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Slow start sinks Hogs in second game in Nashville tournament

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An unusually cold shooting night tripped up Arkansas in a 61-54 loss to Pitt in game two of the Challenge in Music City in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday.

Arkansas (3-2) shot just 25.7 percent for the game going 19-for-74 from the floor including an 8-for-34 performance in the first 20 minutes. The off-shooting dug Arkansas a 25-18 deficit at the half that they couldn’t erase.

Bailey Zimmerman sparked the Arkansas effort in the second half. She finished with the first double-double of the season scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 boards. Alexis Tolefree had a team-best 12 points with Chelsea Dungee also in double figures with 10 points for Arkansas.

Pitt had a significant height advantage and it showed on the boards in the first half as the Panthers owned the glass with a 28-16 rebounding edge in the first 20 minutes.

The Panthers (3-4) finished the game out-rebounding Arkansas 48-40 with 42 points in the paint and 10 second chance points.

Arkansas took great care of the basketball committing just eight turnovers while forcing 22 miscues by Pitt. The Razorbacks turned those turnovers into 19 points in the game, 10 of which came in the second half.

Up Next

Wisconsin (6-0) rallied and held off an upset bid by Tennessee State, 58-53, Saturday evening. The Badgers are the only unbeaten team in Music Row evening bracket.

On Sunday, TSU (0-6) will meet Pittsburgh (3-4) at 5 p.m., while Wisconsin battles Arkansas (3-2).

If Pitt and Arkansas win Sunday, the tournament champion will be determined by the fewest points allowed in the tournament among Arkansas, Pitt and Wisconsin.

Notes

• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee.

• Pitt held a 28-16 advantage on the boards at the half. They finished out-rebounding Arkansas 48-40.

• Arkansas was 8-for-34 from the floor shooting just 23.5% in the first half. They finished shooting 25.7 percent.

• The 25-18 halftime deficit is just the second time this season the Razorbacks trailed at the break and it is the largest opponent halftime lead this season (ASU, 46-42).

Razorbacks go 4-0 in Hardwood Showcase downing UTA

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Daniel Gafford made a career-high nine free throws and tied a career-high with 10 attempts, scoring 21 points in 22 minutes, to lead Arkansas to a 78-60 victory over UT Arlington on Friday night at Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks have won four straight were the only team in the Hardwood Classic to go 4-0.

Jalen Harris scored 14, making 8-of-11 from the free throw line, as the Razorbacks were 34-of-46 from the charity stripe for the game. The last time Arkansas attempted at least 40 free throws was going 27-of-40 from the line versus Sam Houston in the 2016-17 season.

The Razorbacks’ success from the line off-set a poor performance from the field. Arkansas only made 38.2 percent of its shots (21-of-55) while going just 2-for-16 from 3-point range.

Arkansas also used a strong defensive effort to secure the win, holding the Mavericks to just 32.7 percent shooting from the field. UTA also committed 19 turnovers with just seven assists.

Gafford picked up his fourth foul midway through the second half an did not play the final 9:26 of the contest.

Reggie Chaney helped pick up the slack with eight points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.

Adrio Bailey, who had three steals and two blocked shots, added 14 points and Isaiah Joe had 10.

UTA was led by Erdic Dennis (19 points) and Brian Warren (15 points).

Arkansas will complete its five-game homestand on Saturday (Dec. 1) versus FIU.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 31 – UTA 26

• UTA scored the first points of the game, making 1-of-3 at the free throw line, within the first 30 seconds. However, the Razorbacks answered with a 7-0 run and never surrendered the lead.

• UTA cut its deficit to one, 15-14, after a 3-pointer by Edric Dennis at the 7-minute mark.

• While the Razorbacks struggled at the line early (making just 6 of their first 13), Daniel Gafford, Adrio Bailey, Jalen Harris and Keyshawn Embery-Simpson combined to make for eight straight inside the final six minutes to give the Razorbacks breathing room.

• Daniel Gafford had back-to-back dunks, one an alley-oop from Desi Sills and another from Jalen Harris, to give the Razorbacks a 9-point lead (29-20) to match their largest lead of the half with 1:42 left.

• Arkansas only made eight baskets in the half, shooting 32 percent. However, the Razorback defense held the Mavericks to just 28.6 percent shooting.

• Daniel Gafford was Arkansas’ leading scorer at the half with 12 points, going 6-of-6 at the line.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas forced 11 turnovers and UTA only had one assist.

