Preview: Arkansas at Alabama in SEC Showdown TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — A pivotal Southeastern Conference men’s basketball clash with postseason seeding implications is set for Wednesday night as the Arkansas Razorbacks visit the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum. Both teams enter on hot streaks, with Arkansas (19-6, 9-3 SEC) winning five of its last six and Alabama (18-7, 8-4) victors in four of its last five. The matchup features two of the nation’s most dynamic guards in a potential shootout. The Razorbacks are powered by sophomore sensation Darius Acuff Jr., who is averaging 26.1 points and 6.3 assists over his last seven games. He is coming off a 31-point, 7-assist performance in an 88-75 win over Auburn last Saturday, where Billy Richmond added 25 points. Alabama counters with its own elite playmaker in Labaron Philon. The sophomore guard has been stellar, averaging 19.7 points and 5.1 assists over the same stretch, including a 25-point, 6-assist effort in a road win at Auburn on Feb. 7. In the Tide’s 89-75 win over South Carolina last Saturday, Philon had 19 points and six assists, supported by 20 points from Aden Holloway. The game pits Arkansas’s momentum against Alabama’s potent home-court advantage. The Crimson Tide’s high-octane offense, which has topped 90 points in three of its last four wins, will test an Arkansas defense that has held its last three opponents under 70 points. With both teams jockeying for position in the crowded SEC title race and seeking to bolster their NCAA tournament resumes, Wednesday’s contest offers a critical opportunity. A win for Arkansas would solidify its top-tier conference standing, while Alabama looks to defend its home floor and close the gap in the league standings. The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. EST tipoff on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, and will be televised on the SEC Network.