Tye & Clay on the new CFB rankings, Cam Little joins, updated potential AR gambling laws and more!
WATCH-LISTEN: Hogs-Panthers streaming only tonight; listen here or ESPN Arkansas
The 15th-16th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks close out their three-game home stand hosting Northern Iowa on Wednesday.
“”They’re an NCAA Tournament-caliber team,” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said. “They cut extremely hard, very well-coached. I hope we have a good crowd. We need a good crowd. We better bring our A-game because this is a very good and dangerous Northern Iowa team.”
There will be a shoe theme for the game, according to Musselman on social media this week:
Tomorrow nights shoe theme is the 2022 signing class officially joining the @RazorbackMBB family!
? @marlaburleson pic.twitter.com/O6RB5yKdEM
— Eric Musselman (@EricPMusselman) November 16, 2021
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game is sold out, but will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
• Arkansas and Northern Iowa are meeting for the first time.
• Northern Iowa features the Missouri Valley Conference preseason player of the year AJ Green and reigning MVC freshman of the year Bowen Born.
• JD Notae leads the SEC (13th in the NCAA) in scoring (24.0 points per game) but also leads the SEC (sixth in the NCAA) in steals. In fact, he has as many steals (9) as 3-pointers made (9) through two games.
• Jaylin Williams had career-high in assists with five in each of his first two games. He is the only player 6-9 or taller in the NCAA to average 5.0 assists per game. For good measure, he grabbed eight rebounds in each of the first two games.
• Davonte Davis, who tied his career-high with six assists last time out, was 2-of-3 from 3-point range versus Gardner-Webb. He was just 2-of-13 from deep last season.
• Since Musselman’s arrival in Fayetteville, the Hogs have the most overall wins among SEC teams with 47 (Alabama is second with 44) and the Razorbacks have the most home wins with 32 (LSU is second with 28).
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Northern Iowa Panthers
Current Records: Arkansas (2-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Northern Iowa (1-2, 0-0 MVC)
Date-Time: Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.
TV-Streaming: SEC Network+
Radio: HitThatLine.com, 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, SSIRIUS 135-XM 190-Online 961
Sportsbook Info (via SI Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Arkansas -1009, Mississippi State +700
Spread: Arkansas -13., Northern Iowa +13.5
Total: 141.5 – Over: (-110), Under: (-110)
Hogs’ Treylon Burks, Dalton Wagner: Well aware Alabama’s defense still good
Burks not disappointed, concerned over not making ‘Biletnekoff’ semifinalist; Wagner on Tide’s pass rushing personnel very good.
Myles Slusher, Grant Morgan: Previewing facing second-ranked Alabama
Grant Morgan “excited” being named one of finalists for Burlsworth Award plus Myles Slusher on interception against LSU.
Razorbacks move up in College Football Playoff rankings after win
Arkansas crossed two new milestones off the list on Tuesday night, moving up to No. 21 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings and being ranked for the second consecutive week.
The Razorbacks’ ranking is the highest ever in the rankings after the team was ranked No. 25 last week, that ranking matched the program’s only other appearance in the rankings from 2016.
The Hogs fell out of the rankings that season after a loss to LSU after only one week and did not reappear until last week.
Arkansas is one of six SEC teams in the newest rankings joining No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, No. 12 Ole Miss, No. 16 Texas A&M and No. 25 Mississippi State.
The Razorbacks face the Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.
Hogs’ radio analyst Matt Zimmerman: Trying to sort out player combinations
Eric Musselman just trying to figure out combinations right now and Z compared it to Dave Van Horn in baseball.
HawgSports’ Danny West: Does this qualify as ‘down year’ for Alabama?
Crimson Tide have been on such a streak since 2008 losing two games in a year might be that.
Scorebook Live’s Nate Olson: Northside running game gives them a chance
Now the playoffs are here and Grizzlies’ have to put together four solid quarters which they have potential to do.
HALFTIME POD PRESENTED BY EASTSIDE LIQUOR: West, Olson
Is It Bama “Hate” or “Envy” week?; Should Hogs Run Through UNI?; Get Off My Lawn and much more!
Guests- Danny West & Nate Olson
Samara Spencer picks up SEC Freshman of Week honors
Freshman guard Samara Spencer earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors, the league office announced Tuesday.
She earned the award following her first week of college basketball and is the first Hog to win the honor since Makayla Daniels in November of 2019.
Spencer has popped for Arkansas right away, as she started her Arkansas career off with back-to-back double figure games, and shot 60 percent or better in both contests.
Against Tarleton State in the opener, Spencer scored 12 points (5-6 field goals, 2-2 3-pointers), grabbed three boards, and dished two assists.
Two days later, Spencer chipped in with 14 more against UAPB, hitting three of five shots from the field and six of eight from the free throw line.
In her first real collegiate test, Spencer showed absolutely no fear, as she scored eight points in 16 minutes against No. 2 UConn.
She scored efficiently against the Huskies, making three of her six shots and both of her free throw attempts.
Spencer was crucial in Arkansas’ second big run in the game, as she scored four quick points midway through the second quarter to trim the UConn lead back down to just four points after it was 15 earlier in the game.
When all was said and done, Spencer averaged 11.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and one steal per game during her debut week at Arkansas.
She is currently third on the team in scoring and leads the team in assists.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
