Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talked with the media after the 76-65 win over Austin Peay about the team getting better, but needing to be better at rebounding.
Chaney, Embery-Simpson recapping Hogs’ win Friday night
Razorback players Reggie Chaney (12 points) and Keyshawn Embery-Simpson (14 second half points) talk about what the team did for the 76-65 win over Austin Peay.
Governor’s Figger on trying to stop Hogs’ second-half run
Austin Peay coach Matt Figger talked about knowing that Arkansas was making a big run twice in the second half and what he was trying to do to stop it.
Razorbacks back on floor against Jackson State on Sunday
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ women’s basketball team wraps up 2018 hosting Jackson State in the final non-conference game of the season on Sunday at 2 p.m.
In The Lane
Date: Sunday, Dec.30
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Live Scoring: http://statb.us/e/233637
Broadcast: SECN+ (https://es.pn/2GJPjjN)
Arkansas (10-3) is in the midst of a 10-day break from competition. The last game, a 61-59 win at Tulsa, wrapped up three games in five days for the Razorbacks.
They return with the final tune-up before beginning Southeastern Conference play Jan. 3 against No. 8/7 Mississippi State in Bud Walton Arena.
Redshirt sophomore Chelsea Dungee, senior Malica Monk and junior transfer Alexis Tolefree continue to be among the top offensive threats for Arkansas.
Dungee leads the team with 17.3 points per game followed by Monk at 13.0 ppg and Tolefree with 12.0 ppg.
The Razorbacks have done several things well in its first 13 games. Arkansas leads the NCAA and the SEC in free throw attempts and is first in the conference and third in the nation in made free throws.
Dungee leads the league in both categories as well. Arkansas is shooting the 3-point shot effectively and the Razorbacks are first in the SEC and sixth in the NCAA with the fewest turnovers per game.
About Jackson State
JSU enters the game with a 4-6 record. The Lady Tigers lead the SWAC in scoring (67.1 PPG) and scoring margin (+0.7). They are first in their conference shooting 43.7% and are second in the league shooting 33.0% (32-97) from distance.
Marneisha Hamer leads the Lady Tigers and ranks fourth in the SWAC with 13.3 ppg. Teammate Christian Ellis is fifth with 13.2 ppg.
Promotions
• Pre-game: Gymnastics team on the south concourse signing autographs 1pm-2pm
• Sunday Funday: Kids 12 & under get in free w/ paying adult
• Junior Razorbacks get in free by showing their membership card at the South entrance
• Junior Razorbacks guests may purchase $2 tickets at the South entrance
• UA Faculty & Staff $2 tickets with UA ID
• Area School Team Day: Omaha Lady Eagles / Van Buren MS
• Post-game layups for kids 12 and under
• Postgame autographs (18:00 minutes on clock)
???? Friday Halftime Pod — featuring Derek Ruscin
Phil & Tye discuss the CFB Playoff, FOMO Friday, plus Derek Ruscin joins the POD!
Neighbors on long break for Hogs before Sunday game
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors was pleased everybody got back from Christmas break safe and on time (a first in 20 years, he said) and previewed Jackson State game.
Anderson previews matchup with Governors after break
Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson talked with the media Thursday about the team returning from Christmas break and working to get their wind back before Friday night’s game.
Bailey, Joe on being back at practice after holiday break
Arkansas players Adrio Bailey and Isaiah Joe talked about getting the holiday out of their system returning to workouts Wednesday in preparation for Friday night’s matchup with Austin Peay.
???? Thursday Halftime Pod — featuring Bob Holt
Phil & Tye discuss bowl game experiences, interview Bob Holt, and more!
Hogs resume play with home matchup against Austin Peay
• Who: Austin Peay Governors
• What: Arkansas is 3-0 versus APSU
• When: Friday – Dec. 28, 2018 – 7:00 pm
• Where: Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, Ark.
How to follow:
• TV: SEC Network Plus (Brett Dolan and Manny Watkins)
• Watch ESPN Live Stream
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas … River Valley 95.3 FM, Hot Springs 96.3 FM, Harrison-Mountain Home 104.3 FM(Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
• Satellite Radio: Arkansas Broadcast (XM 383)
• Live Stats: Click Here
• Arkansas Game Notes
• Austin Peay Game Notes
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will close the 2018 calendar year by hosting Austin Peay on Friday at Bud Walton Arena.
Tip-off is set for 7 pm and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
The Razorbacks (8-3) and Governors (8-4 and winners of six straight) have met on three previous occasions with Arkansas winning all three.
The last time the squads met, Dec. 3. 2016 in Bud Walton Arena, then-freshman Adrio Bailey scored a then career-high 14 and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Arkansas to a 99-62 win.
