Tye & Tommy on the win over Kentucky, Round Rock Classic, Tom Murphy joins and more!
Diamond Hawgs Podcast S2E6: Round Rock Classic Recap Hogs Win Two of Three in Texas
Join Mason Choate and Robert Stewart as they break down Arkansas’ 5-0 loss to Stanford and 6-4 win over Louisiana on Sunday. The guys look ahead to things the Hogs need to improve on and possible lineup changes.
Razorbacks close out regular season finally getting a win
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Arkansas finally got one of these games at the end of a brutal schedule to go their way.
“To end the stretch that we had with a win just encapsulates how our season has gone,” Razorbacks coach Mike Neighbors said after an 87-79 win over Mississippi State.
It’s been a tough end of the season with four straight losses before closing out with a win over a pesky Bulldogs’ team that couldn’t seem to miss a lot of three-pointers.
After feeling “gut-punched” after a one-point loss to Georgia at home Thursday night, Neighbors let the players take over preparations for the road game without a real day to practice.
“Our players did the scouting report,” he said later. “I assigned each one part of the film and every word we put on the scouting report was from their reports.”
It worked out well.
The win over State gave the Hogs an eighth-place finish in the SEC headed to the tournament next week. They will play a familiar opponent on Thursday in Missouri, who clinched the No. 9 seed with a win over Florida.
Against the Bulldogs, the Hogs’ offense had six different Hogs reach double figures.
Sasha Goforth led the way, scoring 20 points for the first time since coming home to Arkansas. Amber Ramirez supplied 15 and Makayla Daniels scored 14.
TURNING POINT
This was a fast-paced game all the way through, and the two offenses scored with relative ease in the first two quarters.
Arkansas was finally able to gain some separation right before the halftime break with a quick 7-0 run, including five straight points from Daniels. The Razorbacks entered the break up 44-39.
Mississippi State came out of the locker room hot, going on a 7-2 run of its own to tie the game at 46.
It was a seesaw affair once again, and the Dawgs even took the lead back with 5:10 to play in the third quarter.
The Hogs put together another big run to close the quarter, going on a 10-4 spurt to close the penultimate frame. The Hogs led 61-56 after three.
The Razorbacks were able to hold on due to some clutch plays down the stretch. Erynn Barnum was excellent in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of her 10 points in the quarter.
She was also four of four from the free throw line down the stretch. The Bulldogs were able to cut the lead down to four with 1:38 to play, but the Hogs ended the game on a 7-3 run, clinching the eighth seed and the season sweep.
HOG HIGHLIGHTS
• Samara Spencer led the team in assists, matching her career-high with six of them.
• Goforth had three more blocks in the game, her ninth game this year with three or more.
• Ramirez led the team on the glass, pulling down eight rebounds. She also had a team-high four steals.
• Barnum’s 10 points marked her first game in double-figures since November 28 against Belmont.
NEXT TIME OUT
Arkansas is onto the SEC Tournament, where they will meet Missouri in the 8/9 game. That game will tipoff at noon on Thursday, March 3, and will air live on SEC Network.
Neighbors let players do scouting, game planning for Mississippi State
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said after an 87-79 win over Bulldogs to wrap up eighth seed heading to SEC Tournament.
Notae paces Hogs past No. 6 Kentucky in another win over ranked team
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — JD Notae became the first Razorback to score 30 points and have eight assists in an SEC game and Jaylin Williams recorded his 11th double-double of the year as No. 18 Arkansas defeated No. 6 Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.
The Hogs (23-6, 12-4 SEC) improved to 4-0 against ranked opponents this season and won its 13th of its last 14 games. The Hogs tied for second in the SEC standings, one game behind Auburn.
Arkansas raced to a 15-2 lead and led by as many as 13 three times in the first half.
The Wildcats made a run and trailed by just six points (34-28) at the break.
Kentucky continued to play well into the second half, outscoring the Hogs 13-6 to start the frame, and took its first lead, 41-40 at 14:53, since scoring the game’s first basket.
From that point, it was a slugfest with neither team leading by more than four points.
