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Jones, Whitt, Joe lead Razorbacks to annual NLR trip against Valparaiso

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Jones, Whitt, Joe lead Razorbacks to annual NLR trip against Valparaiso

Who: Valparaiso Crusaders (7-5) vs Arkansas Razorbacks (9-1)
What: Arkansas’ annual trip to North Little Rock
When: Saturday – Dec. 21, 2019 – 7:00 pm
Where: Simmons Bank Arena – North Little Rock, Ark.

How to follow the game:
• TV/Live Stream: None
• 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)
• Listen to the game at HitThatLine.com: CLICK HERE
• Sirius/XM: streaming online, channel 978
• Live Stats: www.Arkansas.StatBroadcast.com

•Arkansas Game Notes: CLICK HERE
• Tulsa Game Notes: CLICK HERE
• Simmons Bank Arena Game Day/Parking Information: CLICK HERE

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will make its annual trip to North Little Rock to face Valparaiso on Saturday.

Tip-off is set for 7 pm.

The Arkansas women’s team will face UALR on Saturday in North Little Rock as well with that game t starting at 1 pm. Simmons Bank Arena will be cleared between games and fans must purchase separate tickets for both contests.

• This will be the first time Arkansas has ever faced Valpo.

• This will be the 21st time since 1999 Arkansas has played in North Little Rock. The Razorbacks are 11-9 in the previous 20 contests, have won three straight and won six of the last seven.

Arkansas will not play again until Dec. 29 when the Razorbacks are at Indiana. Tip-off for that contest is set for 5 p.m.

No. 23 in first NCAA NET, but no. 12 RPI, no. 10 seed in bracketology

• Arkansas’ NET was 23 in the first official NCAA NET rankings (Dec. 16).

• Arkansas’ NET is 2nd-best among SEC schools behind Auburn (7).

•  The rest of the SEC in the NET: 25 Tennessee; 26 LSU; 46 Ole Miss; 58 Kentucky; 73 Missouri; 76 Georgia; 78 Florida 6-3; 90 Mississippi State; 96 Alabama; 99 Vanderbilt; 145 South Carolina and 281 Texas A&M.

• Arkansas has an RPI of 12, up two after a 19-point win over Tulsa. Arkansas’ RPI is better than 10 teams in the top 25, including Virginia, Arizona, Oregon, Tennessee, Butler, Penn State, Memphis, Washington, Michigan and Michigan State.

• ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Hogs as a #10 seed, facing Indiana in Spokane of the West Region of the 2020 NCAA Basketball Tournament.

So far, this is worst — and best rebounding year in history

• Arkansas knew all along with the loss of Daniel Gafford (8.7 rpg last season) and no size returning, rebounding was going to be an issue.

• Arkansas ranks 314th NCAA/14th SEC in offensive rebounds per game (7.7 avg).

• Arkansas ranks 271st NCAA/13th SEC in rebounds per game (34.2 avg).

• Arkansas ranks 276th NCAA/13th SEC in rebound margin (-2.2 avg).

• Arkansas ranks 151st NCAA/8th SEC in defensive rebounds per game (26.5 avg) … BUT SEE BELOW

• THIS IS THE WORST OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING YEAR DATING BACK TO 1986-87*

•  Arkansas gets 7.7 offensive boards while opponents get 26.0 defensive boards.

• Arkansas gets a program worst 22.9% of available rebounds on the offensive end.

• THIS IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE REBOUNDING YEAR DATING BACK TO 1986-87*

• Arkansas gets 26.5 defensive boards while opponents get 10.4 offensive boards.Arkansas gets a program-best 71.8% of available rebounds on the defensive end.

* – stat courtesy of HogStats.com – offensive/defensive boards not separated prior to 1986-87

Whitt and Jones among guards in NCAA for FG%

• Jimmy Whitt, Jr., ranks fifth in the SEC (100th in the NCAA) in field goal percentage (52.9%).

• Whitt ranks 24th in the NCAA among guards in overall FG% (52.9%).

• Mason Jones ranks ninth in the SEC (131st in the NCAA) in field goal percentage (50.5%).

• Jones ranks 39th in the NCAA among guards in overall FG% (50.5%). However, Jones is shooting an impressive 68.6% (35-of-51) inside the 3-point arc this season.

• To put his 2-point shooting in perspective, #6 on the NCAA FG% leaders list is 68.6% by 6-11 forward Zeke Nnaji (Arizona).

Joe — in just 44 games — is six 3’s from career top 10

• Isaiah Joe went into several record books last season. He set four school records for 3-pointers, two SEC freshman records (while being just the fourth SEC frosh to lead the league 3PT%) and made the fourth-most 3-pointers by a freshman in NCAA history.

