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Nick Smith will give Hogs an entirely new look going forward

Andy Hodges
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Nick Smith will give Hogs an entirely new look going forward

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has Nick Smith back, but we won’t know until March if it was in time.

One thing we can be pretty assured of is Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman and his staff have been coming up with a plan for this.

His 17 minutes on the floor was enough to show there are still some things to work out, but nothing that can’t be fixed in practices and some time on the floor in a game.

Being on the road at Texas A&M this week will help, along with three days of practices mixed in there before Wednesday night’s matchup. Having that extra day can be big in this situation.

It can’t be soon enough for a team that has spent time adjusting to life without him, then uncertainty if he would be back and now getting used to having him on the floor.

Fans, on the other hand, are all over the place.

Some thought he should just go to the NBA or figured he would light up Mississippi State for 30. That probably wasn’t going to happen under the best of circumstances.

What the Hogs get with Smith back on the floor is somebody to free up Ricky Council IV a little.

After starting strong in the preseason, he had struggled at times in conference play with teams collapsing to shut him down. Point guard Anthony Black and Davonte Davis have taken advantage of that.

Now opponents have a different problem.

With Smith on the floor and getting better each day with more adjustments being made, now Council may get to score more. Sure, he had 13 points against the Bulldogs on Saturday, but 11 of those came at the free-throw line (where he was 11-of-13).

Davis had one of those games and probably couldn’t have hit water if he fell out of a boat in the middle of a lake. After a couple of big games, Devo had one of those nights.

Even Jordan Walsh, who may have had the biggest hustle play of the night battling a State player the length of the floor after a couple of dives on one play, only scored 2 points. Put that down in the same category with Devo.

Flush all that and look ahead.

Smith being back on the floor makes this a new team that will create new problems for opponents.

Of course we probably won’t know what that is for a couple of weeks, at least.

Or whenever Musselman figures it all out this time.

Hogs get Smith back, but get pushed down by Mississippi State

Andy Hodges
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Hogs get Smith back, but get pushed down by Mississippi State

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas got Nick Smith Jr., back on the court but it wasn’t enough against Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs came into Bud Walton Arena on Saturday night and proceeded to kick the Razorbacks around in a 70-64 win that shocked some people and others were just mad about it.

“They’re one of the best defensive teams in college basketball and they’re physical,” Hogs coach Eric Musselman said later. “And obviously, especially in the first half, and for some guys the entire game, their defense bothered guys.

“They do a good job when you put it on the floor of kind of swarming and we were unable to convert.”

He didn’t put all the blame on the offense.

“We had too many guys just not shoot a good enough percentage from the field and that cost us along with our overall defense,” Musselman said on his radio postgame.

The loss snapped the Hogs’ five-game SEC win streak.

Nick Smith (Andy Hodges / HitThatLine.com)

Mississippi State led by 11 at halftime and pushed its advantage to 16 (43-37) with 15:56 left. However, Arkansas used an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to five (47-42) after a 3-pointer by Davonte Davis with 10:40 left.

The Bulldogs kept the Razorbacks at bay, pushing the lead back to 10 (58-48). Arkansas did not back down and got to within three (60-57) on a Davis fastbreak layup at the 1:22 mark. MSU’s Cameron Matthews went 4-of-4 at the line and converted his own miss for a layup to answer Arkansas’ points and give his team a seven-point lead with 44 ticks left.

Arkansas made a final push to trail by four after a Nick Smith Jr., jumper with 13 seconds left but Dashawn Davis connected on a pair of free throws with nine seconds left to provide the six-point win.

Davis led MSU with 17 points, followed by Shakeel Moore (12 points), Tolu Smith (11 points) and Cameron Smith (10 points).

Anthony Black paced the Razorbacks with 23 points – tying his SEC career high, with five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Ricky Council IV had 13 points thanks to making 11-of-13 at the line.

Arkansas hits the road Wednesday (Feb. 15) to play at Texas A&M. Game time Is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 25, Mississippi State 34

• Arkansas scored first but Mississippi State led for 15:05.

