Arkansas Star Boogie Fland Cleared to Play in NCAA Tournament After Long Injury Layoff

John Calipari hopes Fland's return will bolster Arkansas' tournament prospects, but analysts remain skeptical of its impact.

Boogie Fland, Arkansas' standout freshman guard, will return for the NCAA tournament after missing 15 games with a thumb injury sustained in January.
Fland averaged 15.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 18 games before his injury, making him one of the team's most impactful players during the non-conference schedule.
Arkansas turned their season around in Fland's absence, going 9-6 and improving their NCAA tournament chances after starting 0-5 in SEC play with Fland in the lineup.
Analysts, including ESPN's Seth Greenberg and CBS' Seth Davis, question whether Fland's return will positively influence Arkansas' tournament seeding or performance, citing his limited practice time and the team's earlier struggles with him on the court.
Head coach John Calipari's announcement of Fland's return just before Selection Sunday has drawn speculation that it may be an attempt to sway the selection committee's decision-making.