Kansas vs. Arkansas live score, updates, highlights from 2025 March Madness Round 1 game

By | March 20, 2025
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As two of college basketball’s most heralded tacticians, Bill Self and John Calipari have enjoyed a slew of captivating contests over the course of their glimmering careers — including a face-off against one another in the 2008 NCAA championship game.

And yet none of those matches share the contours of the duo’s late joust, a first-round spectacle between Self’s Kansas and Calipari’s Arkansas.

The No. 8-seeded Jayhawks struggled mightily through the season, falling well-short of title aspirations en route to a 21-11 record, a fairly pedestrian mark for one of the sport’s most prominent brands.

As for Calipari and his Razorbacks, the 2024-25 season was a bit of a mixed bag. Early on, Arkansas was felled by injuries and a lack of cohesion. But as the weeks wore on and Johnell Davis grew in confidence, victories started to take shape.

Which titan will wield the clipboard to greater effect come the conclusion of Thursday’s match? It’s unclear at present. But Self and Calipari’s rivalry always bears watching, particularly when cased in an NCAA Tournament matchup.

The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Thursday’s prizefight between No. 8-seeded Kansas and No. 9-seeded Arkansas.  Follow below for highlights, live analysis and more as Self and Caliparii rekindle their much-discussed strife.

STREAM: Watch Kansas vs. Arkansas live with Fubo (free trial)

Kansas vs. Arkansas score

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Kansas vs. Arkansas highlights from 2025 March Madness game

8:44 p.m.: The Jayhawks continue to whittle away at the Razorbacks’ advantage. It not sits at just four, with Self employing a zone defense to quell Arkansas’ penetrative quality.

8:40 p.m.: Kansas has found its rhythm ever so slowly, erupting for a 5-0 run of its own. Arkansas leads by six but hasn’t scored in more than three minutes.

8:30 p.m.: The Hogs are starting to put some distance between themselves and the Jayhawks. Opened up the half with a 8-0 run, pushing their lead out to 11.

8:24 p.m.: The second half is underway! And it starts with an Aidoo jumper off his left shoulder. He’s up to 8, three times more than his season average.

End of first half: Arkansas 47, Kansas 44

8:00 p.m.: At halftime, it’s the Razorbacks who hold the slightest of advantages, leading 47-44 over the Jayhawks. Aidoo and DJ Wagner have been the standouts thus far, combining for 28 points thus far. As for Kansas, Dickinson, Storr and Zeke Mayo have 35 points between them.

7:52 p.m.: Boogie Fland returned to the floor for the first time since Jan. 18. He got quite the awakening in the first half, seeing his attempted dunk swatted away by AJ Storr.

7:45 p.m.: Aidoo’s insertion into the staring lineup looks to have worked a treat thus far. The Razorbacks big has impressed with a sumptuous floater at the at the foul line. His latest move was perhaps his move stunning, though; Aidoo corralled an errant runner then proceeded to slam it down in one motion.

He’s up to 12 points on the night. Kansas leads 36-34 with a little less than five minutes left in the first half.

7:35 p.m.: Flory Bidunga records the biggest highlight of the game thus far, throwing a two-handed dunk down right atop Ivisic. The Jayhawks lead by three.

7:27 p.m.: The Jayhawks have responded with a flourish of their own, pulling Arkansas’ advantage to just one amid a flurry of made shots.

7:23 p.m.: Kansas has toiled a bit as of late, sinking just one of its last seven field goal attempts.

7:15 p.m.: The Razorbacks have enjoyed an efficient start to their affair, sinking four of their first five shots attempts, all of which came from different members of the team’s starting lineup.  Arkansas leads 9-5 as we approach the 17-minute mark in the first half.

7:10 p.m.: And we’re off! Kansas and Arkansas’ match is officially underway.

7:05 p.m.: And here’s a look at Arkansas’ starters for tonight’s matchup. Special mention to Jonas Aidoo, who will supplant longtime starter Zvonimir Ivisic in the first five.

6:55 p.m.: Kansas has unveiled its starting five for tonight’s game. It’s a fairly unsurprising bunch, spearheaded by star big Hunter Dickinson.