• UTA cut its deficit to three twice early in the second half, but the Razorback bench – and their defensive effort – helped on a 6-0 run, capped by turnover and a Reggie Chaney dunk, for a 12-point lead 51-39.

• Isaiah Joe ended a 3-point drought as part of a 15-6 run from 8:18 to 4:22 for a 17-point lead, the largest for the Razorbacks at the time.

• A Reggie Chaney dunk with 11 seconds left put Arkansas up 18 and provided the 78-60 final score.

GAME NOTES:

• Arkansas starters were Isaiah Joe (G) – Jalen Harris (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) – Daniel Gafford (F).

• UTA controlled the tip and scored the first points of the game when Brian Warren made 1-of-3 free throws at 19:36.

• Arkansas improved to 8-0 all time versus UT Arlington, including a 6-0 scoresheet in Fayetteville.

• Arkansas is now 130-7 under head coach Mike Anderson when leading at the half, including 44 consecutive.

• Jalen Harris scored the first points for the Razorbacks, a layup at 18:44.

• Isaiah Joe made the Razorbacks’ first 3-point attempt of the game and the team missed its next 12 until Joe made a trey with 6:38 left in the second half.

• Daniel Gafford made a career-high nine free throws and 10 attempts ties a career high.

• Jordan Phillips made two free throws with 1:47 left in the game to put Arkansas up 18 (76-78) for the freshman’s first two career points.

Anderson on team starting to come together in win over Mavs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talked after the 78-60 win over UT-Arlington at Bud Walton on Friday night and how the team is starting to come together and take shape.

Gafford, Chaney talk about play inside in win over Mavericks

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorback players Daniel Gafford and Reggie Chaney talked after Arkansas’ 78-60 win over UT-Arlington on Friday night.

Ogden on his team’s play after losing to Hogs on Friday night

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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UT-Arlington coach Chris Ogden talked with the media after the Mavericks kept it competitive until Arkansas broke away late in the second half for the win.

KNWA VIDEO: Morris after Friday’s loss to Missouri

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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VIDEO FROM KNWA

Arkansas coach Chad Morris talked about the seniors in their last game, the play of Connor Noland at quarterback plus the schedule coming up focused on recruiting after 2-10 season following 38-0 loss to the Tigers.

Razorbacks finish worst season in program history, losing 38-0

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas didn’t appear too interested in the final game of the season against Missouri, who basically appeared bored.

That matched the mood of a lot of fans.

The result was a 38-0 win by the Tigers, who finish the season at 8-4 while the Razorbacks end with a program record in losses at 10 against just a pair of wins, none against a Power 5 opponent and only one against a FBS team.

It’s been that kind of year.

Saturday’s whitewashing is what happens when you pair a team with just two wins and zero momentum going up against a team looking to push itself to a better bowl game with Drew Lock, who may be the first quarterback taken in the spring’s NFL Draft.

It started early. Missouri took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 11 plays with Lock going in nine yards out and it was 7-0.

Before the Tigers could get on the board again, the Razorbacks had a play that summed up the entire season.

In the first quarter, Ty Storey found Deon Stewart wide open on a long pass that may have given the Hogs some momentum. The only problem was senior guard Hjalte Froholdt wandered too far downfield, so the whole thing came back with the addition of a penalty.

Yes, it’s been that kind of season.

After both teams stumbled through the rest of the first quarter, Missouri made it 14-0 after an interception, then a six-play drive and Lock capped off with his second score of the game with 13:11 left in the second period.

Storey, heavily pressured nearly every time he dropped back to pass, had the ball swatted out of his hand, it was kicked and rolled into the end zone where Tucker McCann finally fell on it to give Missouri a 21-0 lead with 12:33 left in the second period.

Missouri added another touchdown just before halftime after the Hogs’ defense got a goal-line stand stop, but the offense couldn’t muster a first down or run out the clock.

After that, it became Connor Noland’s turn.

Lock directed a six-play, 43-yard drive in 1:04 with the win coming on a 6-yard pass from Lock to Emanuel Hall that made it 28-0.

After the Hogs couldn’t convert opening the second half inside the Missouri 10, the Tigers needed nine plays to cover 97 yards on a 67-yard scoring pass from Lock to Hall and it was 35-0.

The Tigers added a late field goal for the final margin.

Arkansas senior linebacker Dre Greenlaw didn’t play in the game and neither did redshirt sophomore quarterback Cole Kelley, who didn’t make the trip.

Crimson Tide tops Razorbacks in final match of season, 3-2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas volleyball fell 3-2 in a heartbreaker Friday night at Alabama in the team’s season finale.