• The Bulldogs owned a 20-12 advantage on the boards.

• Mississippi State shot 51.9% compared to 34.6% by the Razorbacks.

• Anthony Black scored 12 of the Hogs’ 25 points. Devo Davis has five of the team’s 12 boards.

SECOND HALF Arkansas 39, Mississippi State 36

• Arkansas shot 54.4% from the field in the second half and held MSU to 43.3%.

• Arkansas out-rebounded MSU 19 to 13, had four steals and four blocked shots.

• Black had 11 points, all five of his rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Anthony Black (Andy Hodges / HitThatLine.com)

Game Notes

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Davonte Davis – Ricky Council – Makhel Mitchell – Makhi Mitchell for the fourth-straight time, fifth time overall.

• Arkansas won the tip.

• Arkansas’ Makhel Mitchell scored the first points, a layup at 19:37.

• Jordan Walsh was the first Razorback sub.

• This was just Arkansas’ second loss in its last 17 games in the month of February.

• Nick Smith Jr., returned to game action for the first time since the first half of the Bradley game (Dec. 17). He played 17:15 off the bench with five points.

• Davonte Davis had a streak of nine-straight games scoring in double figures snapped as he finished with seven points. However, he has scored double digits in 11 of his last 13.

• Despite the loss, Arkansas still leads the all-time series 35-33 overall and 23-9 in games played in Fayetteville.

• Ricky Council IV has scored in double figures in 23 of the Razorbacks’ 25 games this season.

Game notes and other information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

Listen to Hogs-Bulldogs this evening here or ESPN Arkansas radio

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Listen to Hogs-Bulldogs this evening here or ESPN Arkansas radio

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (17-7, 6-5 SEC) vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (16-8, 4-7 SEC)

What: Arkansas has won five-straight SEC games and Mississippi State is riding a four-game win streak.

When: Saturday – Feb. 11 – 5 pm (CT)

Where: Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.

Television: ESPNU (Michael Eaves and Dane Bradshaw)

Listen Online: HitThatLine.com

Radio: ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman).

Sirius/XM: 137 (Sirius)-190 (XM) • SXM App: Channel 961

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the first time in 11 days, Arkansas will play a home men’s basketball game, hosting Mississippi State on Saturday.

Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena and the game will be televised on ESPNU.

The talk this week hasn’t been about the game as much as whether freshman Nick Smith will play for the first time this year after some sort of knee injury.

There are no guarantees from coach Eric Musselman one way or the other, but Smith indicated he would be playing Saturday on an Instagram Live post that several teammates are obviously thinking the same thing.

“Nick has practiced the last few days with us,” Musselman said Wednesday. “Obviously he did not go on the road trip so he could continue to stay back here and work on his conditioning. We’re optimistic and hopeful that Nick will be able to play some time here in the near future.”

Considering the game against the Bulldogs, who are riding a four-game winning streak into town, is the next one it’s the assumption everyone is making.

Davonte Davis (Gunnar Rathbun / Arkansas Communications)

Musselman’s Scouting Report Wednesday

“The biggest thing with Mississippi State is you’ve got to be prepared for physicality. This is a team that loves to create steals. They average 10 steals a game. It’s a high-gamble team defensively. They jump in passing lanes. The pace of play, they try to control the pace of play. It’s a paint game. You’ve got to be able to defensively defend the paint, starting with Tolu Smith inside, who’s averaging 15 points a game on the year and 13 in conference play.

“Perimeter wise they have Dashawn Davis, No. 10, an Oregon State transfer who can make threes. A high-assist player. Then Shakeel Moore, an NC State transfer, lefty, who can shoot the ball and is playing really well of late. Then they have some really athletic wings with great size in Cam Cam Matthews, No. 4 and Tyler Stevenson, No. 14, and D.J. Jeffries, No. 0.

“Then two big guys inside in Tolu Smith, No. 1, and McNair, who played at New Mexico State last year and we played against him in the NCAA Tournament, No. 13. So boxing out, keeping them off the offensive glass, getting a shot on goal, not allowing their steal game or their defensive anticipation to get out and create transition baskets for them. Those will be some of the keys to Saturday’s game.”

