The last time the Arkansas Razorbacks faced the Mississippi State Bulldogs, they played some of their best basketball of the season on the way to a 82-68 win in Bud Walton Arena. Led by Dusty Hannahs, the Hogs shot 66% from the three point line. Arkansas will be looking to repeat that success tonight in Starkville, as the Hogs look to pick up their 4th win in the last 5 games.
The Arkansas Razorbacks dominated the Mississippi State Bulldogs in their last meeting, thanks to the stellar guard play of Dusty Hannahs and Anthlon Bell. That game was a shooting clinic, as the two long range weapons accounted for 51 of the Hogs 82 points, as the two combined to go 13 for 20 from three point range.
Moses Kingsley was held somewhat in check by the Bulldogs. The SEC’s 8th leading scorer was held to only 13 points and 8 boards in the game, but it’s hard to fault him for not shooting more when the Hogs were red hot from outside.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this team, it’s that they just don’t play the same on the road as they do at home. That’s been an issue with not just Mike Anderson’s teams, but with every coach post-Nolan. The fact is, winning on the road is tough, even in a weaker conference like the SEC. And the Hogs have to travel to face a Bulldogs team that is better than their record shows.
The Hogs were able to keep Malik Newman in check during their last meeting, holding the talented freshman to only 9 points. That will probably be the focus again, as the guard is averaging almost 7 points more in winning games than in losing ones.
Newman isn’t the only scorer the Hogs have to worry about. The battle in the paint between Arkansas’ Moses Kingsley and MSU’s Gavin Ware should be fun to watch. Kingsley averages 16 points, 9 boards, and 2 blocks a game. Ware is having a solid season as well, averaging 16 points, 7 boards, and 1 block per game. It’s pretty rare in today’s basketball to see 2 teams with powerful posts go at it. This should be a fun one to watch.
Keys to Victory
Force Turnovers – the Hogs forced 16 turnovers in their last win against MSU. Those turnovers lead to points and momentum, which Arkansas will need to get a road win.
The Big Three must Deliver – Hannahs. Bell. Kingsley. These three guys define this team. They’re the #6, #7, and #8 leading scorers in the conference. If the outside game isn’t there, then Kingsley needs to step up like he did against Tennessee. If they drop into a zone again, hen Hannahs and Bell have to be able to make shots from the outside. If these three are cold, this team loses. Period.
Contain Newman – Malik Newman was a 5 star guard, and while he hasn’t quite lived up to the immediate expectations set forth for him by Bulldog nation, he’s one of the most talented and dangerous guards in the conference. He is quick off the bounce and can score from all over the court. The Hogs must contain the freshman to control the pace of the game.
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The Arkansas Razorbacks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs tip-off at 8:00 pm on the SEC Network. The Hogs are looking to make a strong push to a winning conference record and the SEC tournament. The Bulldogs are hoping to salvage a season that has been somewhat disappointing to fans. This game will come down to who wants it more.
My money is on the Hogs. Woo Pig.