Phil Elson & Tye Richardson talk about Ty Storey’s opportunity, You Spent What, interview Scott Rabalais and more!
Hogs kick off regular season Friday against Northwestern State
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas officially opens the 2018-19 season hosting Northwestern State on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Bud Walton Arena.
The early morning tip time accommodates the program’s ninth consecutive Elementary Day promotion with more than 4,000 area students expected to attend.
In the Huddle
Tickets: http://bit.ly/WBB19Tix
Parking: Fans are encouraged to park in Lot 56 for Friday’s game.
Watch: http://bit.ly/WBBArkNSU
Listen: Razorback Sports Network from IMG
Live Scoring: http://statb.us/b/233631
Notes: http://bit.ly/ArkWBBNotes
Social: @RazorbackWBB (Twitter/Instagram) | Facebook.com/RazorbackWBB
About the Game
The Razorbacks open the season hosting Northwestern State. The Lady Demons were 7-22 overall last season and return their second-leading scorer from a year ago.
Libba Gilliam averaged 10.7 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 4.6 boards per game in 2017-18. Arkansas is 13-3 all-time against Northwestern State and is a perfect 9-0 at home against the Lady Demons.
About the Razorbacks
The Razorbacks return nine letterwinners, four starters and welcome three newcomers who will immediately impact the program.
Leading scorer Malica Monk and leading rebounder Kiara Williams both return with a year of experience under the direction of second-year coach Mike Neighbors.
Redshirt sophomores Chelsea Dungee and A’Tyanna Gaulden join freshman Rokia Doumbia and junior college addition Alexis Tolefree and all four will be pivotal elements in Arkansas’ success this season.
Two Exhibitions, Two Wins
Arkansas had an extended warmup to the 2018-19 season this year playing three games in Italy in August followed by two official exhibition contests.
The Razorbacks were 5-0 in those games.
In the two recent exhibition games, redshirt sophomore A’Tyanna Gaulden averaged 19.5 points per game including a 27-point effort against Southwest Baptist.
The Razorbacks outscored their opponents 216-99 and had five players average double figures. In addition to Gaulden, Malica Monk (15.0), Chelsea Dungee (13.0), Kiara Williams (13.0) and Rokia Doumbia (12.0) were all above the 10-point mark.
Up Next
We’ve only just begun. Arkansas faces a big road test at UT-Arlington on Nov. 14.
The Lady Mavs are picked third in their conference and are tough on their home court. The Razorbacks host No. 23 Arizona State on Nov. 18 followed by games against Tennessee State, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin at the Music City Thanksgiving Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, Nov. 23-25.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday
Nick Mason joins John & Tommy to talk practice updates, interview Richard Davenport and more!
We’re getting close to watching who’s in, who’s out for Hogs
With three weeks left to go in a season that is not likely to provide much in the way of excitement, you have to wonder if the exit ramp out of Arkansas is going to get busy … and soon.
Chad Morris told us Wednesday before practice that Nate Dalton is out and won’t be coming back.
“He has chosen to step back and focus on his academics,” Morris said Wednesday.
He was pressed about who made that decision, but Morris answered it the way he usually does in those situations.
“He has chosen to step back,” was all Morris would say.
It may be a phrase we hear more frequently in the coming weeks.
From those who have talked with running back T.J. Hammonds, he has said he won’t be coming back. For a running back who has had flashes of big-play ability now under two different staffs, but not seen much playing time, that really isn’t surprising.
Hammonds has 10 carries for 28 yards rushing and has caught four passes for 84 yards, including a 64-yard catch of a little “pop pass” he took for a score against Colorado State in the second game of the year.
His production hasn’t been that great and has been hampered by an injury.
Wide receiver Jonathan Nance left early, choosing to transfer. The others who have left are Dylan Hayes (medical retirement) and linebacker Kyrei Fisher.
We are hearing others may be leaving, which really shouldn’t be that surprising. When a new coach comes in, some players head out early, others wait to see how things are going to play out … then leave when it doesn’t work the way they want.
That’s the way of the world in college athletics these days.
Morris on LSU game Saturday, Senior Day, personnel moves
Arkansas coach Chad Morris talked Wednesday afternoon before practice about the upcoming game with LSU, which will be Senior Day, and some personnel moves, including Nate Dalton leaving the team.
Neighbors previews Hogs’ season opener Friday morning
Arkansas women’s basketball coach Mike Neighbors talked Wednesday afternoon about the opening regular-season game Friday morning and the excitement around “Elementary Day.”
???? Wednesday Halftime Pod- Featuring Bill King
Phil & Tye discuss the first day of college basketball, interview Bill King and the Change My Mind segment!
Broken Arrow’s Slusher talks about offer from Razorbacks
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Broken Arrow four-star 2020 defensive back Myles Slusher talked with me this week on discussing the offer to Arkansas.
“My offer from Arkansas means a lot, especially since it’s an SEC school,” Slusher said. “That’s a great conference to play in especially as a DB. Knowing that I have a school interested in me from the SEC shows me a lot.”
Slusher is unsure at this time who his top teams are at the moment.
“I really don’t have any top school right now,” Slusher said. “I’ll focus on that after the season is over for me.”
On the Hogs landing three-star defensive end Taurean Carter who recently committed to the Hogs: “That’s a big pick up for Arkansas. He’s a great player and that 2019 class is going to be special.”
His strengths are on and off the field: “My strength as a player are technique, quickness, physicality,” Slusher said. “I talk a lot of trash which throw people off their game lol.”
Relationship with the Arkansas coaching staff: “I have a real great relationship with the Arkansas coaches. They’ve been recruiting me for a min now so our bond is growing.”
Reaction to the direction Arkansas coach Chad Morris is taking the Hogs: “I really like Coach (Chad) Morris and what he is doing with the program up there. Most people don’t realize the system he is bringing is going to take some time to get together. Once they click though it isn’t no stopping them.”
Time table on his commitment: “I haven’t really decided yet. If I don’t commit in the summer then I’ll be committing after next season.”
Looking for a college that feels like home: “Somewhere that best fits me as a person in a everyday life matter. I mean, I will be there for some time. So just somewhere I’m comfortable at.”
A couple schools recruiting him harder than others: “It’s a few schools recruiting me harder than other schools. But it’s kind of the same with everybody.”
Slusher currently has over 10 offers from schools such as Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Baylor and LSU.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday
John, Tommy, & Tyler Wilson talk memories vs LSU, What’s Your Beef Wednesday, and more!
Ramirez on how big game is for him against Tigers on Saturday
Razorbacks safety Santos Ramirez talked about his final game in Razorback Stadium and playing LSU, which is big for him as he is a native of Louisiana.