• Arkansas ranks fifth in the NCAA in blocked shots (6.3). Arkansas has turned away 43 shots over the last six games — 7.2 average. The Razorbacks have blocked at least four shots in each game this season.
• Despite having just three assists and four turnovers in his last two games, Jalen Harris still ranks THIRD IN THE NCAA and FIRST IN THE SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.62). He is also 15th nationally and 1st in the SEC in assists per game (6.6).
• Isaiah Joe only made one 3-pointer in his last game, but the freshman still ranks EIGHTH IN THE NCAA and FIRST IN THE SEC in 3-pointers made per game (3.82). He also leads the SEC in 3-pointers made (42), ranking 22nd nationally, and leads the SEC in 3-point FG% (.447).
• Mason Jones has led the team in both scoring and assists in each of his last two games, while adding a career-high four steals versus Texas State. Jones is second on the team in rebounding (5.3), assists (35) and steals (13) while ranking third in scoring (14.5).
• Daniel Gafford ranks 14th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.658). In the SEC, Gafford also ranks second in rebounding (9.3), third in scoring (17.6) and fourth in blocked shots (2.36) – the only player in the league to rank among the top five in each category.
• Gabe Osabuohien took two charges versus Texas State to give him a team-best nine for the season. Last season, Gafford led the team by taking nine charges and Osabuohien tied for second with eight.
• Up next for Arkansas, the Razorbacks will begin SEC play at Texas A&M on Jan. 5. Beginning its 28th season in the Southeastern Conference, Arkansas is 15-12 all-time in SEC openers.
Hogs’ baseball was highlight for UA in athletics in 2018
Hopefully, six months later you can look at the 2018 Arkansas baseball season in proper perspective.
Was it heart-breaking to lose to Oregon State, after it appeared the Hogs had swept the Beavers? You wouldn’t be a fan, if you weren’t disappointed when former second baseman Carson Shaddy was unable to secure that foul ball that would have iced the game and the series.
And you know the rest.
But, taking to Twitter and bashing Shaddy and other Hogs, that’s another story and probably uncharacteristic of the fan base as a whole, but it did happen.
Anyway, even the most irrational critics should be settled down by now, especially after a historically bad 2-10 football season. That should make Hog fans appreciate how special the baseball season was.
The Hogs’ College World Series run was definitely the highlight of the UA athletics program in 2018 — by a long shot.
We saw just how far Chad Morris has to build the football program and the Hogs hoops program turned in another ho-hum, one-and-done, NCAA Tournament performance that is becoming so common that many fans have lost interest.
So, it’s easy to see why Arkansas fans flood Baum Stadium. Dave Van Horn is the school’s best coach, regardless of sport; the teams win at a high level, and attract some of the nation’s best players.
It is an elite program, and those fans that don’t like baseball are now finally hopping on because who doesn’t like a winner? Especially, when your school’s other programs aren’t especially good.
We knew Arkansas would be a contender last spring with Blaine Knight, one of the nation’s top hurlers, returning along with a solid nucleus of other pitchers and position players. But it was a pair of freshmen, Casey Martin and Heston Kjerstad that propelled Arkansas to the CWS Final. The pair both played beyond their years, and are two reasons why the Hogs should be back in Omaha again this summer.
As painful as the ending was for fans, the run also had to be enjoyable. Baum Stadium is one of the better game experiences in college baseball.
It was in its prime last year. I had my two boys in attendance on the front row down the first base line during the final Friday night game of the year to see Knight pitch against Texas A&M. The atmosphere was electric and almost reminded me of a football game.
If there is a better crowd in college baseball, I’d like to see it.
The athletic department does an outstanding job making the game-day environment top-notch. Now, if only they could do that for football and basketball, but that’s fodder for another column.
By the time Arkansas reached the postseason, the mania was at a fever pitch (pun intended). The regionals and Super Regionals at Baum Stadium were sold out quickly, and a large contingent of Hogs fans invaded Omaha.
A lot of fans made great memories attending those big games at Baum Stadium or in Omaha. There were unforgettable moments that fans couldn’t find elsewhere on campus.
With the Hogs tanking in football and lightyears away from the basketball dominance of the early 1990s, baseball has been the beacon in the night. There is still hope for football and basketball, but if you are waiting to go all-in on the baseball team, you shouldn’t.
If you can buy season tickets and travel to road games and the CWS, you ought to.
As I mentioned, there were plenty of pessimists who lamented the heartbreaking way Arkansas lost to Oregon State. But, all that run did was signal that Arkansas is a national player.
They will reload in 2019 and will be highly ranked in the various preseason polls.
Even though the football Hogs should be improved, it is most likely that Van Horn’s club will continue to be the biggest source of pride for Razorbacks fans in the new year.
It could be that way for a while.
