Hogs’ Myron Cunningham boosted the offensive line’s experience level coming back and Sam Pittman’s record putting guys in NFL probably played big part, says Connor O’Gara of Saturday Down South.
Murphy says Hogs’ analytics improved in Saturday’s win over Vanderbilt
Democrat-Gazette writer Tom Murphy noticed the Hogs averaged 1.33 points per possession, which was a dramatic improvement over two losses.
Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Keep the Muss Bus rolling
Tye & Tommy on the road win in Nashville, NFL Playoffs, coaching shakeup with Hog FB and more!
‘Baseball America’ ranks Hogs at No. 14 in preseason poll
Arkansas will begin the 2021 season inside the Top 15 according to Baseball America, ranked 14th in the publication’s preseason poll.
The Razorbacks will begin Dave Van Horn’s 19th season ranked in every major poll released to date. The Hogs are No. 8 according to D1Baseball.com, ranked 20th by Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball News slotted Arkansas 22nd in their preseason poll.
The Razorbacks are one of nine SEC teams inside the Baseball America preseason Top 25. Florida leads the way in the poll’s top spot followed by No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 6 Vanderbilt, No. 8 Mississippi State, No. 10 LSU, No. 18 South Carolina, No. 19 Tennessee and No. 25 Alabama.
Arkansas is coming off an 11-5 record in a shortened season due to the pandemic that came to an end prior to Southeastern Conference play beginning. The Razorbacks final win, however, was Van Horn’s 700th as the Hogs’ skipper.
The Razorbacks officially open preseason practice on Friday in preparation for the team’s season opener against No. 3 Texas Tech on Feb. 19 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Opening weekend at the home of the Texas Rangers will be a challenge for the Hogs with games against No. 3 Texas Tech, No. 12 Texas and No. 13 TCU.
Overall, Arkansas’ schedule features 25 games against 11 teams ranked in Baseball America’s preseason poll, including No. 23 Oklahoma.
The Razorbacks’ home opener is set for Thursday, Feb. 25 as the first of a four-game series against Southeast Missouri State.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Neighbors previews ’Dogs, who do some things that have caused problems
The Bulldogs do some things Mike Neighbors hopes the Hogs have figured out how to play against in previewing Monday night’s game.
Musselman recapping Razorbacks’ win over Vandy behind Moody, Tate
Hogs coach Eric Musselman talked with the media after the 92-71 win over the Commodores as Moses Moody and Jalen Tate combined for 51 points.
Moody’s patience, letting game come to him, keys to big game in win
Razorbacks’ Moses Moody (26 points, 8 rebounds) said after the 92-71 win he was more patient this game after struggling in last two outings.
Smith on Hogs putting together first consecutive wins in SEC this season
Arkansas’ Justin Smith (12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) on putting together another win after downing Auburn to get some momentum.
Listen to Hogs-Van online here or on ESPN Arkansas radio stations
• Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (11-4, 3-4 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (4-6, 0-4 SEC)
• What: The last time the teams met was the final game played by the SEC last season before the rest of spring 2020 was canceled due to covid-19.
• When: Saturday, Jan. 23 – Noon
• Where: Nashville, Tenn., Memorial Gymnasium
• TV: SEC Network (Dave Neal and Jon Sunvold) CLICK HERE
• ONLINE: HitThatLine.com LISTEN HERE
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
Arkansas compiles even more frequent flyer miles with a trip to Vanderbilt this weekend.
The Razorbacks and Commodores will meet for the 51st time in the series on Saturday with tipoff at noon. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
Pregame coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. and you LISTEN HERE or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman will have all the coverage.
• Arkansas leads the all-time series, 38-12, including six straight wins and winning 10 of the last 11.
• Vanderbilt leads 8-7 in games played in Memorial Gym.
• With its game at Vanderbilt Saturday, Arkansas opens SEC play with five of its first eight on the road. Add a game at Oklahoma State (SEC/Big 12 Challenge) to close the month of January, the Hogs are in the midst of playing six of 10 games on the road.
• Vanderbilt has a lot of discipline, ranking second in the SEC in fewest fouls and third in fewest turnovers. Vandy is also second in the league in free throw percentage and 3’s made per game (9.5).
• Scotty Pippen Jr., lead the Commodores (and ranks second in the SEC) in scoring (21.2 ppg) and assists (5.3 avg). He is also fourth in the SEC in free throws made and free throw percentage while ranking ninth in field goal percentage.
• Arkansas ranks second in the SEC in both free throws made and attempts.
• Desi Sills is coming off a 22-point game in the win over Auburn. It was the second-best scoring output of his career. His career best was a 23-point performance at Auburn earlier this year.
If Cooper is out, could former Razorback Gragg be next TE’s coach?
There were multiple reports Friday that Arkansas tight ends coach Jon Cooper is out and it just so happens a possible replacement that could fit is in town.
Warren native Chris Gragg, who spent last season as a graduate assistant working with wide receivers for Memphis, might be a good choice to take that spot.
It was also interesting to see he was apparently in Fayetteville this week.
On the hill for a few….
— Chris Gragg (@Gragg80) January 22, 2021
With Sam Pittman’s first requirement recruiting, Gragg knows the landscape in Arkansas and getting players. He also has first-hand experience playing tight end in addition to wide receiver.
In high school, he was a wide receiver and part of three Lumberjacks that Bobby Petrino rounded up in his first class in 2008 along with Jarius Wright and Greg Childs.
Gragg had 72 catches at Arkansas for 1,003 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
He was drafted by Buffalo and played three seasons there before winding up his career in Philadelphia.
Pittman has been juggling the staff with linebackers coach Rion Rhoades fired and replaced by defensive quality control staffer Michael Scherer.
Scherer was a linebacker at Missouri from 2012-2016. He chose the Tigers and Hogs’ defensive coordinator Barry Odom (then Missouri’s coach) out of high school from St. Louis Country Day.
He may have been Odom’s first choice to coach linebackers all along and part of the deal for him to back away from reported opportunities at LSU and Texas was getting his first choice as the linebackers coach.
Scherer was an on-field coach for the Hogs against Florida when Odom served as the head coach for one game while Sam Pittman recovered from covid-19.
On Friday, multiple media outlets reported Cooper was out as the tight ends coach.
That creates an opening Gragg could be a good choice to fill.
Dolan talks about passing of Aaron, Hogs’ basketball, baseball on Halftime
Television announcer Brett Dolan on the impact of Hank Aaron beyond baseball plus the Hogs’ game at Vandy and preview of baseball season.