With 2:21 left, Kellen Grady made his only basket, a three-pointer, to put the Wildcats up one (70-69).
Jaylin Williams answered with a jumper to put the Hogs back in the lead and never relinquished the lead.
Arkansas got a stop and Williams converted two free throws with 36 seconds left for a three-point lead. The Hogs got another stop and Davonte Davis made one-of-two at the line to make it a two-possession game with 13 seconds left.
On the ensuing possession, Notae and Au’Diese Toney each blocked shots with nine and six seconds remaining, respectively.
Davis once again went one-of-two at the line for a five-point cushion. TyTy Washington provided the final, 75-73, after banking in a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Notae scored 30 points for the third time this season and he tied a season-best with eight assists.
Williams, who scored 10 straight for the Hogs inside the final 4:38, finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
It was Williams’ sixth straight double-double and 11th overall.
Kentucky was led by Oscar Tshiebwe’s 30 points and 18 rebounds. Keion Brooks Jr., and Sahvir Wheeler 14 points.
Arkansas hosts LSU on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 34, Kentucky: 28
• Kentucky scored first but the Hogs reeled off seven straight to force a Wildcat timeout. The Hogs would push the run to 15-0 to lead 15-2.
• Arkansas led 17-7 at the second media timeout (11:19).
• The Razorbacks led by as many as 13 three times, including 15-2, 30-17 and 32-19.
• Arkansas shot 46.7% from the field while holding the Wildcats to 33.3%, including 0-of-8 from 3-point range.
• Oscar Tshiebwe had a double-double at halftime with 14 points (half of his team’s 28) and 12 rebounds. However, Kentucky was only up one in the rebound battle, 21-20, at the break.
• JD Notae led all scorers with 18 points while Jaylin Williams had nine rebounds.
Game Notes
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was JD Notae – Au’Diese Toney – Stanley Umude – Trey Wade –Jaylin Williams for the 13th straight game.
• Arkansas won the opening tip.
• Tshiebwe scored the first points of the game, jumper at 18:18. Williams scored the Razorbacks’ first points, a dunk at 17:53, to spur a 15-0 run.
• Davis was the first Razorback sub.
• Arkansas is now 8-8 against Kentucky in games played in Fayetteville but still trails in the overall series, 33-13.
• Arkansas is the only SEC school that is undefeated against Top 25 teams this season, going 4-0 with wins at No. 12 LSU and at home against No. 1 Auburn, No. 16 Tennessee, No. 6 Kentucky.
• Arkansas is now 45-47 when a ranked Razorback team faces a ranked opponent. Arkansas is 17-5 when ranked and hosting a ranked team.
Game notes and information from Arkansas Communications
Musselman’s complete press conference after big win over Kentucky
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman on team continuing run of success with 75-73 win over No. 6 Kentucky on Saturday.
Umude, Notae after Razorbacks subdue Kentucky, 75-73
Arkansas players Stanley Umude (13 points, 6 rebounds) and JD Notae (30 points, 8 assists) after downing Wildcats, 75-73.
Listen to Razorbacks’ home matchup with Kentucky here or ESPN Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It’s another big game for No. 18 Arkansas.
And, in keeping with what is becoming a season to remember, the Razorbacks have Kentucky on Saturday in what is likely the hardest finish to the regular season of anybody in the country.
The theme of the day will be a “Stripe Out” at Bud Walton Arena and fans can check what color they are supposed to wear by going HERE.
The game will start at 1 p.m. on CBS with Brad Nessler and Pete Gillen.
Pregame online and on the radio starts at 12:30 p.m. Listen online to Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman at HitThatLine.com and on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and central Arkansas, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home and on satellite radio at Sirius-XM 81.
• This will be the 46th meeting between Arkansas and Kentucky. The Wildcats own a 33-12 advantage in the series, including a 28-12 mark since Arkansas joined the SEC. Kentucky owns a slight 8-7 advantage in games played in Fayetteville, but the Razorbacks have not beaten Kentucky in Bud Walton since Jan. 14, 2014 (87-85 in OT) on a Michael Qualls put-back dunk as time expired.
