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Storms, McEwen selected to All-SEC preseason team

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Storms, McEwen selected to All-SEC preseason team

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. — Returning All-SEC selections, senior Autumn Storms and junior Hannah McEwen have been named to the 13th annual SEC preseason all-SEC team announced by the league office Wednesday morning.

Storms signed off on the 2019 season after having the most successful year of her career and for her success was an All-SEC second team selection and NFCA second team All-American as well.

Storms had a team-best 1.54 regular-season overall ERA and a 1.60 ERA against SEC opponents.

She dominated the circle in conference play, ranking first among SEC pitchers for walks allowed per seven innings and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Storms recorded 15 complete games over the course of her junior campaign, including four shutouts en route to her 20-9 record.

Storms named NFCA second team All-American

McEwen was only one of two players to start all 58 games of the 2019 season, finishing out her sophomore campaign as the SEC regular season hits leader (73).

She is the first Razorback to finish the regular season batting .400 or better and only the second Razorback to make the single season top 10 hit list twice.

McEwen’s power at the plate was recognized by league coaches as she was named to the All-SEC first team in May of 2019, becoming only one of three Razorbacks to ever earn the honor.

McEwen and Storms named to All-SEC teams

Arkansas was one of four SEC teams to have multiple players honored, joined by Alabama (3), LSU (2) and Tennessee (2). In a class-by-class breakdown, the 2020 team consists of six seniors, six juniors and two sophomores.

The Preseason All-SEC Softball Team is voted on by the league’s head coaches and consists of a minimum of 14 players.

Each SEC head coach voted for five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, one catcher and one designated player/utility. No ties were broken.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Razorbacks hit road for mid-week matchup with Mississippi State tonight

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks hit road for mid-week matchup with Mississippi State tonight

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (14-3) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (11-6)
What: Arkansas’s second trip to the Magnolia State in 10 days
When: Wednesday – Jan. 21, 2020 – 6:00 pm (CT)
Where: Starkville, Miss. – Humphrey Coliseum
• TV: SEC Network (Mike Morgan and Jon Sunvold) CLICK HERE to Watch ESPN/SEC Network Online
• 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)
• Online: HitThatLine.com will have all action, starting with pregame at 5:30 p.m. HERE

FAYETTEVILLE —Arkansas completes a run of playing six of 10 games on road with a road contest at Mississippi State tonight.

Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be telecast on the SEC Network.

You can also listen to the game online HERE and on radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Pregame starts at 5:30 p.m.

Against Mississippi State

• This will be the 63rd meeting between Arkansas and Mississippi State. The Razorbacks own a 33-29 advantage in the series, including a 28-25 since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1991-92.

• The series has been dominated by the home team as each team is 21-7 versus the other when playing at home.

• Mississippi State has won four straight (snapping a 5-game win streak by the Razorbacks).

Last season

•  Arkansas had a cold start to the second half and Mississippi State used a 23-1 run to get a 77-67 win at Bud Walton Arena.

• Arkansas, who led by six at halftime, scored the first two points of the second half on two free throws by Daniel Gafford, but the Razorbacks would ultimately miss its first 14 shots from the field. Mississippi State went from down eight to up 14 midway through the second half.

• However, Mason Jones, who tied a then career-high with 30 points, kept Arkansas within striking distance. The Bulldogs never folded and Quinndary Weatherspoon thwarted Arkansas’ final push with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put his Bulldogs up 12 with three minutes to play.

• Weatherspoon finished with 22 and was joined in double figures by Tyson Carter (18), Reggie Perry (12) and Robert Woodard II (10).

How Arkansas off-sets rebounding deficit

• While Arkansas only ranks 177th in the NCAA in defensive rebounds, they are getting a school-record 70.7 percent of available rebounds on the defensive end (25.88 defensive rebounds per game and opponents only 10.7 offensive rebounds per game).

• Mason Jones ranks 6th in the SEC in defensive rebounds per game (5.2).

• Arkansas still leads the NCAA in 3-point defense, opponents make just 23.4%.

• Arkansas is 1st in the SEC in fewest turnovers per game (12.1).

