If you’ve spent any time at the Jack Stephens Center lately, you know the vibe is different. It’s not just the maroon and silver everywhere or the smell of fresh popcorn. There is this weird, tense energy in the air because the Little Rock Trojans basketball program is currently in the middle of a massive identity shift. People outside of Central Arkansas basically think the team is just "that mid-major that occasionally upsets a giant," but honestly? It’s way more complicated than that right now.
The 2025-26 season has been a total roller coaster. One day you’re watching them grind out a tough road win at Lindenwood, and the next, you’re wondering how a team with this much talent is sitting near the middle of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) standings.
The Johnathan Lawson Factor and the Injury Bug
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Injuries. Every team deals with them, but what happened to the Trojans this year is just cruel. Losing both KK Robinson and his younger brother Kellen Robinson to season-ending knee injuries before the first tip-off was a gut punch. KK was supposed to be the engine. He averaged over 15 points and 4 assists a couple of years back. Without him, the backcourt had to be rebuilt on the fly.
Darrell Walker, the head coach who’s been here since 2018, has had to get creative. He’s leaning heavily on Johnathan Lawson.
Lawson is a freak of nature in the best way. He’s 6'7", he’s a senior, and he basically does everything. He played at Creighton and Memphis before coming home to Little Rock, and you can see that high-major pedigree in every move he makes. Earlier this month, he actually bagged the OVC Player of the Week honors. He’s currently leading the charge with around 15.4 points per game, but it’s his ability to play almost any position that keeps the Trojans alive.
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When you watch him, it’s not just the scoring. It's the way he rebounds and finds open teammates when the defense collapses on him. Without him, this season would likely be a total wash.
Life in the OVC: It’s Gritty
A lot of fans still miss the old Sun Belt days, but the OVC is a different kind of beast. It’s physical. It’s defensive.
As of mid-January 2026, the men's team is sitting at roughly 8-10 overall and 5-2 in conference play. That’s actually not bad considering they started the season 2-9. They were getting hammered by teams like Marquette and West Virginia early on. But that’s Walker’s strategy—he schedules these brutal non-conference games to toughen them up for the January and February grind.
Then you’ve got the women’s team.
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Steve Wiedower is the guy now, taking over the massive shoes left by the legendary Joe Foley. People were worried. Foley was a god in Little Rock—over 800 career wins and more rings than he had fingers. But Wiedower has them playing some inspired ball. They are currently 9-9 overall but a solid 5-2 in the OVC. They just beat Eastern Illinois and are heading into a massive showdown against Western Illinois.
The women's team is built on defense. They always have been. Even with ten new players on the roster this year, that "Little Rock style" hasn't disappeared. They trap, they rotate, and they make you hate every second you have the ball. Jordan Holman has been a bright spot, especially at the free-throw line where she’s hitting 82%.
The "Pack the Rock" Movement
There’s this big push for the February 21st doubleheader against Southeast Missouri State. They’re calling it "Pack the Rock."
If you haven’t been to the Jack Stephens Center, you’re missing out. It only seats about 5,600, but it’s designed so everyone is right on top of the action. Darrell Walker is always saying that when the place gets loud, it literally swings the momentum. It’s a 149,000-square-foot facility that feels like a high-end NBA practice arena but with the soul of a college gym.
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Why the Next Few Weeks Matter
Look, the Trojans aren't just playing for wins right now; they’re playing for a legacy. This program has seen the highs—like that 2016 NCAA Tournament upset over Purdue that everyone still talks about. But they've also seen some lean years.
The real story of Little Rock Trojans basketball in 2026 is one of resilience.
They lost their star point guard. They lost his backup. They had to integrate a dozen new faces on the women’s side. And yet, both teams are currently in the hunt for an OVC title. It's not pretty, and it's definitely not perfect, but it's entertaining as hell.
What You Should Do Next
If you're looking to actually support the team or just keep up with the chaos, here is the move:
- Check the February Schedule: The home stand starting mid-February is where the season will be won or lost. Specifically, mark February 21 on your calendar for the "Pack the Rock" event.
- Watch the Guard Play: Keep an eye on the "point guard by committee" approach Darrell Walker is using. Watch how players like Braxton Bayless and the Lawson brothers handle the pressure in the final five minutes of games.
- Follow the Women’s OVC Standings: The women's side is a logjam at the top. A two-game winning streak could realistically put them in first place by the time the conference tournament hits Evansville in March.
- Visit the Jack Stephens Center: Honestly, just go. Tickets are usually affordable, and seeing Johnathan Lawson in person is worth the price of admission alone.
The season is far from over. In the OVC, anyone can beat anyone on a Thursday night in January. But the Trojans have a knack for peaking at the right time. Whether they can pull off another miracle run to the Big Dance remains to be seen, but betting against Darrell Walker or the "Foley-built" culture on the women's side is usually a bad idea.