The Hogs closed the season at 11-17 (5-13 SEC) in head coach Jason Watson’s third year season with the team.

Arkansas saw several milestones this season, with senior Okiana Valle finishing her career in cardinal and white with the second-most all-time digs in program history while Rachel Rippee is now fourth in all-time assists.

FINAL
Alabama 3, Arkansas 2 | Box Score
Attendance: 727 | Time: 2:23
Foster Auditorium

#RazorStats
• Leaders vs Alabama
o Kills: Hailey Dirrigl – 19
o Digs: Okiana Valle – 33
o Blocks: Liz Pamphile – 6.0

The Razorbacks started the match slow, dropping the first set 25-13. Arkansas gained momentum in the second set, tying the match with a 25-20 win.

The team went up a set following a 25-23 third-set win, before the match was once again evened with a 25-10 victory from Alabama. Arkansas pulled ahead early in the final set, but eventually fell 15-10.

Two Razorbacks recorded double-doubles against the Crimson Tide, with Rachel Rippee (19a, 10d) seeing her fifth season and 24th career double-double while Reagan Robinson (11k, 12d) saw her second career double-double.

Is there anything Hogs can do to avoid a bad record-setting year?

Pete Morgan
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As mentioned last week, Arkansas Razorbacks football has now reached a new record, and this milestone is not one of pleasure or bragging rights.

The Hogs have never lost nine games in a single season. Unfortunately, that precedent was broken last week.

Losing double-digit games in the same season? We are now facing that lowness … and this Friday, Missouri.

Before we proceed, those of us at HitThatLine.com and all our associates would like to extend appreciation and well wishes to our readers, listeners, and their families this holiday season for your loyalty and support.

Ten losses — is it really a possibility? It is. Friends, I would have lost every penny that I had if you had bet me prior to the season that Arkansas would lose 10 games in the inaugural season of the Chad Morris era.

Now I worry about how much the digit (or digits) under this season’s ‘L’ column will impact our recruiting long-term and even short-term. How rapid? Like a 50th birthday present for Chad Morris.

Next week we will wrap up with a summary of the season. For now, our focus will be upon the game which will broadcast on your television at 1:30 p.m.

Yes, a game between two of the lesser SEC teams by a CBS broadcasting team questioning their worth to the network while you listen sparingly, slipping in and out of a leftover tryptophan coma.

Quick hits for this week:

• The Lock of the Tigers – Whether it is basketball or football, Arkansas tends to allow unexpected players to shine when in competition against us.

Recently it appears we have also added to the lore of what would be considered mildly-great players.

Drew Lock falls directly into that last category. It is his Senior Day in Columbia; and the Razorbacks must not permit him to break record after record in his last hoorah.

• It is a Real Game – I said it last week, we must not treat this as a spring game.

Granted, with the new four-game redshirt rule, it might expose some underclassmen to in-game experience, yet it is a road game, thus the roster is narrowed.

However, I am not certain whom all Morris has deemed to be on-board to avoid a 10-loss season.

• “Lessens” for a Secondary – The Razorbacks’ secondary is lessened this week due to the suspensions of Ryan Pulley and Kam Curl.

Despite the hormones of young men being what they may, Morris had no choice but to suspend two of his primary secondary players that were focused more upon the temptation of Mississippi State cheerleaders in lieu of handling the business that pays for the college education.

As discussed in a previous point, this will only hamper our ability to stop Lock from becoming a legend.

My apologies, those hits were not that quick. This game will be: Arkansas 17 – Missouri 38.

While I am not willing to concede defeat just yet, as there is an extremely slim possibility that I can catch Andy Hodges with our pics this week, I must state to him with newfound respect: well done, good sir. Well done.

  • (18) Mississippi State at Ole Miss – State by 14.
  • Georgia Tech at (5) Georgia – The Bulldogs defeat the Yellow Jackets by 28 and no one outside of GA cares.
  • (11) Florida at Florida State [UPSET ALERT] – Seminoles by 3.
  • Auburn at (1) Alabama – No returned field goals for a victory this year. Tide owns state bragging rights by 35.
  • Tennessee at Vanderbilt – Tough pick. Commodores by 7.
  • South Carolina at (2) Clemson – Tigers by 22.
  • (15) Kentucky at Louisville – It is too bad that Les Miles will not be the coach on this Saturday. Wildcats by 18.
  • (7) LSU at (22) Texas A&M – A great game will send Aggies fans home wondering “what if”. Tigers by 7.