• Arkansas is 1st in the SEC in forcing the most turnovers per game (17.53).

• Arkansas is 2nd in the SEC In assist-to-turnover ratio (1.05).

Taking care of the ball in SEC play

• In SEC play, Arkansas leads the league in fewest turnover (8.8/gm) and forcing the most turnovers (15.6). The Hogs have a league-best turnover margin of +6.8. The next closest is Alabama at +2.6.

• In SEC play, Arkansas has 61 assists and a league-low 44 turnovers for an SEC-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.4.

Arkansas has best scoring duo-trio in SEC

Arkansas is the only team in the SEC to feature:

• Two players in the league’s top 5 for scoring for the season in Mason Jones (4th-18.2) and Isaiah Joe (5th-17.5)

• Three players in the league’s top 20 for scoring for the season with Jones, Joe and Jimmy Whitt, Jr., (11th-14.8)

Arkansas is the only team in the SEC to feature:

• Two players in the league’s top 7 for scoring in SEC play in Joe (6th-tied-17.8) and Whitt (6th-tied / 17.8)

• Three players in the league’s top 16 for scoring in SEC play with Joe (6th-t-17.8), Whitt (6th-t-17.8) and Jones (16th / 14.8)

Isaiah Joe on Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List

Arkansas sophomore Isaiah Joe was named to the 2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today. VOTE HERE

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Neighbors on contrasting style facing Hogs against Georgia on Thursday night

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas’ game with the Bulldogs at Bud Walton Arena on Thursday will offer a very different style of play and how the Hogs can set the tempo is key in game.

Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

???? Halftime Pod — Franks to Fayetteville, Nikki on recent recruits, rebounding against MSU and more!

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod — Franks to Fayetteville, Nikki on recent recruits, rebounding against MSU and more!

Phil & Tye on Feleipe Franks picking Fayetteville, Nikki Chavanelle joins the program, Hagans on the Bud Walton atmosphere and more!

Kjerstad picks up another All-American honor, this time from ‘D1 Baseball’

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Kjerstad picks up another All-American honor, this time from ‘D1 Baseball’

FAYETTEVILLE — Heston Kjerstad has been named a preseason first team All-America honoree by D1 Baseball, according to an announcement Tuesday.

It is the second time this winter he’s been recognized on a first team ballot, getting the same recognition from Collegiate Baseball, and third overall, as Perfect Game placed Kjerstad on the outlet’s second team list.

A junior from Amarillo, Texas, Kjerstad put together a .327 batting average last year over 65 starts, leading the team in hits (87) and home runs (17).

It was the second consecutive season he’s tallied 87 knocks, as he drove in 51 RBIs and scored 53 runs in 2019.

With his 58 RBIs in 2018, the feat made him the first Razorback to have 50 or more in his first two seasons since Rodney Nye in 1988 and 1999.

He finished the year with 24 multi-hit performances, good for third on the team, with half of his multi-hit games consisting of three or more. Kjerstad finished the 2019 season as a Second Team All-SEC honoree.

The 2020 slate kicks off with Eastern Illinois for the second-straight season, beginning on Friday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday

Laird puts up another 9.9 on bars as Razorbacks fall to Oklahoma on Monday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Laird puts up another 9.9 on bars as Razorbacks fall to Oklahoma on Monday

NORMAN, Okla. — Junior Sydney Laird followed her top performance on bars last week with another top scoring routine, but it wasn’t enough for Arkansas against reigning NCAA champion Oklahoma.

The Gymbacks fell to No.1 Oklahoma in the Lloyd Noble Center, 198.175–196.550. Arkansas’ 196.550 is the highest score for the Razorbacks in Norman since 2009.

Just three days from her first 9.9 of the season, Laird followed her top performance on bars with another top scoring routine, complete with beautiful ray and double layout dismount.

Rotation One | Bars

Senior Jessica Yamzon would lead things off with a solid 9.800 performance, sticking her full twisting double layout dismount in the first rotation of the day.

Arkansas had five of six routines score a 9.800 or higher for a combined 49.250 on Bars.

