Big Weekend to Recap; Hogs hire DC; MBB & WBB Gets Wins; Phil’s at the Rose Bowl; Stupidest Play in NFL History
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Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman on facing UNC-Ashville on Wednesday night
They will come into first game back at Bud Walton Arena in awhile with a hot outside shooting challenge.
Hogs’ Sam Pittman introduces new coaches at Monday press conference
New Razorbacks defensive coordinator Travis Williams and tight ends coach Morgan Turner getting settled into Fayetteville.
HALFTIME IS LIVE. World Cup Final recap, Travis Williams new DC at Arkansas
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Tye, Tommy and Chuck on NIL for Hog FB, new DC, Christmas party, and the NLR win
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The Gimme the HAWGS Chuck Podcast E43: Showtime in North Little Rock win
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Sam Pittman apparently has made choice for defensive coordinator
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Nothing is official, but there are multiple reports all citing sources saying Central Florida defensive coordinator Travis Williams is the choice.
A decision is not surprising as Arkansas coach Sam Pittman indicated that in a press conference Friday.
“We’re closing in on that,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do as far as announcing that. I think I’m weighing our program and possibilities of hurting our recruiting versus hurting some other university’s recruiting. It is so close to signing day.”
It’s not official, but there are enough reports from reliable places to think it’s accurate, barring something goofy happening.
Williams has been Gus Malzahn’s defensive coordinator at UCF the past two seasons and was co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Auburn before that.
He does have some SEC background.
Williams is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, and played at Auburn. He was at Auburn from 2014 through 2020 in a few different roles.
In 2016, Malzahn promoted him to linebackers coach, giving him his first on-field coaching position on the major college level. He was named the Tigers’ co-defensive coordinator from 2019-20.
UCF has been solid on defense this year, giving up 23.2 points per game this season to rank third in the AAC (39th nationally). They also finished third his first year there in 2021 (24.5 ppg). UCF is fifth in the ACC this season in total defense, giving up 382.6 yards per game (71st nationally).
They were fourth last year at 369.3 yards per game allowed.
Williams would replace Barry Odom, who left for the UNLV job recently. He also has experience coaching linebackers, which may or may not be a sign that there may be a suspected interest that Michael Scherer might join Odom, although Pittman said nobody has hinted at that to him.
Scherer is expected to be calling the defenses for the Hogs against Kansas in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 28.
Information from other media reports is included in this story.
Walsh’s big day plus pressuring defense lifts Hogs past Bradley
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Jordan Walsh scored a career-high 18 points with four steals to lead No. 10 Arkansas to a 76-57 win over Bradley Saturday.
It was the the Razorbacks’ annual trip to North Little Rock and Simmons Bank Arena.
A crowd of 16,675 marked the second-largest attended game for any Hogs’ contest in Central Arkansas, following a crowd of 17,201 against Oklahoma State in Dec. 21, 2001, at North Little Rock.
In addition to Walsh’s career high, the story of the game centered on an Arkansas defense that forced 27 turnovers thanks to 16 Arkansas steals. Davonte Davis tied his career high with five steals, Walsh had four and the trip of Makhi Mitchell, Anthony Black and Ricky Council IV each had two.
Down 7-6 early, Arkansas used a 14-1 run, including an 11-0 sport, to take a lead it would not relinquish. Walsh had back-to-back dunks and a 3-pointer in the run. Then, early in the second half, Arkansas produced a 15-2 run, with seven points from Council, to put the game away.
Council finished with 16 points and Black had 15 with four assists. In addition to Davis’ five steals, he led the team with seven rebounds.
Rienk Mast paced the Braves with 17 points. Malevy Leons and Duke Deen each scored 11 points.
Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday (Dec. 21) to host UNC Asheville. Tipoff is set for 8 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on SEC Network.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 37, Bradley 25
• Arkansas was down 7-6 early before an 11-0 run highlighted by back-to-back dunks by Jordan Walsh. Arkansas did not relinquish the lead and maintained a double-digit lead most of the first half.
• Walsh finished the half with 16 points.
• Bradley’s top first half scorer was Rienk Mast with six points.
• Bradley outrebounded the Razorbacks 16-11.
• Arkansas forced 16 first-half turnovers and had 10 steals, including three each by Walsh and Davonte Davis.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas 39, Bradley 32
• Council scored 11 of his 16 in the second half.
• The Razorbacks shot 52.2 percent from the field while holding the Braves to 34.6% shooting.
• All 11 of Leons’ points for Bradley came in the second half.
• Arkansas was up nine (41-32) with 16:59 left to play before the 15-2 run. The Braves got no closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
Game Notes
• This was the first meeting between Arkansas and Bradley. However, Eric Musselman is 2-0 versus the Braves, winning at Bradley, 91-69.
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Nick Smith Jr. – Ricky Council IV – Jordan Walsh – Makhi Mitchell for the fourth consecutive game.
• Arkansas won the tip.
• Bradley’s Duke Deen scored the game’s first points, a layup at 19:30. Makhi Mitchell scored the Razorbacks’ first points on a putback at 18:15.
• Kamani Johnson and Davonte Davis were the first Razorback subs. It was Johnson’s first time to be the first sub.
• Arkansas is 10-1 to start a season for the 23rd time in this its 100th year of basketball. Coach Musselman has started at least 9-1 in all four years at Arkansas, including a 12-1 start in Muss’ first year (2019-20).