Game Notes

• Arkansas and Mississippi State have met on 67 previous occasions. Arkansas holds a slight 35-32 advantage all-time as well as a slight 30-28 advantage since the Razorbacks joined the SEC.

• While the all-time series is tight, Arkansas holds a commanding 23-8 advantage over the Bulldogs in games played in Fayetteville, including 22-7 in SEC games.

Over the 5-game Arkansas SEC win streak:

• ARK: 72.5 ppg – 50% FG – 36% 3PT – 75 assists – 62 TO – 34 BLK – 39 steals

• OPP: 60.6 ppg – 38% FG – 31% 3PT – 53 assists – 76 TO – 17 BLK – 33 steals

• Davonte Davis: 16.2 ppg – 56% FG – 51% 3PT – 20 assists

• Anthony Black: 14.8 ppg – 43% FG – 23-32 FT – 5.0 rpg – 27 assists – 16 steals

• Ricky Council IV: 12.2 ppg – 18-23 FT – 18 assists – 11 TO

• Jordan Walsh: 9.2 ppg – 5.2 rpg (11 of the team’s 44 offensive boards)

• Makhel Mitchell: 8.3 ppg – 6.5 rpg – 15 BLK

Aaron Torres hoping Razorbacks get star freshman on floor against Bulldogs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Aaron Torres hoping Razorbacks get star freshman on floor against Bulldogs

Hogs getting things figured out riding a five-game SEC winning streak into Saturday’s home matchup with Mississippi State.

Former Hogs pitcher James Teague on start of season

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Former Hogs pitcher James Teague on start of season

Razorbacks will have trouble replacing talent of Jaxon Wiggons this season after announcement he’ll miss season after elbow surgery.

Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- February 10, 2023

Christian Johnston
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Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- February 10, 2023

OU and Texas Coming to SEC in ’24; Super Bowl Weekend; Hardwood Hogs Vs. MSU Saturday

Guests-
Aaron Torres
James Teague
Neal Atkinson

#Arkansas #ArkansasRazorbacks #Hogs #Hawgs #WPS #ArkansasRazorbacksPodcast #GoHogs #HitThatLine #WooPigSooie #RazorbackPodcast #ArkansasPodcast #HogPodcast

The Gimme the HAWGS Chuck Podcast E62: Nick Smith back in the fold

Tye Richardson
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The Gimme the HAWGS Chuck Podcast E62: Nick Smith back in the fold

Presented by Weichert Realtors – The Griffin Company

 

Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: Home game Saturday night, Super Bowl weekend

Christian Johnston
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Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: Home game Saturday night, Super Bowl weekend

Tye, Tommy and Chuck talk Nick Smith’s return, Super Bowl & more!

#Arkansas #ArkansasRazorbacks #Hogs #Hawgs #WPS #ArkansasRazorbacksPodcast #GoHogs #HitThatLine #WooPigSooie #RazorbackPodcast #ArkansasPodcast #HogPodcast

Coffee w/ Counsel Episode 20 – Qualified Immunity with Whit Hyman

Tye Richardson
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Coffee w/ Counsel Episode 20 – Qualified Immunity with Whit Hyman

hickeyandhull.com

 

The Morning Rush is LIVE. Home game Saturday night, Super Bowl weekend

Christian Johnston
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The Morning Rush is LIVE. Home game Saturday night, Super Bowl weekend

Call or text in
877-377-6963

Razorback suffer bad loss despite Makayla Daniels’ big night

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorback suffer bad loss despite Makayla Daniels’ big night

NASHVILLE — Arkansas (18-8, 5-6 SEC) ran into trouble at Vanderbilt (11-14, 2-9 SEC), falling to the Commodores 78-70 on Thursday night.

In a game where Vanderbilt led for nearly 37 minutes, Arkansas took the lead briefly in the third quarter, but could not close in on the Commodores. Makayla Daniels led the Razorbacks with a season-high 31 points.

