FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas basketball will kickoff its 2025 men's NCAA Tournament journey Thursday with a showdown against Kansas.

The Razorbacks (20-13) earned the No. 10 seed in the West Region on Selection Sunday, while the Jayhawks (21-12) are the No. 7 seed. Either No. 2 St. John's or No. 15 Omaha will await the winner in the second round in Providence, Rhode Island.

This game will be a rematch from a preseason exhibition that Arkansas won 85-69 inside Bud Walton Arena.

John Calipari will make his 24th appearance at the NCAA Tournament, but this is his first foray into March Madness with the Hogs. He has an all-time record of 57-22 in the national bracket.

Here is a scouting report and prediction for the Hogs' first-round matchup against Kansas.

Can Arkansas basketball control Hunter Dickinson?

Athletic bigs have given the Razorbacks fits all year. South Carolina's Collin Murray-Boyles and Ole Miss' Malik Dia had strong games against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament. Dickinson doesn't have their athleticism, but he's a dominant post presence who averages 17.6 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Jonas Aidoo and Trevon Brazile's emerging play will help, but the Hogs will have to avoid foul trouble. If Arkansas can hold Dickinson below his season averages, the Hogs have a great chance to secure a first-round upset.

Will the Hogs get to the free-throw line?

The 16-point win when these teams met in the preseason featured plenty of similar stats, but Arkansas took 18 more trips to the charity stripe, and that proved to be the difference.,

Racking up free throws has been a strength for the Arkansas offense throughout the second half of SEC play. Generating free looks will also allow Calipari's defense to defend in a half-court setting, and Kansas has struggled at that end this year.

What will the Razorbacks get from Boogie Fland?

The freshman point guard is poised to return after missing 15 games with a right thumb injury. He torched the Jayhawks with 22 points and five assists in the preseason exhibition.

Replicating those numbers in his first game back from injury feels unlikely, but any positive impact will be a welcome addition for a team using a seven-man rotation that can sometimes struggle creating good shots.

Arkansas vs Kansas prediction: March Madness first round

These two teams will be familiar foes. They played in October and Bill Self and Calipari know each other well. Arkansas probably would have appreciated a fresh opponent, but the Hogs are unquestionably playing better basketball than Kansas at the moment. Arkansas will secure a first-round upset if Johnell Davis has a good game. Arkansas 75, Kansas 70.

Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.