6:30 p.m.: With 10 Final Four appearances and three national titles between them, there might not be a higher-profile coaching matchup than Self vs. Calipari. Expect some serious fireworks come the end of this one.

6:10 p.m.: The matchup between head coaching titans is about an hour away. The Jayhawks and Razorbacks will take to the floor at 7:10 p.m. ET. They already look to be making themselves at home at Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Kansas vs. Arkansas start time

  • Date: Thursday, March 20
  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

The Jayhawks and Razorbacks are slated to tip off at 7:10 p.m. ET Thursday. The match will be played at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.

SN EXPERT BRACKETS: DeCourcy (Duke) | Bender (Duke) | Iyer (Auburn) | Yanchulis (UConn women)

What channel is Kansas vs. Arkansas on today?

  • TV channels: CBS
  • Live stream: Fubo, Paramount+

Thursday’s Kansas-Arkansas clash will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Cord-cutters can find the action on Fubo and Paramount+..

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5

NCAA Tournament schedule 2025

Round 1

Thursday, March 20

Game Time (ET) TV
No. 9 Creighton vs. No. 8 Louisville 12:15 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 13 High Point vs. No. 4 Purdue 12:40 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV
No. 14 Montana vs. No. 3 Wisconsin 1:30 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 16 SIU Edwardsville vs. No. 1 Houston 2:00 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 16 Alabama State vs. No. 1 Auburn 2:50 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Clemson 3:15 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV
No. 11 VCU vs. No. 6 BYU 4:05 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 9 Georgia vs. No. 8 Gonzaga 4:35 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 15 Wofford vs. No. 2 Tennessee 6:50 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Kansas 7:10 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 13 Yale vs. No. 4 Texas A&M 7:25 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 11 Drake vs. No. 6 Missouri 7:35 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV
No. 10 Utah State vs. No. 7 UCLA 9:25 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 15 Omaha vs. No. 2 St. John’s 9:45 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 12 UC San Diego vs. No. 5 Michigan 10:00 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 14 UNC Wilmington vs. No. 3 Texas Tech 10:10 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV

Friday, March 21

Game Time (ET) TV
No. 9 Baylor vs. No. 8 Mississippi State 12:15 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 15 Robert Morris vs. No. 2 Alabama 12:40 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV
No. 14 Lipscomb vs. No. 3 Iowa State 1:30 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 12 Colorado State vs. No. 5 Memphis 2:00 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 16 Mount St. Mary vs. No. 1 Duke 2:50 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 10 Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 Saint Mary’s 3:15 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV
No. 11 UNC vs. No. 6 Ole Miss 4:05 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 13 Grand Canyon vs. No. 4 Maryland 4:35 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 16 Norfolk State vs. No. 1 Florida 6:50 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 14 Troy vs. No. 3 Kentucky 7:10 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 10 New Mexico vs. No. 7 Marquette 7:25 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 13 Akron vs. No. 4 Arizona 7:35 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV
No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 8 UConn 9:25 p.m. TNT, Sling TV
No. 11 Xavier vs. No. 6 Illinois 9:45 p.m. CBS, Fubo, Paramount+
No. 15 Bryant vs. No. 2 Michigan State 10:00 p.m. TBS, Sling TV
No. 12 Liberty vs. No. 5 Oregon 10:10 p.m. TruTV, Sling TV

Round 2

Saturday, March 22

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD Noon  
TBD vs. TBD 2:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 5 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 6 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 7 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 7:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 8:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 9:30 p.m.  

Sunday, March 23

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD Noon  
TBD vs. TBD 2:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 5 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 6 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 7 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 7:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 8:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 9:30 p.m.  

Sweet 16

Thursday, March 27

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 7 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 7:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 8:45 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 9:30 p.m.  

Friday, March 28

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 7 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 7:30 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 8:45 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 9:30 p.m.  

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 29

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 6 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 8:30 p.m.  

Sunday, March 30

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 2 p.m.  
TBD vs. TBD 4:55 p.m.  

Final Four

Saturday, April 5

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 6 p.m. CBS
TBD vs. TBD 8:30 p.m. CBS

National championship

Monday, April 7

Game Time (ET) TV
TBD vs. TBD 9 p.m. CBS

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