Vanderbilt won the tip, but the Razorbacks held the Commodores to a shot clock violation on their first possession and Erynn Barnum responded on the other end with a third-chance layup.

The Commodores made two triples, but Makayla Daniels banked in 3-pointer and made two free throws to help Arkansas go back up briefly until Vanderbilt cruised on a 7-0 run. Daniels broke the Razorbacks’ scoring drought with a layup, but Vanderbilt kept on firing away on offense and led 15-9 with 4:41 left in the first quarter.

Arkansas was held from the field for the remaining 5:32 of the quarter but made four of eight free throws during that stretch. The Commodores were held scoreless for the last 4:06 of the frame, making it an 18-13 game in favor of Vanderbilt.

Arkansas opened the quarter with two layups to start a 4-0 run, and after Vanderbilt’s ninth foul of the game, the Commodores burned an early timeout with 8:36 left in the frame. Vanderbilt then made back-to-back 3-pointers to go up by seven, but Chrissy Carr answered with a 3-pointer of her own.

The Commodores went back up by seven, but Daniels logged a 3-pointer, and the Razorbacks trailed 28-24 with four minutes and some change left in the first half. Off a steal, Daniels went to the basket for a layup, but Vanderbilt answered with a 3-pointer off a second chance opportunity.

The Razorbacks then got Barnum going with two straight layups in the paint, as Arkansas trailed 33-30 with 1:47 remaining in the half. Vanderbilt closed the quarter on a 4-2 run, as Arkansas was down 37-32 at the half.

The Razorbacks came up empty on their first two possessions of the second half, committing back-to-back turnovers. Carr got Arkansas its first basket of the quarter with a second-chance layup.

Whenever Arkansas was starting to find a groove offensively, Vanderbilt would answer, and after a Daniels 3-pointer to cut the lead to three, the Commodores went back up by five with a layup.

Carr delivered a triple and after a Daniels 3-pointer, Arkansas took its first lead since the early part of the game., 47-46, with less than four minutes in the quarter. Vanderbilt got fouled on their next basket and converted the 3-point play to retake the lead, 49-47 with three minutes left in the frame.

The Commodores ended the quarter on an 8-2 run and the Razorbacks trailed 55-49 heading into the final quarter.

Barnum helped the Razorbacks get their first points of the quarter from the free throw line after two minutes ticked off the clock in the quarter.

With Arkansas unable to make magic happen from the field, the Razorbacks trailed 59-51 with 6:11 left in the game. Carr dug Arkansas out of that drought with a 3-pointer, but the Razorbacks still fell behind, 61-54 with 5:25 left. Vanderbilt scored out of Arkansas’ timeout, but Daniels answered with a 3-point play.

The Commodores tallied a 3-point play of their own, but Daniels logged another and-1, as the Razorbacks were down 66-62 with 3:55 remaining. Arkansas forced two Vanderbilt turnovers, which set up for a Barnum second-chance layup to cut the Vanderbilt lead to two.

Vanderbilt scored a jumper on their next possession, as Arkansas trailed 68-64 with 1:52 remaining in the game. The Commodores scored another basket with under a minute remaining, as Arkansas was down 70-66 with 38.9 seconds left.Vanderbilt made their free throws down the stretch to win the game 78-70.

Hogs Highlights

• Daniels scored a season-high 31 points off 11-of-23 shooting and four 3-pointers. The game marked her third 30-point game of her career, while also surpassing Amber Ramirez, India Lewis and Malica Monk on the all-time scoring list to climb up to No. 17 (1,328). She also added three boards and three steals

• Carr came up with big baskets and finished the night with 18 points, three triples, five rebounds and a steal

• Barnum still found a way to reach double digits, ending the night with 12 points and seven rebounds

• Emrie Ellis played 14 minutes, pulling down a season-high five rebounds

• Rylee Langerman came up with hustle plays, as always and finished with four rebounds

Next Game

The Razorbacks will host Missouri on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. for Arkansas’ second game against the Tigers this season.

The game will serve as the team’s Pink Out Game and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

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