NFL
By: Randall Slifer
Arkansas Basketball handled its business in round 1 versus Hawaii. Arkansas maintained the lead from wire to wire and won by 19 points. A lot of aspects of Arkansas Basketball went right, but some things can be worked on. The best thing about March Madness is that, with a good coach, you can adjust your identity game by game and improve week by week.
Arkansas will take on High Point on Saturday in the round of 32. High Point played an excellent game and upset Wisconsin, the first 12-to-5 seed upset. They are riding high on that win. Arkansas will need to tame its energy if they want to make it to the next weekend. Let’s take a look at what Arkansas did in round 1, and a preview of their matchup against High Point:
What went right?
There were a lot of things that went right in this matchup versus Hawaii. Arkansas Basketball was built for teams like Hawaii, and they stayed focused and got the job done. Nick Pringle was held out of this game due to injury. The brightest light came from Malique Ewin.
Malique Ewin was the most efficient player, filling the stat sheet. Ewin shot 6-8 from the field and posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. He also had 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and went 4-4 at the charity stripe. Malique Ewin and Trevon Brazile played in sync the whole game, and at times they looked like a couple of guards. Brazile sent an alley-oop to Acuff this game. Malique Ewin sent an alley-oop to Brazile. These connections are signs that Arkansas Basketball can make a deep run. Our bigs were rough on defense, and they never looked like they were playing as a unit until today.
Maleek Thomas unleashed himself in this game as well and let it be known that he is a 1b to Darius Acuff’s 1a. Maleek Thomas went 9-16 and scored 21 points, mainly as two-pointers. Maleek’s best game is his three-point shooting, and now High Point will need to watch him in the paint as well. DJ Wagner brings the energy all game and plays tight defense on the perimeter. It is something that is lacking on this Arkansas team.
Overall, the team looked like they were playing for each other, and they were selfless in doing so on Thursday. Arkansas Basketball out-rebounded Hawaii by 12, had 26 assists, and was able to get Hawaii to turn the ball over 11 times. This type of selfless ball is how you make it to the Final Four.
How will Arkansas attack High Point?
High Point is going to be buzzing in Portland come Saturday after their close win against a team that was very hot at the end of their season. High Point has a guard who can isolate himself and be successful, and they rebound very well. The team wants to play a game similar to Arkansas’s: fast, with transition points as the name of the game.
High Point guard Rob Martin posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 assists and was a big reason High Point advanced to the round of 32. He gets to the paint like Acuff, scores on layups, while shooting 40% from three. High Point has monsters who can rebound in Cam’Ron Fletcher and Terry Anderson, and both those strengths can be Arkansas’ weaknesses.
Arkansas will need to out-rebound High Point. High point is a smaller team, which helps Arkansas out. Their main contributors do not reach over 6’8, but they are very athletic. Trevon Brazile and Malique Ewin have an opportunity to attack the paint to get easy twos when needed, and will need to be as big as they can on the glass. High Point only had 34 rebounds on Thursday, while Arkansas had 39 rebounds against a Hawaii team with multiple players over 6’8, including one standing at 7’0 tall.
High Point shot 40 (made 15) three-pointers against Wisconsin and scored 83 points. They shot 42% from the field and 38% from three. Hawaii kept its game against Arkansas closer than it should have been, shooting non-contested threes in the first half. Coach Calipari will need to make sure the whole team is defending the perimeter and let the guys in the paint go 1-on-1. I expect Arkansas’ height to be an advantage when defending the paint. If High Point plans on shooting 40 three-pointers (which I think they will) against Arkansas on Saturday, they will have to lower High Point’s made three-pointers from 15 to 12 or 13. This will force their game plan to adjust, falling into Arkansas’ lap.
Darius Acuff showed the world today that he can score any two-pointer on the court against Hawaii. High Point was watching that unfold live in Portland, and their athleticism could do a better job of containing Acuff in the paint than Hawaii could. Darius Acuff will need to adjust his game plan and get ready for a 10+ assist game and a 5+ made three pointers if he wants to get back to 25 points against High Point. If Arkansas can pull out this win against High Point, and Darius Acuff has won each game in two different styles, the Sweet 16 will be a tape-watching nightmare.
Arkansas Basketball takes on High Point Saturday (time TBA), still in Portland, Oregon. I expect this game to be very high-scoring, and Arkansas typically performs well in such games. Expect Malique Ewin to ride his wave into game two, and Trevon Brazile will be another walking highlight. This team is playing for each other, and it shows. Can Arkansas Basketball get to the Sweet 16 in back-to-back years in Coach Calipari’s first two years? I think there is a good chance, and as always, Go Razorbacks!
