FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas fans have always loved to play the “what if” game.
It’s usually coming up with excuses for failures of the past.
Even if they hoist the national championship trophy in April, the “what if” will still be where this Razorback basketball team would have ranked among the all-time greats.
There’s always something. Thank goodness.
Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman during the first half against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Bud Walton Arena. (Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports)
Now we come to less than a week before conference play opens on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge against and LSU team that is 11-1 and probably hasn’t played a schedule on par with the Hogs.
Comparing non-conference schedule is something to leave for the nerds with nothing better to do. Hogs coach Eric Musselman has done his usual thing of getting a team ready for March.
As we’ve said repeatedly, it means absolutely nothing in March how you beat a lower-caliber opponent in November.
With one of the best pure shooters in Trevon Brazile going down with a season-ending knee injury and Nick Smith having a stumbling start trying to get a stubborn knee injury in shape for conference play, some lost hope.
Instead, they may have found some of those other hot-shot freshmen can play pretty well, too.
Arkansas Razorbacks Anthony Black against UNC-Greensboro in a 65-58 close win Tuesday night, Dec. 6, 2022, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. (Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images)
Point Guard Anthony Black
The freshman from Duncanville, Texas, has already become the most unique point guard in the Hogs’ long history going back to Ron Brewer (the old guy in my age group) back in the 1970’s.
Black just might be the best ever at that position for Arkansas.
If he can figure out how to dunk consistently, he would be even better.
Black ranks first on the team in three-pointers made (13), assists (44), steals (22) and defensive rebounds (46), and he is tied for the team lead in total rebounds (59). He is second among active players in scoring (12.6) and total minutes played (399), and third in blocks (7).
Without Brazile, his rebounding inside where the 6-7 guard with the flying hair can go has been huge. His inconsistency with put-backs and break-away dunks and layups will get better, but he is proving to be a nightmare for other teams to match up against.
San Jose State Spartans guard Omari Moore (10) controls the ball against Arkansas Razorbacks guard Davonte Davis (4) during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-58. (Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports)
Davonte Davis Playing More of Sutton-Style Role
Former coach Eddie Sutton took the Hogs to their first Final Four appearance in 33 years in 1978 with Sidney Moncrief showing why he would become one of the best defensive players in NBA history.
Davonte Davis is developing into a role very similar to that.
Musselman has described him lately as one of the best on-ball defenders in the nation.
“He knows when to gamble, he knows when not to gamble,” Muss said. “He puts absolutely immense pressure on the basketball. His defensive tenacity kind of fuels our transition offense a lot of the time.”
Devo wandered around earlier in the year trying to find his role, but now the junior from Jacksonville has appeared to find it … and he’s embracing it.
Arkansas Razorbacks Kamani Johnson during their win over UNC-Asheville on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. (Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images)
Kamani Johnson Has Literally Flown Under Radar
The grad transfer from Little Rock does a lot of little things that add up to quite a bit in the overall analysis.
Against UNC-Asheville’s Drew Pemberton on Wednesday night, he got up under him defensively and held him nearly 15 points below his per game average this season.
Johnson is eighth on the team in minutes per game, but leads the offensive rebounding. Maybe no other stat shows when he gets in, he’s making the most of his minutes adding that key part and grabbing 10 steals.
It’s just another key role Musselman found a way to fill.
Arkansas Razorbacks forward Jordan Walsh looks to drive inside in the exhibition opener against Rogers State on Monday, Nov. 24, 2022, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. (Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images)
Jordan Walsh’s Sudden Emergence at Perfect Time
Maybe none of the other highly-touted freshmen on this team looked as uncomfortable as Walsh did on the floor in early games.
That has changed.
Now he’s emerged as one of the threats in the last two games against Bradley (18 points) and UNC-Asheville contributing with steals and defense.
Arkansas Razorbacks guard Ricky Council IV (1) drives against Troy Trojans guard Aamer Muhammad (2) during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 74-61. (Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports)
Ricky Council IV Probably MVP
Council is a guy who can score just about every way possible.
He finds ways to get the ball in the hole and every team that makes a deep run in March has to have someone like that on the team.
Council was third in the SEC in scoring at 18.3 points per game on 51.6% shooting, good for sixth in the league. He apparently has Musselman’s full trust.
He has played a team-high 422 minutes, and the Razorbacks have been 13.9 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor, per CBB Analytics.
Arkansas Razorbacks forward Kamani Johnson (20) eyes a loose ball in the second half against the Troy Trojans at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 74-61. (Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports)
Defense Drives This Team
Musselman has always stressed that stopping people on the other end is needed as much as scoring points.
The Hogs are inside the top 10 nationally in a pair of key defensive categories — turnover percentage and steal percentage.
The Razorbacks have forced a turnover on 25.6% of opponents’ possessions this season, and they have come up with a steal on 14.6% of possessions. Those figures are a big reason why Arkansas is No. 9 in the country in defensive efficiency.
It has made a killing capitalizing on teams’ miscues. According to CBB Analytics, the Razorbacks are averaging 23.5 points per game off turnovers.
That mark ranks eighth nationally and places the Hogs in the 98th percentile in Division I.
Arkansas Razorbacks guard Nick Smith Jr (3) celebrates in the second half against the San Jose State Spartans at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-58. (Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports)
The Bottom Line Headed to SEC Play
Quit worrying about Smith’s sorting out whatever is going on with that knee, but you might not want to pay attention to these wanna-be folks claiming they “know somebody” that said he’s out for the year.
The guess here is he’s gone to the NBA whether he plays another game or not for the Hogs (although I am convinced his competitiveness will get him on the floor at some point in time).
Regardless, this team is in better shape at this point than the previous two Razorback teams.
In case you needed a reminder, those ended up in the Elite Eight and if you get that far you are within a break or two of getting that national championship.
No “what ifs” should be necessary.
HOGS FEED:
PITTMAN, KIFFIN, FISHER SHARE SAME NIL VIEWS DESPITE COMING FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
WORRY ALL YOU WANT, BUT NICK SMITH’S SITUATION MIGHT BE GAME-TO-GAME FOR A LONG TIME
NOTHING TO INDICATE SMITH MISSING ASHVILLE GAME TIED TO WHAT HAPPENED AGAINST BRADLEY
RAZORBACKS WILL HAVE TO GO IT ALONE IN QUEST FOR NO. 1 SEED
HOGS’ SAM PITTMAN ON WHY RELYING ON PLANE TRACKERS CAN GET PRETTY RISKY FOR FANS
RAZORBACK FOOTBALL HAS GOTTEN UGLY AND IT MAY GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER
ROUGH WEEKEND FOR ARKANSAS FOOTBALL ALL AROUND
HOW FANS CAN HELP PUSH THE TRANSFER PORTAL SHOPPING CART
SAMARA SPENCER, SAYLOR POFFENBARGER KEEP HOGS PERFECT WITH BIG ROAD WIN
CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO DECEMBER SCHEDULE BEFORE MORE COACHES LOSE THEIR LIVES
PITTMAN RIGHT ON HOW PLAYERS IN TRANSFER PORTAL ARE LIKE FUTRE EX-WIVES
FINDING MAGIC IN THE MUNDANE AT RAZORBACK FOOTBALL GAMES
PETRINO IN BETTER PLACE WITH ODOM THAN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH JIMBO FISHER
PAIR OF RAZORBACK LINEBACKERS HANDLE RECRUITING
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