Rotation Two | Vault

Redshirt-junior Sarah Shaffer and junior Kennedy Hambrick with back-to-back 9.850s with a Yurchenko layout half and Yurchenko full respectively. The duo’s stuck vaults helped the Razorbacks improve their team vault score for the second straight week.

Arkansas would finish vault with a 49.025 team score for a total of 98.275 through two rotations.

Rotation Three | Floor

Senior Sophia Carter continued to be a strong anchor for the Razorbacks on the floor, wrapping up the third rotation with her double-back roundoff and double-pike last pass.

Carter scored a team-high 9.900 on the floor to give Arkansas a team score of 49.250.

Rotation Four | Beam

The Gymbacks held steady on the beam, as Yazmon scored a lead-off 9.825 with her back handspring, layout step out series.

Redshirt-freshman Bailey Lovett hit the first 9.900 of the season for Arkansas on beam, showing off her beautiful front aerial, back layout series.

The Razorbacks finished with a 49.025 on the beam.

Up next

The Razorbacks return to Barnhill Arena to host SEC foe and No.12 ranked Kentucky for Crowns and Capes night on Friday evening at 6 p.m.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Franks will add numbers, experience to Hogs’ quarterback group

Andy Hodges
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Franks will add numbers, experience to Hogs’ quarterback group

In a position room short on numbers and experience, Feleipe Franks’ announcement Monday afternoon via Instagram that he’s coming to Arkansas was interesting in a couple of areas.

Of course, nobody knows how it will play out, but you would think the Razorbacks are due to have one of these graduate transfer quarterbacks come in and actually grab the job and do something with it.

Last year there were a couple of those that appeared to have as little interest in winning games as they did being here.

Now it will be Franks’ turn after his visit to Fayetteville last weekend where “how genuine everybody is” made the difference.

That is a positive for new coach Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. A lot of people had him as a lock to join the Les Miles’ experience at Kansas but the new Hogs’ coaches apparently made a pitch and were able to close the deal.

Franks completed 367 of 622 passes for 4,593 yards, 38 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in his Florida career. Franks rushed 189 times for 438 yards and eight touchdowns.

He was injured against Kentucky this past fall. An ankle injury that required surgery ended his 2019 season. Before being injured against the Wildcats, Franks completed 12 of 17 passes for 174 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Franks will be the biggest player in the room right off the bat at 6-foot-6 and 238 pounds. More importantly, he’s the most experienced, particularly in the SEC.

Competing with him will be redshirt sophomore John Stephen Joes, redshirt freshman K.J. Jefferson and redshirt senior Jack Lindsey along with North Texas walk-on transfer Cade Pearson.

‘D1 Softball’ has Razorbacks ranked at No. 21 ahead of start of year

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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‘D1 Softball’ has Razorbacks ranked at No. 21 ahead of start of year

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will start the 2020 season with a No. 21 ranking from D1Softball.com, according to an announcement Monday.

The SEC leads all conferences with ten teams in the Top 25. The Pac-12 is next with five teams, followed by the Big Ten and Big 12 with four. The ACC and Sun Belt each have one team in the rankings.

The D1Softball Top 25 rankings are compiled by polling 10 sportswriters, broadcasters, analysts and coaches from across the nation, headlined by lead writers Rhiannon Potkey and Tara Henry.

Coach Courtney Deifel and the Razorbacks were picked earlier this month to finish seventh in the Southeastern Conference after a vote of the 13 head coaches in the annual preseason poll.

Arkansas is scheduled to begin play for the 2020 season Friday Feb. 7 in Las Cruces, N.M. against UTEP and Bradley.

The Razorbacks will return to Bogle Park on Feb. 20 for the Razorback Invitational that includes Boston University, South Dakota State, Marist and Montana.

The 2020 schedule features two home tournaments, four SEC weekend series and eight additional non-conference games for a total of 32 home games.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Musselman on rebounding problems, not having Vanover eligible hurt

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Eric Musselman thought 7-3 Connor Vanover had a great case to be immediately eligible this year and his absence has caused a big problem getting rebounds at times.

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