No. 4 seed Arkansas faces No. 13 seed Hawaii in the West Region first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Tipoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET, with both teams aiming to advance and face the winner of the Wisconsin-High Point game.
However, both teams are entering the game with key players injured, injuries that occurred during the 2025-26 season. Here are the players from the Razorbacks and Rainbow Warriors listed on the injury report just hours before their first-round matchup.
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The Razorbacks have successfully managed Knox’s absence, as former national champion coach John Calipari used a limited seven-player rotation to compete in the last few regular-season games and the SEC Tournament, where they won the title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The thin Arkansas rotation could become even thinner before the tipoff against Hawaii, as 6-foot-10 forward Nick Pringle was listed as “questionable” in the initial availability report. The senior from Seabrook, South Carolina, was seen standing in the team’s open practice on Wednesday afternoon, wearing a full sleeve on his right leg.
“Pringle dressed out but did not participate in Arkansas’ open practice in Portland today. The Razorbacks are thin enough as it is. Pringle is coming off one of his most impactful performances of the season against Vandy in the SEC Tournament title game,” Inside Arkansas managing editor Curtis Wilkerson tweeted.
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Pringle has been a vital part of the Razorbacks’ surge this season, forming a strong front line with Trevon Brazile and emphasizing defense. He averages 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on 72% shooting from the field over 34 games, but his most notable game so far was in the SEC Tournament championship.
Although he did not score any points, Pringle contributed 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes for Arkansas, which shut down Vanderbilt to win 86-75.
If Pringle is unavailable on Thursday, Calipari might increase the use of 6-foot-10 senior forward Malique Ewin or opt for small-ball with DJ Wagner sharing the court with Darius Acuff Jr., Meleek Thomas, Billy Richmond III, and Brazile.
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In Arkansas’ win over Vanderbilt, Wagner scored 11 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists, while Ewin contributed 4 points.
Meanwhile, Hawaii has two players listed as “out” on the availability report. Tanner Cuff, a 6-foot-7 Evansville transfer, has been sidelined for the entire season due to a preseason knee injury that required surgery. Sophomore point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor is out for the rest of the season with a severe turf toe injury.
Instead of the two guards, Isaiah Kerr and Hunter Erickson have taken on primary ball-handling duties for the Rainbow Warriors, and both have performed well for the team. Kerr averages 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, while Erickson has averaged 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.
