Having a versatile, experienced point guard is key to any basketball team at any level being a contender. Unfortunately for No. 21 Arkansas, their versatile and experienced point guard hasn’t quite lived up to expectations early in the 2025-26 season.
Junior D.J. Wagner, who followed head coach John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas after his freshman season, has started in all five games for the Razorbacks this season, but through five games, Wagner hasn’t looked like himself. Wagner is averaging only 8.0 points per game — a would-be career-low — and is shooting a career-low 35.3% from the field.
In Arkansas’ cardiac event-inducing 84-83 win over Winthrop on Tuesday, Wagner — a fixture of Arkansas’ starting lineup in all five games this season — played a season-low 18 minutes and scored only two points, both of which came from the foul line. His 0-5 performance from the field was the first time Wagner has been blanked from the floor since he was held scoreless in a win over Troy on November 13, 2024.
John Calipari may have to change Hogs’ starting lineup
Wagner is more of a floor general than a prolific scorer at the guard spot, but Calipari may soon be forced to make a tough decision regarding his veteran point guard. For an Arkansas team that has looked flat in wins over Samford and Winthrop, a spark may be needed to light a fire under the Hogs early in games.
Enter freshman guard Meleek Thomas, who leads Arkansas in scoring with 19.4 points per game. Thomas has shot his way into the headlines off the bench, but despite not yet being inserted into the starting lineup, he’s logged the most minutes of any Razorback.
Calipari praised Thomas after he scored 26 points in Arkansas’ narrow win over Winthrop on Tuesday.
“I don’t have a whole lot of guys that can do what he does, just go get baskets in bunches,” Calipari said of Thomas.
Calipari is not afraid to change his lineup when he deems it necessary. Florida State transfer Malique Ewin started for Arkansas against Winthrop on Tuesday, only to be pulled after less than five minutes. Calipari has made it clear to his players that if they’re not producing, he has no qualms about sitting them on the bench.
Wagner’s presence is still a huge positive for Arkansas, and his experience will be invaluable to a young squad, especially in the postseason.
But for the moment, Arkansas needs more out of its starting point guard, and it may be time for Calipari to experiment with his starting lineup early in the season while he still can.
Wagner and the No. 21 Razorbacks will see their next action on Friday when Jackson State visits Bud Walton Arena.
