NFL
By: Randall Slifer
Arkansas Basketball is getting a shot at redemption this weekend after getting blown out by Auburn at its arena. Every good basketball team has its off days, but Arkansas did not come to play last month. Don’t get me wrong, Auburn played lights out. It would be tough to lose a game where you shoot 57% from the field and 45% from three.
Arkansas Basketball has been playing well and has shown some promise away from Fayetteville. Yes, Arkansas lost to Kentucky at Bud Walton Arena, but when emotions set in, the game can be flipped. Arkansas delivered big losses away from Bud Walton against Mississippi State and LSU, winning by more than 20 points. Every time Arkansas travels to play Oklahoma, it is a close game or a loss, and they pulled off a close win this year against a nearby rival.
March Madness is knocking on everyone’s door, and Arkansas needs to finish strong to be awarded the highest seed possible in the tournament. Making a run as a 6+ seed is fun, but this year is about showing dominance and proving dominance. Let’s take a look at how Arkansas can bounce back and go 1-1 versus Auburn during the regular season:
Is there a new 5-man rotation that could work?
Karter Knox and DJ Wagner have missed the last two games with leg injuries. Karter Knox is dealing with a knee injury, and DJ Wagner is dealing with an ankle injury. They were both labeled “doubtful” heading into the previous matchup for LSU, and there may be a good chance they are doubtful again.
Isaiah Sealy has been getting extra minutes during these two games due to the injuries. He has played well, scoring 10 points over the last 2 games and averaging 14 minutes. As a freshman, he has a lot to learn, and anything more than 15 minutes may be a detriment on the court.
John Calipari introduced putting in Trevon Brazile, Nick Pringle, and Malique Ewin on the court all together. The big man lineup is an interesting approach, and it could really work for the rest of the year and beyond. Big man play in the paint is one of the most important facets of March Madness. If you can out-rebound, create fouls, and create open shots in the perimeter, you can get far in the tournament. The reasons for deploying this lineup would be matchup- or health-related. Should this lineup be used often against Auburn this weekend? I do not believe so.
In the last matchup, Auburn outpaced Arkansas and surprisingly won in transition points. They attacked Arkansas with their own style of play and just beat them handily. Keyshawn Hall is a 6’7, 225lb forward, so he has great handles and can drive to the rim and also shoot long distance. Similar to Brazile, he is someone you need athleticism to cover, not size.
Billy Richmond III is one of Arkansas’ best two-way players, and he needs to be on the court more often this weekend. Richmond averages 23 minutes a game, and I would expect that number to jump up to 30 minutes against Auburn. If you can stick Billy Richmond on Keyshawn Hall, the big 3 can help play defense if he gets past him, but Richmond’s athleticism can help contain him, while everyone else can size up the rest of the line.
Can Arkansas slow down Auburn?
As noted above, Auburn ran the floor against Arkansas in their last matchup. Auburn scored 13 points off turnovers and had 15 fast-break points. This sounds like an Arkansas stat, to be honest. The key difference in this game will be that Arkansas is on its court.
On season average, Auburn shoots 46% from the field and 33% from three. They spiked 11% (12% from three) above their average in their first matchup. Opponents at Bud Walton Arena have shot 30% from three, compared with 45% in their first matchup. Auburn also has a 9-3 home record while having a 2-4 away record. On the road, Auburn has shot 41% from the field and has seen a huge drop in three-point percentage to 24%. Arkansas may not be able to drop its field goal percentage much, but it can dictate the game if it holds Auburn below 30% from three.
Slowing Auburn down will come down to tough defense. Auburn used its speed well to drive to the rim and make a decision after it beat its first man. The help defense was at best average, and on other occasions, it left a wide-open three. Calipari will ensure Arkansas Basketball comes into this game ready to rotate on defense, shuffle with quick feet, and not allow a straight path to the rim. John Calipari will need to make sure his team has the stamina and endurance to run with Auburn and ensure you have a good cushion lead at the end of the 1st half.
Arkansas Basketball takes on Auburn at Bud Walton Arena this Saturday at 8:30 EST/7:30 CST. Vegas correctly got the line on the last matchup, predicting Auburn to beat Arkansas, but I do believe this line will be flipped in Arkansas’s favor. Ideally, Arkansas needs to finish out this season 7-0, because Calipari should be seeking a top 4 seed in March Madness. As always, go Razorbacks.
