NFL
By: Randall Slifer
Arkansas Basketball made it through the first week and is heading to the Sweet Sixteen. The tournament has had some surprises, and it is now creating paths to victory. First, I would like to apologize to Darius Acuff Jr. In my previous article, I said that High Point would use its athleticism to limit its two-pointers and that it would need a 10+ assist game to reach 25 points. I was wrong.
*Pic via Allen Iverson IG
Darius Acuff is averaging over 30 points per game and over 6 assists in postseason play. He did not regress when the postseason began, and it looks like there is no end in sight. Darius just signed a deal with Reebok as the first freshman to receive a deal before entering the offseason in the NBA. He scores from everywhere, and Allen Iverson is giving him the green light to be the next great point guard.
Thursday is the toughest task of the postseason by a wide margin. This is not new news to Arkansas Basketball, though. They had a top-15 toughest schedule and played in the SEC. The SEC has 4 teams in the Sweet Sixteen, and has laid some major upsets in the tournament. Arkansas Basketball has played 6 teams in the Sweet 16, including Duke (1 Seed), Michigan State (3 Seed), and Houston (2 Seed). Let’s take a preview at what Arkansas vs Michigan State will look like this coming Thursday:
Can Arkansas size up against Arizona?
The main concern with Arkansas and Arizona is the play in the paint. Arizona has some big men playing in the paint this year, and Arkansas may be out-sized. Let’s take a look at Arizona’s forwards and centers:
*MPG (Minutes per game) PPG (Points per game)
Dwayne Aristode – 6’8 220lb (13.9 MPG/4.1 PPG)
Tobe Awaka – 6’8 255lb (21.1 MPG/9.3 PPG)
Ivan Kharchenkov – 6’7 220lb (27.9 MPG/10.2 PPG)
Motiejus Krivas – 7’2 260lb (25 MPG/10.4 PPG)
Koa Peat – 6’8 235lb (27.5 MPG/13.7 PPG)
The question will be: Can Arkansas stop Krivas? In their matchup against Utah State, Krivas had a double-double with 11 points and a team-high 14 rebounds. The issue is not to get him to stop scoring, but can they limit second-chance points? If Arizona out-rebounds Arkansas on their offensive glass, that could be the difference in keeping it close till the final 5 minutes.
Trevon Brazile got hurt for a moment during the High Point game, and Isaiah Sealy came in for Brazile. Sealy was not ready for the moment, pump-faking a layup and missing. My question is: Why didn’t Nick Pringle come in for Sealy for that moment? Nick Pringle would be a huge addition to play against Arizona, even though he has not been great down the stretch. Nick Pringle can bring aggressiveness on the glass and physicality to temper Arizona’s size. If Nick Pringle posted a stat line of 4 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks, he may be the MVP of this Sweet Sixteen game.
Can Arkansas Basketball guards outpace and play Arizona’s guards?
Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries are quick guards who work well in pick-and-rolls to help out their big men. They continue to work the perimeter until they have an advantage in the paint, then attack and try to score the 2 points. Unlike High Point, they only shoot about 16 threes per game, where High Point shot 21 in the first half of last week’s matchup. The slower pace and offensive objective may work in Arkansas’s favor.
Utah State forced Arizona to turn the ball over 10 times during their matchup; it seemed closer than expected. Tight defense and blocking the perimeter lanes did Utah State good, and Arkansas can follow suit. DJ Wagner plays with incredible tempo and aggressiveness, which can spark the defense to play tight and force turnovers. Maleek Thomas and Trevon Brazile bring incredible length that can close lanes and force adjustments that Ewin and Billy Richmond can take advantage of throughout the game.
Arizona is a fast-paced team, but Arkansas likes to move even faster. Arizona is a slower-paced team this year compared to previous years, but they still play quickly. Darius Acuff and DJ Wagner should push the floor quickly to create mismatches and limit their size in the paint. Darius Acuff and Maleek Thomas can score from the perimeter, and I would expect pick-n-pop threes for Maleek and Darius Acuff, who should handle a lot of iso ball.
Arizona’s size may stunt (Probably Not) Acuff’s drive to the basket, so he may need to look at long twos and threes. The big X-Factor that could control the game is, of course, Billy Richmond. Billy Richmond can defend well in the paint as a double-team against Arizona and attack the rim with his athleticism and high vertical. If Arkansas can get Billy Richmond to emulate his game against Auburn, then Arkansas Basketball is looking to extend its tournament dreams.
When it comes down to crunch time, and the final 5 minutes, Arizona shoots 70% from the free-throw line. Here is a quick look at the big forwards who may need to shoot important free throws:
Kharchenkov: 72%
Koa Peat: 61%
Tobe Awaka: 64%
Cal will need to be crafty in his coaching and not expect Arkansas to show up and win outright. Some smart coaching in the final 5 minutes will determine who advances to the Elite Eight. This Arkansas team seems like a well-oiled machine when the game comes down to the stretch. Arkansas Basketball was rough in the beginning of the year, and Coach Calipari acknowledged that. Now, you can tell that each player is calm and poised and still mistake-free when the game is on the line. There is also a good reason to be calm; the team has Darius Acuff Jr., who doesn’t have a resting heart rate above 65.
Arkansas Basketball takes on Arizona in San Jose at 9:45 EST/8:45 CST. Coach Calipari has stated they have been better in the afternoon, but any extra time to heal and prepare is good in my book. This game is going to be a hard-fought match, and either team can win. If the game comes down to the final minutes, I would not bet against Darius Acuff Jr. As always, Go Hogs!