Go HOGS!!!

Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS

 

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

John & Tommy discuss Black Friday, Fenceman picks, Connor Noland playing baseball and more!

Arkansas’ shot at Missouri could be defining moment for long season

Andy Hodges
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You get the idea from being around Arkansas the past year Chad Morris didn’t expect what he has gotten from this team.

He came in last December and gave just about everybody a clean slate. Problems from the previous coaching staff weren’t a factor anymore. It was about what they did after December last year.

Some thrived. Look at Armon Watts, who has shown to be the best defensive lineman on the team. Nobody saw that coming in August because, well, nobody had seen him before then. To be honest, I had to look him up the first time I heard his name.

Others didn’t like the direction and left the time. Apparently, others didn’t like the direction and decided to hang around and go through the motions. That may be the most disappointing part of this first season for Morris.

He tried to give everybody a fair chance. If Morris is guilty of anything this season, it’s being too fair with some players for too long.

Considering the short stick he had in the recruiting game (he said at the time it was trying to build a five-year relationship in two weeks), you knew major improvement wasn’t going to be immediate … unless the players bought in to the new system.

Too many of them didn’t.

We’ll address the causes of how this program got to this level starting next week, but you can be certain it’s not Morris’ fault. If you buy a sports car that looks great on the outside but can’t do much beyond starting up, it’s not really your fault.

Compared to taking over a college football program you don’t get to test drive the car first.

You end up doing the best with what you’ve got on a limited budget until you get everything fixed. Arkansas’ budget wasn’t the problem. The fact the NCAA limits the number of scholarships was the issue.

Now they go on the road to finish the season against a 7-4 Missouri team with quarterback Drew Lock, who may very well be the first quarterback taken in next spring’s NFL draft.

How Arkansas plays in this game may be a clue into exactly the mindset of the players coming back. Will they have the desire to play their best or just wallow around in the misery of a 2-9 season going into this game?

ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Razorbacks a 6.4 percent shot at winning the game. For some that number may be a little high towards the Hogs.

Which Arkansas team shows up? It’s been a hectic week with two starters suspended for this game over an incident before the Mississippi State game.

Look, I’m old enough to remember Lou Holtz suspending players far more vital to the team than these guys and then beating Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. The difference was Lou probably had 40 players better than anybody on Morris’ roster.

The weather’s going to be bad, which may limit Missouri’s offense. But to have any shot in this game you’d think the Hogs would have to do it passing downfield and the weather could limit that for them.

Get ready for the worst record in program history.

Missouri 45, Arkansas 38

Coming into the last week of the season, Peter Morgan has a mathematical chance to tie me. That’s because we both picked Mississippi State over Ole Miss in the game Thursday night. I am 78-16 while Peter is hanging on by his fingernails to a thin sheet already ripped to about 90 percent from breaking loose with a 70-24 mark.

But it is rivalry weekend and some good games on the list.

Easy Pickings

Georgia over Georgia Tech, Florida over Florida State, Clemson over South Carolina, Kentucky over Louisville.

Auburn at -24 Alabama

Remember that ESPN Football Power Index that gave the Hogs a 6.4 percent chance of beating Missouri?

To show you how little chance the Hogs have, the Tigers have an 8.9 percent chance of beating the Crimson Tide.

No way that happens.

Alabama 39, Auburn 6

Tennessee at -3.5 Vanderbilt

The Commodores have now won two in a row in this series, which may be one of the signs the apocolypse is upon us. Former Vols coach Butch Jones got fired more for losing this game than losing to Alabama.

Tennessee has been inconsistent all season long, even in the games where they’ve won they haven’t been able to duplicate that performance two weeks in a row.

But in this one, I’m going with the Vols simply because I don’t think the football world can deal with Vandy winning this game three years in a row.

Tennessee 35, Vanderbilt 31

-3 LSU at Texas A&M

Welcome to the SEC, Jimbo.

There are some folks out there thinking the Aggies actually have a legitimate shot at winning this game. There are also people who believe the moon landing was fake and pro wrestling is real.

Ed Orgeron has the Tigers back in the spot they were in just a couple of years before Les Miles got fired … hoping like crazy somebody can knock off Alabama once in awhile.

The Tigers are playing for a chance in a New Year’s Six bowl game.

A&M is playing for a better bowl trip.

LSU is the better team and I’m not sure Fisher is a better offensive coach than Dave Aranda is a defensive coach.

LSU 28, Texas A&M 14

 

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