Razorbacks open season with road loss to defending SEC champion Florida

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks open season with road loss to defending SEC champion Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Arkansas traveled to Gainesville, Fla., for the season opener and dropped the evening meet to Florida, 197.350-194.400.

Senior Jessica Yamzon and sophomore Kennedy Hambrick competed in the all-around, scoring a 38.825 and 38.950 respectively.

Yamzon led off on all four events for the Gymbacks, making it the second consecutive season she did so in the season opener after leading off all-around against Oklahoma in 2019.

Rotation One | Bars
Hambrick showed lots of poise on the bars in the fourth position for Arkansas, scoring a 9.825 after a fluid routine and solid full twisting double-back dismount.

Redshirt freshman Bailey Lovett walked away with a 9.825 as well with a strong performance in her 2020 debut. Hambrick and Lovett’s back-to-back 9.825s helped Arkansas to a 48.625 start.

Rotation Two | Vault

Sarah Shaffer showed her strength on the vault, coming through for Arkansas with a team-high score of 9.750 after completing a beautiful Yurchenko layout half. Staffer and the Gymbacks added 48.525 points to their score and after two events, trailed the Gators 98.475 to 97.150.

Rotation Three | Floor

Junior Sophia Carter was the anchor for the Gymbacks on the floor and closed out the rotation with a strong 9.875, complete with beautiful presentation and a sky-high double pike as a last pass. The third rotation was the best showing of the night for the Gymbacks, combining three routines of 9.825 or higher for a total of 49.000.

Rotation Four | Beam

It was freshman Kiara Giafagna who would step up in the final rotation on the beam. Giafagna entered the final event scoring a 9.725 on both the vault and floor, but came out with a solid 9.800 on the beam nailing her back handspring layout series. With Gianfagna’s performance, the Gymbacks finished with a 48.250 team score on the beam.

Up Next

The Gymbacks prepare for top-ranked Denver next week, as Arkansas opens its home slate in Barnhill Arena on Friday for Pack the Barn.

The Razorbacks will have a quick turn around as they travel to Oklahoma for a road meet in Sooner territory on Monday, Jan. 20.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Hogs look to bounce back from LSU loss against Ole Miss on Saturday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs look to bounce back from LSU loss against Ole Miss on Saturday

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (12-2) at Ole Miss (9-5)
What: Arkansas has 5 of the last 6 versus Ole Miss
When: Saturday – Jan. 11, 2020 – 5:00 pm (CT)
Where: Oxford, Miss. – The Pavilion at Ole Miss
• TV: SEC Network (Kevin Fitzgerald and Dane Bradshaw)
• WATCH: ESPN/SEC Network Online
• Radio: Pregame starts at 4:30 p.m. on 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
• Sirius/XM: XM Channel 384 and streaming online, channel 974
• Live Stats: OleMiss.StatBroadcast.com

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas plays the second of its two-game road swing on Saturday at Ole Miss in a game starting at 5 p.m. on the SEC Network.

You can hear the game at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home with Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman on the call.

The game will also be streamed online at HitThatLine.com.

Ole Miss series

• This will be the 82nd meeting between Arkansas and Ole Miss — the 54th since Arkansas joined the SEC. The Razorbacks own a 48-33 advantage in the series (27-26 in SEC play) but are just 8-20 in Oxford.

• Arkansas has won five of the last six with Ole Miss’ lone win coming last season when then-No. 19 Ole Miss won 84-67 in Oxford.

• The teams split the series last season, each winning on at home.

• LAST SEASON GAME 1: Breein Tyree scored 22 points, Terence Davis added 18 and No. 18 Mississippi never trailed in a 84-67 win. Ole Miss pushed out to an 11-point lead by halftime and had a comfortable advantage through most of the second half. Ole Miss was in control from the opening tip, jumping out to an 11-2 lead in the opening minutes.

• LAST SEASON GAME 2: Down three (73-70) with 1:07 left in the game, Jalen Harris assisted on a Daniel Gafford dunk with 43 seconds left and later hit a lay-up with 5.9 seconds on the clock to lift Arkansas to a 74-73 victory. Harris scored 10 points and added nine assists with just one turnover in 32 minutes of action. Ole Miss’s Breein Tyree scored 20 points, including 11-of-the-last-13 over the final 7:36 for the Rebels to provide the three-point lead with 1:07 left. To Arkansas’ credit, the Razorbacks answered each time to keep is a one-possession game. In fact, the game was tight throughout and saw 21 lead changes, including Harris’ game-winner. Mason Jones scored 16, second-half points to keep the Razorbacks in the game, sinking 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the half. Jones finished with a game-high 22, going 6-of-8 from long range.

