Adou Thiero injury update: Kenny Payne reveals status of Arkansas forward for SEC Tournament

Arkansas will play in the opening game of the SEC Tournament tomorrow against South Carolina. Whether Adou Thiero will play for them while they’re in Nashville, though, remains to be seen by the ‘Hogs.

While speaking to the media on Monday, Kenny Payne, the Razorbacks’ associate head coach, answered about Thiero’s status and if he’d make the trip and try and play at some point while they’re in the conference tournament. With that, he said the team hopes that he will going into this week based on where he is after two and a half weeks off the court.

“We hope so,” said Payne. “I know he’s still doing his rehab. There hasn’t been an update to us yet.”

Thiero has not played since February 22nd due to a hyperextension in his left knee. The program announced at that time that they would continue evaluating it with no timetable for his return but did say that he would not need surgery on it. He has since missed the last four games of the regular season for Arkansas.

Thiero has been the best player this season for the Razorbacks. He has had a career-best season across the board with averages of 15.6 points (54.8% FG), 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals as the leader in scoring, rebounding, and steals for the team. That’s the latest leap in his development under John Calipari after following him by transfer from Kentucky. It also now has him in position to be a selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The ‘Hogs have played well in Thiero’s absence at 3-1 having won four of five to be in better standing for the postseason, specifically being back in the projected field for the NCAA Tournament. Still, to advance at all this week or over this month, Arkansas will need him back in the lineup when he can be following his recovery.

“He’s working to get better and we’ll go from there,” Payne said.

Boogie Fland injury update: Kenny Payne provides latest news on Arkansas guard’s availability

Boogie Fland has not played in almost two months with a season-ending hand injury. It doesn’t yet sound as though that status is changing too much going into the postseason this week.

Kenny Payne was asked yesterday about Fland’s latest status regarding if he’d be able to play again either this week while in the SEC Tournament or their appearance in the NCAA Tournament. His answer was the ‘Hogs weren’t sure either way if he’d be able to be back on the court.

“I have not heard one way or the other on, uh, Boogie,” Payne said on Monday.

Fland, the No. 1 PG and a four-star recruit from On3’s 2024 Industry Rankings, appeared in 18 games this season for Arkansas. He averaged 15.1 points (39.1% FG, 36.5% 3PT), 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in those outings through the non-conference and five games in conference play. That would currently have him first for their team in assists and second in scoring and steals behind only Adou Thiero. He was also their best shooter, especially in the backcourt, with 35 made triples for 1.9 per game.