• Joe is on the verge of entering the Arkansas career record for 3-pointers made.

• Joe has made 147 career triples — six shy of 10th (153 by Jonathan Modica (2003-06).

• Joe has made 147 treys in 44 career games. By comparison, Modica needed 118 games to make his 153.

• Joe made 113 triples as a freshman and entered the season needing to make just 40 3’s to enter the career top 10.

• Joe makes 39.4% percent of his 3-pointers. At that pace, he would rank ninth in school history.­­

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.

• FANS CAN VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE PLAYER HERE.

Pittman adds Carter, Rhoades to new Razorbacks’ coaching staff

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Pittman adds Carter, Rhoades to new Razorbacks’ coaching staff

FAYETTEVILLE — Sam Pittman has added a pair of defensive assistants to his Arkansas staff, naming Sam Carter as the new cornerbacks coach and Rion Rhoades as the new linebackers coach.

Carter joins the Hogs from Missouri where he served as a defensive quality control and analyst for Barry Odom, who Pittman tabbed as the program’s defensive coordinator earlier this week.

Carter helped the Tigers’ defense rank as one of the best in the nation, particularly in the secondary this past season. Missouri’s pass defense ranked eighth in the FBS and second in the Southeastern Conference allowing only 179.3 yards per game.

The Tigers were even tougher with the ball in the air, leading the nation by allowing opponents to complete just 50.3% of passes for 2,151 yards, seventh fewest in FBS.

Mizzou had four players inside the SEC’s top 25 of passes defended, including three defensive backs in Joshuah Bledsoe, Khalil Oliver and Tyree Gillespie.

Carter was a standout, All-Big 12 safety at TCU prior to starting his coaching career. The New Orleans native played in 49 games for the Horned Frogs from 2011-14, starting 39 including all 38 over his final three years.

As a senior he was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, a Senior CLASS Award finalist and a Senior CLASS Award second-team All-American.

Rhoades gets his first opportunity at the FBS level after coaching the last 14 years as a head coach at the junior college level, including the last 13 as the head coach at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas.

A former Hutchinson CC linebacker for Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, Rhoades returned to his alma mater as the head coach in 2007 after turning around a struggling Fort Scott CC program in just one year.

At Hutchinson, Rhoades quickly worked his magic taking the Blue Dragons to a Region VI runner-up finish in his second year then kicking off a run of six straight seasons that saw his program win the Salt City Bowl, capped by an 11-1 season in 2014 that claimed the Jayhawk Conference and Region VI championships.

Rhoades’ squad this fall finished 10-2 and No. 3 in the final NJCAA Rankings after another Salt City Bowl title.

The No. 3 finish is the highest the Blue Dragons have ever finished in the final poll and the fifth time a Rhoades-led Hutchinson team finished inside the Top 10 in his 13 years as head coach.

He left the junior college ranks 106-55 as a head coach with a 99-50 mark at Hutchinson.

As a player at Hutchinson, Rhoades made an immediate impact as a freshman with 138 tackles as a linebacker to help Pittman and the Blue Dragons to a 6-5 season and a trip to the Valley of the Sun Bowl in 1993.

As a sophomore and team captain in 1994, Rhoades led Hutchinson with 130 tackles and helped his team to a third-consecutive winning season with an 8-4 record and a ranking of 15th in the final NJCAA poll.

Following his two years at Hutchinson as a player, Rhoades transferred to Western Illinois and then to Northwestern Oklahoma State, where he was an NAIA All-America linebacker.

He and his wife Darcy have three children: daughter, Sydney, and sons, Trevor and Jackson.

Carter and Rhoades join defensive coordinator Odom, offensive line coach Brad Davis and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp on Pittman’s first staff.

Musselman on practices during long week, previewing matchup with Valpo

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Eric Musselman talked with the media after Thursday’s practice about dealing with the one game a week and looked ahead to the matchup with Valparaiso.

Joe on playing with Jones, looking ahead to playing in North Little Rock

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe talked with the media after Thursday’s practice about teammate Mason Jones and Khalil Garland’s role with the team as a studen coach.

Pittman selling Arkansas above everything and it paid off Wednesday

Andy Hodges
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Pittman selling Arkansas above everything and it paid off Wednesday

It was clear Wednesday afternoon that new Arkansas coach Sam Pittman hasn’t done a whole lot of the press conferences like he did after getting seven players for the 2020 class.

He looked a little surprised with nearly every single chair filled in the concrete bunker that serves double-duty as the media room in the football center and may be the best shelter in Northwest Arkansas in the event of a tornado or a random bomb headed in.