Inside the numbers

While the rebounding numbers stand out at LSU, Arkansas used its tough defense and resiliency to stay in the game:

• LSU out-rebounded Arkansas 53-24. LSU had 23 offensive rebounds and had 26 second-chance points compared to Arkansas’ three offensive rebounds and zero second-chance points.
• LSU was 21-of-28 at the free throw line. Arkansas was 17-of-18.
• Arkansas only committed seven turnovers, had eight steals and four blocked shots. LSU committed 13 turnovers and only had one steal.
• Arkansas shot 44.8% from the field, compared to LSU’s 40.9%.
• Arkansas scored 15 points off turnovers, compared to 10 by LSU, and had 16 fast break points, compared to four by the Tigers.

Very rare loss

• It is reasonable to believe that Arkansas would lose at LSU after being out-rebounded 53-24. However, Arkansas is 9-2 this season when being out-rebounded.

• Some other anomalies from the LSU loss:Arkansas led at halftime and is 10-1 in such games. Musselman’s collegiate teams are 93-5 when leading at the half.

• Arkansas scored first and is 8-2 in such games Musselman’s collegiate teams are 74-18 when scoring first.

• Arkansas shot 44% (LSU 40%) and is 8-1 when shooting better than opponents. Musselman’s collegiate teams are 97-6 when shooting better than opp.

Best scoring duo in the NCAA; best trio in SEC

Only three teams in the NCAA feature two players in the nation’s top 105 for scoring:

• ARKANSAS: Mason Jones (31st / 19.8) • Isaiah Joe (101th / 17.1)

• UT MARTIN: Parker Stewart (53rd / 18.8 • Quintin Dove 80th / 17.6)

• NEVADA: Jalen Harris (88th / 17.4 • Jazz Johnson 100th / 17.1)

Arkansas is the only team in the SEC to feature:

• Two players in the league’s top 5 for scoring — Mason Jones (2nd / 19.8) • Isaiah Joe (5th / 17.1)

• Three players in the league’s top 20 for scoring — Jimmy Whitt Jr.  (14th / 14.0)

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 Joe HERE.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

No. 2 Razorbacks open indoor season Friday, hosting Arkansas Invitational

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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No. 2 Razorbacks open indoor season Friday, hosting Arkansas Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE — Second-ranked Arkansas opens indoor season hosting the Arkansas Invitational on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Field action starts at 12:30 p.m. with the high jump, while the 400-meters kick off the running events at 3:15 p.m.

At last year’s Arkansas Invitational Carina Viljoen was one of five Razorbacks to win their event on the track. Viljoen put down the fastest mile time in Division I at the time with a 4:47.11. 5.

Jada Baylark leads the sprint group this year and is in her fourth year of indoor action.

She’ll be in the hunt for more All-America honors after earning second-team All-America with her 15th-place finish in the 60-meters as a sophomore.

Last season, the Little Rock native posted 15 top-10 finishes in six meets during the indoor season. Baylark also qualified for the finals of the 60-meter dash at the 2019 Indoor SEC Championships.

Katie Izzo heads a distance squad that is coming off a cross country season that saw the program win its first national title. Her third-place finish (19:59.3) in Terra Haute, Indiana, last November led the Razorback effort, earning All-America distinction.

Izzo was selected to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List on last week.

Fans can grab an Arkansas women’s track and field poster, magnets and schedule cards at the gates, and the first 200 fans will also get a free Arkansas track & field water bottle.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

Razorbacks set to open indoor season Friday with Arkansas Invitational

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks set to open indoor season Friday with Arkansas Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE — Eighth-ranked Arkansas is set to open its indoor slate hosting the Arkansas Invitational on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Field action starts at 12:30 p.m. with the shot put, while the 400-meters kick off the running events at 3 p.m.

At last year’s Arkansas Invitational, Carl Elliot III and Kieran Taylor picked up wins in the 60-meter hurdles and 1000-meters, respectively.

Elliot dropped a new personal record of 7.89, while Taylor finished ahead of the pack by almost two seconds (2:26.74).

Redshirt-senior Gilbert Boit will lead a distance group this year after he won the 2019 SEC Indoor title in the 5,000-meters and ran a leg of the All-American DMR that finished sixth last season.

He’ll be joined by teammate Hunter Woodhall, a two-time Paralympic medalist, who is looking to earn First-Team All-America honors for the second-straight year in the 4×400-meter relay.

The junior turned in a seventh-place finish in the 400-meter dash at the SEC Indoor Championships in 2019.

Fans can grab an Arkansas men’s track & field poster, magnets and schedule cards at the gates, and the first 200 fans will also get a free Arkansas track and field water bottle.

The Razorbacks were tabbed at No. 8 in the preseason top-25 earlier this week after finishing last season in 13th-place at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Arkansas is joined by three other squads from the SEC in the top-10.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

???? Halftime Pod — the basketball rotation, looking at Ole Miss, plus Aaron Torres

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod — the basketball rotation, looking at Ole Miss, plus Aaron Torres

Phil & Tye on what the basketball rotation will look like, preview of Ole Miss, plus Aaron Torres joins the pod!

Neighbors on quick turnaround after first ‘beatdown’ against South Carolina

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors met with the media Friday afternoon to talk about the loss to the Gamecocks on Thursday night, then having to get ready quickly for Missouri on Sunday.

Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

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

A disappointed Musselman on loss at Baton Rouge, quick turnaround

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Eric Musselman talked after practice Thursday about the disappointing loss to LSU on Wednesday night, getting back late and heading to Ole Miss.

Tolefree, Ramirez combine for big night, but not enough against Gamecocks

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Tolefree, Ramirez combine for big night, but not enough against Gamecocks

COLUMBIA, SC — Alexis Tolefree and Amber Ramirez combined for 42 points, but it wasn’t enough as Arkansas fell to No. 4 South Carolina on Thursday night, 91-82.

Tolefree had 22 points on the night, going 5-of-10 on 3-pointers and Ramirez added 20. They had seven of the Razorbacks’ dozen 3-pointers.

Aliyah Boston led the way for the Gamecocks, double-doubling in the game with 19 points and 25 rebounds.

South Carolina came out strong to open the game, going on a 24-6 run to open things up. Carolina’s freshmen duo of Boston and Zia Cooke was great in the open, as they combined for 20 of the Gamecock’s first 24 points.

The Hogs never laid down though, finally getting hot in the fourth quarter. The Hogs outscored the Gamecocks, 29-17, in the final frame, cutting the lead to nine on several occasions.

The Hogs trailed by as many as 25 in the game.

Highlights

• For Tolefree, it was her sixth 20+ point game of the season, and her third in her last five games.

• Ramirez went for 20+ for the second straight game, joining Tolefree and Chelsea Dungee as the only Hogs to drop 20 or more in back-to-back games this season.

• A’Tyanna Gaulden kept it going at the point, dishing a career-best seven assists in this one. It was her third game this season with 6+ assists, the only Hog with multiple such games this season.

• Sophomore guard Rokia Doumbia led the Hogs on the glass, pulling down six boards, including two offensive.

The Razorbacks return home after two straight games on the road, where they will take on Missouri on Sunday.

That game is set to tip at 2 p.m.

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

???? Halftime Pod — Arkansas falls to LSU, Tom Hart & Bob Holt discuss, New QB’s and more!

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod — Arkansas falls to LSU, Tom Hart & Bob Holt discuss, New QB’s and more!

Can Leach finally win a big game making move to SEC with Bulldogs?

Andy Hodges
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Can Leach finally win a big game making move to SEC with Bulldogs?

Let the fun and games begin in the SEC West.

With Mississippi State hiring Mike Leach on Thursday, the safest bet is the crowd for the Mississippi schools at SEC Media Days this summer in Atlanta will have significantly more in attendance than in the past.

Arkansas fans wanted Leach during the search process to replace Chad Morris. Athletics director Hunter Yurachek reportedly talked to him, but that was never going to work financially. Leach didn’t have a lot of interest in trying to fix the Razorbacks’ mess without a ton of money.

He either thought things in Starkville were better or the Bulldogs’ faithful put enough money on the table to where he couldn’t say no.

We won’t know the answer to that until we hear the numbers.

Maybe the biggest indicator of that is Leach becomes the first coach hired at State that is a sitting head coach since 1949.

Let that sink in for a minute.

For over 70 years the Bulldogs have only been able to manage hiring coaches that were coordinators somewhere or were in the unemployment line.

Hog fans that were carrying the torch for Leach to be in Fayetteville for years will be ready to jump off the cliff now.

The problem is exactly why Leach has been considered such a hot prospect by Arkansas fans kinda makes you want to shake your head anyway.

The only thing he consistently has been successful at is entertaining press conferences and an offense that can score a ton of points one week, then disappear the next week. That usually involves the big games, by the way.

His best team at Texas Tech was 11-1 … then promptly lost to Houston Nutt’s first Ole Miss team in the last Cotton Bowl played AT the stadium with that name.

At Washington State, his best team dropped an early game to USC, then lost to Washington the end the season and instead of the Rose Bowl took a postseason trip to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl.

He has won some games, but not particularly consistently and few big games.

As one State booster told me earlier, “it will be interesting to see how he fits in with the culture of Mississippi State.”

That will be interesting. He’ll also have to be able to recruit at a level he’s never been able to get near during his head coaching years.

Athletics director John Cohen fired Joe Moorhead last week after it became clear he had completely lost the team which was beset with problems on both sides of the ball and in the middle.

That’s what got Morris fired at Arkansas, too. Players and many of the fans weren’t buying into his trying to turn the Razorbacks into Clemson. He apparently didn’t have many original ideas and tried to duplicate what Dabo Swinney had done somewhere else.

Nobody really knew what Moorhead was trying to do in Starkville. It was a curious culture mis-match from the initial hiring and apparently never really got better.

Nobody really knows how this will change the balance in the league other than the always-simmering rivalry between the Bulldogs and Ole Miss may now reach the boiling stage pretty quickly and not settle down soon.

Meanwhile, Sam Pittman will probably just keep quietly working.

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