• Arkansas has forced 20-plus turnovers four times in 11 games this season. The Razorbacks only accomplished the feat three times last season. Arkansas forced a season-high 30 turnovers versus Fordham with turnovers of 27 versus Bradley, 22 versus Louisville and 20 versus South Dakota State.
• Arkansas scored 37 points off turnovers which are the second-most in the Eric Musselman era.
• Barry Dunning Jr., scored his first points as a Razorbacks with a free throw with 43 seconds left.
• Arkansas was outrebounded for the third time this year but are 2-1 in such games. (Arkansas is 8-0 when outrebounding its opponent.)
• Arkansas improves to 17-10 all-time in North Little Rock and 13-10 in the facility now known as Simmons Bank Arena.
• Ricky Council IV, the SEC’s leading scorer, has scored in double figures in 10 of the 11 games.
Hogs’ offensive tackle Dalton Wagner, quarterback KJ Jefferson on bowl game
Last game for lineman who has run out of eligibility plus quarterback thinks team will have energy for Kansas.
Hogs make statement with win at No. 16 Creighton
OMAHA, Neb. — In the only top-25 matchup of the day in NCAA DI women’s basketball, the No. 21-22 Arkansas women’s basketball team (13-0) earned a statement win at No. 16 Creighton, 83-75.
Arkansas was paced by four players in double digits, led by Samara Spencer’s 26 points and Saylor Poffenbarger’s third double-double of the season (16 points and 11 rebounds).
The Razorbacks’ 13-0 start matches the best start for the program since 2013.
Spencer got the Razorbacks rolling, scoring the team’s first eight points, as Arkansas led 8-3 in the opening three minutes of the game.
The Razorbacks continued to lead until the Bluejays knocked down a 3-pointer to then trail 10-9 at the media timeout with 4:49 left in the first quarter.
Poffenbarger’s jumper put the Razorbacks back up for a minute, but Creighton made 4-of-5 field goals to lead 17-13 with less than a minute left in the quarter.
With the Razorbacks down 17-13 after 10 minutes,
Erynn Barnum made a hard-fought layup to cut the deficit to two. The Bluejays went cold from the field, but kept going to the line, scoring their next five points off freebies, as Arkansas trailed 22-16 with seven minutes left in the quarter. Arkansas went on a 5-0 run, courtesy of a Spencer jumper and a 3-point play by Barnum.
The Bluejays then made two free throws, as the Razorbacks trailed 24-21 with 4:40 left in the frame. Spencer tied the game out of the media timeout with a 3-pointer, but Creighton responded on the other end with a triple of their own to spark a 9-4 run.
After head coach Mike Neighbors called a timeout, Rylee Langerman knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers and Spencer followed with one of her own to help the Razorbacks end the quarter on a 9-0 run to lead 37-33 at the half.
Poffenbarger opened the quarter with a jumper, and then the Razorbacks got four freebies after a Creighton player was assessed with a technical foul.
Arkansas made three of four free throws and Makayla Daniels followed with a 3-pointer. The Razorbacks led 45-35 with 8:39 left in the third. Creighton sparked a 7-0 run to cut the lead to three, but Arkansas made back-to-back baskets to go up by seven. At the media timeout with 4:54 left in the third, Arkansas led 52-47.
The Razorbacks went on a 9-4 run, and after a Spencer 3-pointer, Arkansas led by 10. Creighton would not go away, coming up with big shots, but Maryam Dauda knocked down a triple to put the Razorbacks up by 11 with 2:35 left in the quarter. The Razorbacks entered the final quarter of a play with an eight-point lead, up 61-53.
Creighton started the fourth quarter with a basket, but then fell in a scoring drought for over two minutes. Barnum made a pair of free throws, as Arkansas went back up by 10. The Bluejays went on a 4-0 run, but Barnum dug the Razorbacks out of their drought from the field with a layup.
Poffenbarger rolled in a 3-pointer and Barnum followed by a layup, and the Razorbacks extended their lead to 11, 72-61, with 4:19 remaining in the game. Creighton came out of the media timeout with a 4-0 run, but Poffenbarger responded with a 3-pointer.
Costly turnovers gave Creighton more opportunities, and as Neighbors called a timeout, Arkansas led 75-69 with 2:44 left in the game. Spencer came up with a big layup, but Creighton matched, and the Razorbacks were ahead 77-73 with 42 seconds left in the contest.
A two-possession game for the last minute of the game, Daniels and Poffenbarger knocked down big free throws and the Razorback defense stayed resilient to pull out the win, 83-75.
Hogs Highlights
• Spencer logged 26 points off 10-of-17 shooting from the field, 5-of-7 from 3-point. She also added four assists and led the team in +/- with 13
• Poffenbarger followed with 16 points and 11 rebounds along with two steals. The redshirt freshman now has three double-doubles
• Barnum was solid with 15 points off 5-of-9 from the field
• In her first game back after missing the last three contests, Daniels logged 14 points
• Langerman gave the team a huge spark off the bench with six points off two triples and five rebounds
• The Razorbacks held a hot-shooting Creighton team to 35 percent shooting from the field and 23 percent from beyond the arc
Next Game
Arkansas will stay on the road and travel to the West Coast to play in the San Diego Invitational.
The Razorbacks will play No. 16-15 Oregon on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. Central, and will play either No. ¾ Ohio State or USF on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Information from Arkansa Communications is included in this story.