Pittman started off kinda figuring it out as he went, but what did become clear is he probably understands the job of being the Razorback coach better than anybody hired in a couple of decades.

It’s why he made it clear that in this recruiting period they aren’t looking at any ratings and really aren’t counting the number of available scholarships. He figures there will be plenty of room for transfers or junior college players.

“Right now it doesn’t seem to be too big of a problem, you know?” He said. “We will fix that when it comes.”

The Hogs never have been near the top in the recruiting rankings. They’ve finished in the top 10 once about 20-something years ago and one other time in the top 20.

History shows for whatever reason nobody is going to win signing day.

Pittman understands that, although he’s never going to say it publicly. He also has looked at the current roster he inherited and knows there’s opportunity he can sell to recruits ahead of the February signing date.

“This next go around, there may be some guys that we’re going, ‘Hey, this guy’s a little light but has got great feet,’” he said Monday. “Or we may go that way a little bit more, we might not, but we’re basically trying to recruit guys that we think can come in here and challenge for a position early in their career.”

Pittman deflected getting into specifics about any current players. Oh, he’s looked at the films but he’s not going to throw anybody under the bus, but he also saw some talent and the guess is he’d just as soon not tip his hand either way.

There are signs this coach can recruit. He managed to get Myles Slusher, a four-star safety out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who was committed since April to Oregon.

Pittman found out when Slusher called him at 11:45 Tuesday night.

“Actually, I was driving home,” he said. “He called me and usually if they call you at 11:45, it’s not to tell you they’re going to go someplace else. I’ve yet to ever get a player at his press conference that he didn’t tell me he was coming before the press conference.”

Think about that a minute. Pittman has the job for a week and sells a four-star safety committed to Oregon to flip to Arkansas. He’s not going to pull that off 20 times a year … or even 10, but it is a sign to watch this.

Right now, though, he has the overwhelming majority of his first recruiting class still on campus. He’s managed to hang on to the majority of the best recruiting class in the last few years (2019) and that includes 16 redshirt freshmen.

In addition there will be 13 sophomores and 11 juniors.

There is some talent on the roster. Probably not enough to make a run for an SEC West title, but the only people thinking the 4-20 record over the last two years was as simple as a complete lack of talent.

The opinion from this corner is a complete lack of development and motivation was more to blame for that. In other words, they’ve been the unwilling because they were led by the unknowing.

That will change.

“I want to get the best players in America because as ya’ll know, I truly believe that Arkansas is the best place in America,” he said Monday.

Those words haven’t been heard around Fayetteville by a head football coach in a long time.

Pittman has seen some bad teams. As a career assistant, he’s probably got a plan of how he would do things.

Now he’s just got to prove it’s a plan that will produce wins.

Pittman answering questions from media on Hogs’ first signing for 2020

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Sam Pittman recapping Hogs’ recruits on first players can sign letters of intent at press conference after announcing signings. Due to UA technical issues, player breakdown audio failed for most of the recap on them.

Jones announces he’s leaving Razorbacks, but where is not known yet

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Jones announces he’s leaving Razorbacks, but where is not known yet

Redshirt junior Jordan Jones became the fourth player to announce he’s leaving Arkansas with new coach Sam Pittman, who’s only been on the job a little over a week.

Jones didn’t announce where he’s headed.

Jones, from Smackover, was a three-star under Bret Bielema and didn’t record a single stat this past season, hampered by a high ankle sprain all year. That may let him have an additional sixth year but that will be for somebody else to deal with.

The other players who have left are defensive back Britto Tutt, quarterback Nick Starkel and defensive end Collin Clay.

Of all four players maybe the only one that really got anybody’s attention was Clay.

Signing Day capsules of seven new Razorbacks for 2020 class

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Signing Day capsules of seven new Razorbacks for 2020 class

• Myles Slusher

DB – 6-0 – 181 – Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow HS)

Four-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 5 safety in the country by 247Sports … Ranked second in the state of Oklahoma by 247Sports and ESPN … Slotted in ESPN’s Top 300 at 204 … Four-year varsity letterwinner at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma … Recorded 26 tackles, two for loss, with one sack, an interception and four pass breakups as a senior in 2019 … Helped the Tigers to a 9-3 overall record with a semifinal appearance in the Class 6A-I Oklahoma playoffs … Tallied 68 total stops, three TFLs, with two interceptions and a recovered fumble during his junior campaign … Guided Broken Arrow HS to a spotless 13-0 record and the Oklahoma Class 6A-I state championship after a 28-20 victory over Jenks … Racked up 41 total tackles, 37 solo, with four interceptions in 2017 … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon and others.

Myles Slusher … Born March 1, 2002 … Son of Blanca and PJ Slusher … Has five siblings: Phillip, Jessica, Austin, Anthony and Reality.