• For the second time this season, a ranked Arkansas team will host a ranked opponent.
• Last Saturday, then-No. 23 Arkansas hosted then No. 16 Tennessee and won 58-48.
• Prior to last Saturday, a ranked Arkansas team hosted No. 6 Alabama last year and then not again until 1998.
• The 1998 season was also the last time a ranked Arkansas team hosted two ranked opponents. No. 14 Arkansas defeated No. 17 Ole Miss (100-87) on Feb. 5 and No. 16 Arkansas defeated No. 13 South Carolina (96-88) on Feb. 18.
• This game will be the 92nd time a ranked Arkansas team has played a ranked opponent and the 22nd time a ranked Razorback team has hosted a ranked opponent.
• Arkansas is 44-47 all-time when ranked and playing a ranked opponent.
• Arkansas is 16-5 when ranked and hosting a ranked team.
• Jaylin Williams is on pace to have one of the best rebounding seasons in school history, especially in SEC play. His 154 rebounds in SEC games rank second. Bobby Portis has the school record for rebounds in SEC games at 168 (2015). His 268 overall season rebounds are 25 shy to enter the Razorback single-season top 10 (293 by Joe Kleine in 1984). His 9.57 season rebound average ranks 10th and is the best by a Razorback since Michael Washington led the SEC at 9.8 in 2009. Williams is on pace to set the school record for rebound avg in SEC games, currently at 10.27. The record is 9.5 by Derek Hood (1999)
• JD Notae is on pace to rank fifth in school history for single-season scoring avg in SEC games, currently 19.5.
Arkansas vs. Kentucky
Current Records: No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks (22-6, 11-4 SEC) vs. No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats (22-5, 12-3 SEC)
Date-Time: Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.
Where: Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena (19,200), Fayetteville, Ark.
TV/Streaming: CBS (Brad Nessler and Pete Gillen).
Radio: Listen online at HitThatLine.com and on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and central Arkansas, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home and on satellite radio at Sirius-XM 81.
Sportsbook Info (via BetOnline.ag)
Spread: Arkansas -2.5 (-110), Kentucky +2.5 (-110)
Total: 147.5 – Over: -110, Under: -110
Moneyline: NA
Noland not bothered with cold weather, sleeves in strong outing
ROUND ROCK, TEXAS — Connor Noland had never pitched in long sleeves before he took the mound on a frosty Friday night at Dell Diamond.
It turned out to be one of the best outings of his career.
Noland battled the elements and struck out 10 over six innings of one-run ball to lead No. 2 Arkansas to a 5-2 win against Indiana in the Karbach Round Rock Classic.
He finished one strikeout shy of matching his career best, turning in Arkansas’ fourth consecutive start of at least five innings.
Noland teamed up with Kole Ramage, who earned his second save of the young season, to fan 16 Hoosiers on the evening. Ramage came out of the bullpen for the final three innings and punched out six en route to his multi-inning save.
Noland and Ramage had plenty to work with as the Arkansas offense did its part providing run support.
Cayden Wallace doubled down the left field line before coming around to score on Robert Moore’s single through the right side, giving the Razorbacks’ an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Arkansas later tacked on three runs in the top of the fourth to open a 4-0 advantage.
Brady Slavens’ one-out double set the table for Michael Turner’s run-scoring triple before Wallace’s bases-loaded walk kept the line moving.
Wallace’s first-inning double was his first of a career-high four hits. He powered Arkansas’ offense all game long, finishing with two doubles, two runs scored, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base.
Moore also did much of the heavy lifting, driving in a team-leading two runs on two hits. The Razorback second baseman’s multi-hit game was his third in four games this season.
Arkansas gets back to work tomorrow against No. 6 Stanford in a clash between two top-10 programs. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on FloBaseball with David Saltzman (play-by-play) and Mike Hardge (analyst) on the call.
Calipari on what he knows Wildcats will face against Razorbacks
Kentucky coach John Calipari previewed Kentucky’s matchup with a red-hot Arkansas team on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena.
