Morgan leads SEC in tackles, announces he’s coming back

Andy Hodges
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Morgan leads SEC in tackles, announces he’s coming back

Few single players have embodied what Arkansas fans want in their Razorbacks more than linebacker Grant Morgan and his decision Friday confirmed that.

An original walk-on from Greenwood, Morgan started out on special teams and progressed to this season where he was All-SEC and led the nation in tackles with 111 … before suffering a knee injury against Missouri in the third quarter.

After missing the Alabama game the next week to end the regular season, he finished second nationally behind Troy’s Carlton Martial (113). His 12.3 tackles per game are tied for the most nationally.

Morgan was not asked about coming back for another season in Tuesday’s press conference and most in the media didn’t really expect him to come back as his future plans may include medical school, which wouldn’t surprise anybody.

The guess is Morgan is like what fans want all their Hogs to be like .. they would do just about anything to get one more season of playing when their eligibility is done.

Under a normal season, he could not come back. But with covid-19 changing just about everything in the world, all seniors can come back for another season and everybody was, basically, given an extra year.

Morgan’s return gives the Hogs a powerful 1-2 combination at linebacker with Bumper Pool of experience and leadership.

Barry Odom may be the happiest guy in Northwest Arkansas on this Christmas Day. Having those two back in uniform helps the continued rebuild of a defense that had flashes of success this past season that was balanced with struggles at times.

Morgan is expected to be able to play in the Texas Bowl on New Year’s Eve against TCU in a game that starts at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN in addition to being available here at HitThatLine.com and on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Henry on Franks’ arm, maturity will be positives for NFL teams in evaluations

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hawgs Illustrated’s Clay Henry said Feleipe Franks’ decision to play in Texas Bowl another example of his maturity, which could help in draft position.

King doesn’t think expansion a ‘magic elixir’ for college football playoffs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Nashville Sports Radio’s Bill King is not in favor of expanding the college football playoffs because it won’t come without different complaints.

Halftime Pod Presented By Jeff’s Clubhouse — December 23, 2020

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Halftime Pod Presented By Jeff’s Clubhouse — December 23, 2020

Pate on Auburn’s hiring of Harsin after surprising dismissal of Malzahn

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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247Sports’ Josh Pate said on The Morning Rush if the negatives aren’t real with Tigers and they just wanted a good coach, they got one.

With Catalon not on All-SEC list, Goode do Hogs get snubbed on awards?

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Former Razorbacks and NFL player Brett Goode talked on The Morning Rush about a long-standing lack of respect in awards for the Hogs.

Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Franks playing the Texas Bowl

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Franks playing the Texas Bowl

Tye & Tommy on Franks staying on the squad, Auburn’s new HC, Josh Pate joins and more!

 

Musselman’s coaching was at win over Wildcats even though he was at home

Andy Hodges
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Musselman’s coaching was at win over Wildcats even though he was at home

Eric Musselman was watching Arkansas’ 85-72 win over Abilene Christian on Tuesday afternoon from his house, but his coaching was on full display.

Associate coach David Patrick was running things on the sideline, but he made it pretty clear later he wasn’t changing much about the Razorbacks.

When the Wildcats cut the Hogs’ lead to 77-68 with 3:27 left there were probably some wondering if Musselman’s unexpected absence was going to be the difference.

“Offensively we made a couple of boo-boo’s there at the end that got them some quick shots,” Patrick said later. “Those things are tough. When you’re up 10 with two minutes to go, the other team has nothing to lose, you’ve really got to control the game.”

Until early Tuesday morning Musselman figured he would be on the sidelines. Then he got the call that someone had been in contact with a person who tested positive for covid-19. It’s why he talked Patrick into leaving a head coaching position at California-Riverside for Fayetteville.

“I’m blessed to have been a head coach before so I wasn’t a rookie, so to speak,” Patrick said. “I didn’t try to do my thing. I tried to do what he stressed to the team.”

Musselman will probably give the credit to the ones who were at the game, but it was his tone set in practices leading up to it and his talking to the team earlier today that showed up in the game.

Abilene Christian was touted as being the toughest non-conference opponent for the Hogs before conference play starts Dec. 30 against Auburn.

The Wildcats got down early and the only time they had hope was really too late.

Sure, there’s credit that goes to Patrick and the other coaches. A lot goes to players, who have completely bought in to Musselman’s coaching, absorbed what they have been teaching and Tuesday evening took it to the court.

It showed from the start they listened to what Musselman had been jumping up and down about since the Central Arkansas game when the Hogs started the game by sleepwalking.

“The lesson after the last game, that coach Muss talked to them about, is you can’t underestimate anybody, and you’ve got to come out swinging,” Patrick said. “The guys took the message from our last game and came out focused.”

That was Musselman’s coaching during the week.

Plus defense, which is what Patrick coaches.

“Our defense in the first half was good,” he said. “It wasn’t as good in the second half.”

Until it had to be.

After Abilene Christian got a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 9 with 3:27 left, the Hogs’ defense went to work.

Over the final stretch, Arkansas gave up just a couple of layups while J.D. Notae hit a big 3-pointer and Moses Moody nailed some clutch free throws.

The Hogs didn’t allow a single point for the final 1:02 of the game.

Going into conference play, the Hogs are undefeated. That’s better than any alternative you can name. I don’t care who the opponent is.

