NFL
By: Randall Slifer
Arkansas Basketball notched another top-25 win on its schedule last week versus Texas Tech. It was Arkansas’s first top 25 win away, and they’re looking to get another big win away from their court. Arkansas is heading to Houston to take on 8th-ranked Houston in a big-time matchup this weekend.
Arkansas has faced a tougher schedule this season. Houston will be their 5th top-25 opponent this year. Arkansas is 2-2 while facing three top-10 teams. Houston has faced only two top-25 teams and has won only against Tennessee by three points. Houston lost their Auburn matchup by one at Auburn’s arena, so a close matchup does not go unnoticed.
Let’s take a look at how Arkansas can notch its second top-25 win on the road:
Can Trevon Brazile continue this run?
Before we jump into Trevon Brazile, let’s look at how the starting rosters size up in this matchup:
Darius Acuff Jr 6’3 190lb -G- Kingston Flemings 6’4 190lb
DJ Wagner 6’4 190lb -G- Emmanuel Sharp 6’3 205lb
Maleek Thomas 6’5 185lb -G- Milos Uzan 6’4 195lb
Trevon Brazile 6’10 230lb -F- Joseph Tugler 6’8 230lb
Nick Pringle 6’10 230lb -F- Chris Cenal Jr 6’11 240lb
Trevon Brazile has been on a heater these last couple of weeks. He is playing like he understands his college career is at its end, and showing he can make it in the NBA. In the last 4 games, Brazile has scored 20+ in 3, including the pivotal matchups against Louisville and Texas Tech. He has been dominant on defense, recording 9 steals, 4 blocks, and 21 rebounds.
As you can see above, Arkansas’ size matches up well against Houston, with a slight advantage against Brazile’s matchup. Arkansas has been dominant on the glass in its big wins, but has fallen short on the glass in its losses. Houston is a top-25 offensive rebounding team, averaging over 10 offensive rebounds a game. Arkansas will need to control the game with defensive rebounds to limit Houston’s second-chance points.
Brazile’s versatility and athleticism on the inside and outside make it a mismatch nightmare. Whether Brazile is matched up with Tugler or Cenal, they combine for fewer than 3 blocks per game. Brazile should be able to bully himself into the paint to create fouls, or challenge his defender to play safe and allow him to shoot a three. Brazile is shooting an astounding 47% from three this year.
Has Darius Acuff found his sweet spot?
Darius Acuff has really got into his own on the court, and it has flipped Arkansas on its head in terms of ability. Coach Cal said Darius Acuff Jr. needed to get 10 assists per game to be a 2-way guard and open up the offense. In the past 4 games, Acuff has recorded 36 assists, with 2 games hitting 10 assists. In 3 of those 4 games, he has his field goal percentage above 50% and his three-point percentage above 40%.
The ability to dribble and penetrate the defense has allowed the perimeter shooters to open up and take more clean shots. Coach Cal has expressed that when Karter Knox and DJ Wagner get going, then the team is deep enough to be a problem for every team in the country. Since Acuff has been hitting his assists mark, Karter Knox has scored 5, 11, 20, and 11 points in the past 4 games. DJ Wagner has scored 5, 12, 4, and 10 points. This full team effort has led to a 4-0 run, with hopes of securing the 5th win this weekend.
Has Arkansas figured out how to close games?
A little too hard to determine, but they are certainly working on it. Coach Cal emphasized that the losses to Michigan State and Duke have been good for the team, as they can recognize what they see on tape and adjust accordingly. Arkansas has one of the toughest schedules in the country, and it is paying dividends. Let’s take a look at the recent top-ranked opponents and some stats with 10:00 left in the game:
Arkansas vs Duke
Rebounds: 4 vs 13
Turnovers: 2 vs 2
Fouls: 6 vs 4
Arkansas beat itself up in the final quarter of the game and was bullied off the glass too much to win that game rightfully. Now let’s take a look at the other recent top-ranked matchups:
Arkansas vs Louisville
Rebounds: 8 vs 7
Turnovers: 2 vs 3
Fouls: 3 vs 5
Arkansas vs Texas Tech
Rebounds: 8 vs 4
Turnovers: 0 vs 3
Fouls: 6 vs 4
Arkansas Basketball has played much more disciplined ball when it matters, and it is showing in the win column. Texas Tech has a similar-sized starting lineup to Houston, and I would like Arkansas to follow suit in rebounding and turnovers this weekend. If they play their style of ball and consistently rebound through the entire game, Arkansas Basketball can get another top-25 win under its belt.
Arkansas Basketball heads to Houston to take on the Cougars this Saturday at 5:30 EST/ 4:30 CST. This will be a battle of who can play their style of ball, as Houston focuses on defense and limiting opponents’ points. Arkansas averages 90 points per game while Houston’s defense is only allowing 58 points per game. Arkansas can limit its offensive points, but does not need to worry about Houston scoring high, as they average 78 points per game. I do believe Arkansas Basketball can get it done this weekend because of their size, and the tougher opponents they’ve faced have allowed them to grow more quickly than most NCAA teams. As always, Go Razorbacks!