• Ray Curry

OL – 6-6 – 315 – Memphis, Tenn. (White Station HS)

Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 10 player in the state of Tennessee by ESPN … Four-year varsity letterwinner at White Station High School in Memphis, Tennessee … Helped the Spartans to a 7-5 overall record as a senior and a second round berth in the Class 6A-I Tennessee state playoffs … Was a member of three state playoff teams, including the 2017 squad that made it to the third round of the postseason tournament … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska and others.

Ray Curry … Born April 9, 2002 … Son of Alicia and Ray Curry … Brother of Arayvia.

• Catrell Wallace

LB – 6-5 – 210 – Bryant, Ark. (Bryant HS)

Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 40 outside linebacker in the country by 247Sports … Ranked fifth overall in the state of Arkansas by Rivals … Three-year varsity letterwinner at Bryant High School in Bryant, Arkansas … Also lettered in basketball every year of his high school career … Recorded 37 total tackles as of Nov. 8, with four tackles for loss and two sacks to go with three quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and two blocked punts … Helped the Hornets to a perfect 13-0 season, including the 2019 7A Arkansas state championship, defeating North Little Rock in the title game, 21-7 … It was the second-straight year Bryant defeated North Little Rock in the title game, winning 27-7 in 2018, holding the top ranking in the state of Arkansas in both seasons … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Ole Miss, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and others.

Catrell (Kuh-TRELL) Wallace … Born Dec. 12, 2001 … Nephew of Lynn Wallace … Grandson of Jackie Wallace.

• Jashaud Stewart

LB – 6-2 – 223 – Jonesboro, Ark. (Jonesboro HS)

Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the 20th overall outside linebacker in the country and No. 2 player in the state of Arkansas by 247Sports … Three-year varsity letterwinner at Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas … Racked up 114 total tackles, including 85 solo, in 12 games for the Hurricane in 2019 … Totaled 23.0 tackles for loss, with 17 sacks, as well as 14 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior … Helped Jonesboro HS to an 8-4 record and a second round berth in the Arkansas 6A state playoffs … Racked up 89 total stops as a junior in 2018, with 65 solo and 24.0 for loss, including six sacks … He recovered four fumbles, forced three and picked off one pass … Dropped a heartbreaker in the second round of the 2018 6A state tournament by a score of 38-37 … Earned All-State accolades in both 2018 and 2019 for his performance on the field … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Houston, Kansas, Memphis, SMU and others.

Jashaud (juh-SHOD) Stewart … Born May 29, 2001 … Son of Toria and Jerry Stewart … Brother to Mirikil.

• Blayne Toll

DL – 6-5 – 244 – Hazen, Ark. (Hazen HS)

Four-star prospect by ESPN … Rated as the No. 20 strongside defensive end in the country and third overall player in the state of Arkansas by ESPN … Lands in ESPN’s Top 300 ranking at 268 … Four-year varsity letterwinner at Hazen High School in Hazen, Arkansas … Also lettered in baseball every year since freshman season … Played on both sides of the ball for the Hornets, also lining up at receiver … Recorded 45 total tackles as of Nov. 8, with 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks … Hauled in 14 passes for 170 yards, scoring twice through the air, while also rushing the ball six times for 67 yards & a score and passing once, connecting on a 51-yard touchdown pass … Helped the Hornets to a 10-2 overall record and a quarterfinal appearance in the 2019 Arkansas state 2A playoffs on Nov. 29 … Propelled the Hornets to the state championship game in 2018, falling just short of the 2A crown … Tallied 42 total stops, 24 TFLs, nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 2017, running for 465 yards & six TDs and throwing for 715 yards & eight scores … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Memphis, TCU and others.

Blayne Toll … Born Dec. 11, 2002 … Son of Tabatha and George Toll.

• Kelin Burrie

LB – 6-0 – 205 – Harvey, La. (Helen Cox HS)

Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 22 player in the state of Louisiana by Rivals … Four-year varsity letterwinner at Helen Cox High School in Harvey, Louisiana … Played linebacker for the Cougars, making the playoffs in two of the last three years of his high school career … Helped Helen Cox HS to its first playoff victory in over a decade in 2018 … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, West Virginia and others.

Kelin Burrle (BURR-lay) … Son of Lashanona Burrle.

???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Nikki Chavanelle updates the recruiting class

Tye Richardson
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Phil & Tye on the 2020 signing class, Nikki gives her take, and more recruiting talk!

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Clay Henry on duck hunting and OC hunting

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Clay Henry on duck hunting and OC hunting

Phil & Tye on the next OC, Clay Henry joins the pod, plus why character isn’t the biggest factor!

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