Now the challenge is everybody avoiding the coronavirus (or anybody infected) over the holiday break before they come back for practices immediately after Christmas.

Musselman will have the players ready for what he can control.

It’s the things he can’t that drive everybody crazy.

Patrick on filling in for Musselman on short notice on covid protocols

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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The effects of covid-19 hit the Hogs as Eric Musselman was forced into quarantine on contact tracing and David Patrick had to take over Tuesday.

Moody on Patrick’s stepping up, staying safe at home over Christmas break

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs’ Moses Moody (21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks) on assistant coach David Patrick having to coach game, getting to go home over break.

Hogs get early lead, hold on to down Abilene Christian headed to SEC play

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs get early lead, hold on to down Abilene Christian headed to SEC play

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

Arkansas raced to a 22-point lead in the first half and held on in the second to defeat Abilene Christian, 85-72, Tuesday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks improve to 8-0 while the Wildcats drop to 7-2.

Arkansas played without coach Eric Musselman, who was absent due to covid-19 close contact tracing protocols. Associate coach David Patrick served as head coach in the win.

Desi Sills scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half to lead the Razorbacks’ hot start. JD Notae scored 17 of his 19 in the second half to help fend off a feisty Wildcat squad.

Moses Moody led all scorers with 21 points while Justin Smith pulled down 10 rebounds.

The Razorbacks expanded their 16-point, halftime lead to 22 with 14:35 left after a pair of Notae free throws.

With nine minutes to play, Abilene Christian slowly chipped away and worked its deficit to nine (77-68) with 3:27 remaining. However, Notae answered with 3-pointer at the 3:06 mark and the Hogs maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

Arkansas dominated on the boards. 39-28, and was 24-of-30 (80%) from the free throw line while ACU was just 9-of-15 at the charity stripe.

While Arkansas committed 13 turnovers, it was 10 below the season average for an ACU opponent as the Wildcats entered the game with a +8.6 turnover margin. ACU also entered the game averaging 11 steals per game but only had three versus the Razorbacks.

Clay Gayman led ACU with 18 points off the bench, including a pair of 3-pointers to help the Wildcats get to within nine.

Up next, Arkansas opens SEC play on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Auburn. The game will be telecast on ESPN2 and tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 47, Abilene Christian 31

• ACU scored first on a free throw but Arkansas scored the next seven to force an ACU timeout. The Razorbacks would push its lead to 11-1 before Mahki Morris hit two free throws at 15:36. ACU did not make a field goal until hitting a 3-pointer at 15:03.

• The Razorbacks ultimately raced out to a 21-9 lead with 11:43 left before the break.

• Arkansas built a 21-point lead with a 14-6 run over 4:48 to lead 40-19 with 4:14 left.

• Arkansas’ largest first-half lead of 22 points (43-21) came at the 3:33 mark.

• Arkansas shot 54% from the field and forced ACU into seven first-half turnovers.

• Desi Sills led the Hogs with 16 points, making 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

• Arkansas was 15-of-20 at the free throw line while ACU was just 4-of-7.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 36, Abilene Christian 41

• This was the first time Arkansas was out-scored in the second half this season.

• While Arkansas shot 53.8% from the field in the first half, it shot just 34.6% in the second half. ACU only shot 39.4% from the field in the first half but shot 57.1% in the second.

• Despite the lead going from 22 points to nine in the second half, ACU’s largest scoring run was just six points.

Game notes

• Arkansas has won all games this season by at least 11 points.

• This was the first meeting between Arkansas and Abilene Christian. However, acting head coach David Patrick faced the Wildcats as head coach of UC Riverside on Nov. 24, 2018. Patrick lost that game 60-48 in Pacific’s Thanksgiving Tiger Tournament (Stockton, Calif.).

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jalen Tate (G) – Desi Sills (G) – Moses Moody (G) – Justin Smith (F) – Connor Vanover (F) for the seventh straight game.

• For the second straight game, Arkansas did not control the tip. Arkansas is 6-0 when it controls the tip and 2-0 when it does not.

• ACU’s Kolton Kohl scored the game’s first points, a free throw at 19:30. Arkansas’ first points came from Jalen Tate, a layup at 19:16.

• JD Notae was the first sub for Arkansas for the fifth time in eight games.

• Despite winning the game, Arkansas was out-scored by ACU’s bench, 35-27, and the Razorbacks were out-scored 40-24 in the paint.

• Abilene Christian scored the first points of the game, a free throw, and led for just 14 seconds. Arkansas scored on the ensuing possession and led the final 39:16 of the game.

• Arkansas is 8-0 for the second straight year. The last time Arkansas started 8-0 in back-to-back seasons was 1992-93 (8-0) and 1993-94 (10-0).

• Moses Moody has led Arkansas in scoring a team-best three times through the first eight games.

• Moses Moody had a season-high two blocked shots, giving him six for the season.

• Moses Moody recorded his second 20-point game, is the only Razorback to score in double figures in all eight games and is the only Razorback to make a 3-pointer in all eight games.

• Justin Smith recorded his seventh career game with double-digit rebounds. He is just 21 rebounds shy of 500 for his career. He is 79 points shy of 1,000 for his career.

• Desi Sills made a career-high six free throws and his seven attempts as one shy of his career high. He had two steals in the win to give the junior 15. He entered the game as the SEC leader in thefts.

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