duke, UConn Games The only downside, thus far, is his defensive skills. But they're on display at March Madness. "NBA teams have concerns about his defense, but it's hard to deny Acuff's ability to manufacture points, Woo notes. "There's variance of opinion on how he stacks up long term against his peers, but Acuff is the most NBA-ready of the four guards." So, when Acuff and Arkansas take the stage on Thursday, they'll be playing to win and for a good draft spot.