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
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
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
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?
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
John & Tommy discuss Black Friday, Fenceman picks, Connor Noland playing baseball and more!
Arkansas’ shot at Missouri could be defining moment for long season
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
Anderson liked play of defense, 29 assists in win Wednesday night
Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson talked after the 90-68 win over Montana State about the team piling up 29 assists in the game, Mason Jones’ 18 points.
Five tally double figures in blowout win over Montana State
FAYETTEVILLE — All five starters scored in double figures, including Jalen Harris getting his first career double-double, as Arkansas used its trademark defense and up-tempo style to claim a 90-68 victory over Montana State at Bud Walton Arena in the Razorbacks’ third game of the Hardwood Showcase.
The Razorbacks capitalized on its #FASTEST40 style to throw down 10 dunks, the second-most total in the Mike Anderson era.
Harris dished out a career-high 11 assists and is the first Razorback to have 11 helpers since Jabril Durham did so versus South Carolina on March 5, 2016. Harris, who only committed one turnover, added 11 points.
Mason Jones led the Razorbacks with 18 points while Daniel Gafford added 16, Adrio Bailey scored 10 and Isaiah Joe scored 10.
Gafford was 8-for-8 from the field, tying a school record for best field goal percentage in a game (with eight attempts being the minimum). Gafford is the eighth player to accomplish the feat and the only Razorback to do so twice. (Gafford was 8-for-8 last season versus Minnesota.)
Montana State was led by Tyler Hall, who scored 29 points. He was 10-of-12 from the field overall and 7-of-15 from 3-point range. However, 23 of those points came in the first half as Arkansas held the guard to just six points on just 2-of-6 shooting in the second half.
Arkansas will wrap up the Hardwood Showcase on Friday by hosting UT Arlington. Tip-off is set for 7 pm at Bud Walton Arena.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 54 – Montana State 38
• Mason Jones scored Arkansas’ first seven points and the Razorbacks started the game with an 11-1 run. Overall, Jones scored 10 of the Razorbacks’ first 16 points.
• Isaiah Joe had steals on three straight possessions as Arkansas pushed its lead to 25-7 with 11:46 left in the period.
• Montana State did not reach double digits until Tyler Hall hit a 3-pointer with 8:48 left. Arkansas forced 10 turnovers with seven steals up to that point.
• The Bobcats made five 3-pointers and worked a 25-point deficit to 15 with 5:39 left.
• Arkansas had a season-high six dunks in the first half alone and the 54 points were the most by the Razorbacks this season.
• Mason Jones finished the half with 16 points. Jalen Harris had five assists, who had dished out a total of four in each of the first three games.
• For Montana State, Tyler Hall scored 23 points of the Bobcats’ 38 points on 7-of-12 shooting from 3-point range.
SECOND HALF:
• A dunk by Adrio Bailey at 12:20 was the Razorbacks’ ninth dunk of the game. It additionally put the Razorbacks up 25. The Razorbacks maintained at least a 24-point lead the rest of the game.
• Daniel Gafford, who had four dunks in the game, provided the Razorbacks’ 10th and final dunk of the game with 6:25 left in the game. The total was the second-most by the Razorbacks in the Mike Anderson era with 12 being the record.
GAME NOTES:
• Arkansas starters were Isaiah Joe (G) – Jalen Harris (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) – Daniel Gafford (F). Reggie Chaney started the second half for Bailey.
• Arkansas controlled the tip and Mason Jones scored the first points of the game, a 3-pointer six seconds into the game.
• In three of the four games this season, Mason Jones has scored the first points of the game, each time the baskets were 3-pointers.
• Over the last two games, Daniel Gafford has made 20-of-23 shots from the field.
• Daniel Gafford, Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe have scored in double figures in all four games.
• Jordan Phillips, who had been injured since the summer, saw his first action of the season, entering at 8:54 in the first period.
• Jonathan Holmes got his first playing time of the season, entering with 2:31 left in the game. Ty Stevens also saw his first action as a Razorback, entering at 1:02 in the second half.
• Mike Anderson is now 66-1 as a head coach when his teams score at least 90 points, including a 34-0 mark at Arkansas.
• Arkansas has held three of its four opponents to fewer points in the second half than the first half. Montana State scored 38 in the first and just 30 in the second. The only team to score more second-half points was Indiana, which scored 37 in the second half and 35 in the first.
Harris, Gafford talking after Hogs’ blowout win Wednesday night
Arkansas players Jalen Harris and Daniel Gafford talked with the media after the 90-68 win over Montana State on Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
