Well, it is that time of year again. Break out the glass slippers Cinderella, because it’s March Madness time! The Arkansas Razorbacks are going to need a little “bibbidi bobbidi boo” fairy hogmother magic themselves, if they want to go to the big dance.
While Arkansas did finish the season strong, early season late game issues, pretty much put the nail in the coffin for the at-large bid. However, all the Hogs need to do is win the SEC tournament, and BOOM! Auto invite! No matter if the evil step-sisters (Kentucky and A&M) like it or not.
So, the first order of business? Beating the Florida Gators. The Gators are a two-and-a-half point favorite over the Hogs. However, the Gators haven’t exactly been on fire recently. They have lost four of their last five games. The win being the last game of the season, against the Missouri Tigers, who are not exactly “good.”
On the other side of the coin, the Razorbacks have gone the exact opposite, winning four out of the last five, losing to the “Jekyll and Hyde” team of South Carolina. Coach Anderson’s team are built for this time of year. Also, the Hogs have won a little bit more on the road this season, then we as the fan base, have been accustomed to seeing.
This game will have two strengths going head-to-head, The Hogs can score and the Gators play salty defense. Arkansas is third in the SEC in scoring with just under 80 points a game, and the best in the conference from behind the three-point line, shooting just over 40%. Most of it coming from the “three-headed monster” of Kingsley, Bell and Hannahs. who all average right around 16 points a game. Kingsley is also throwing in 9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks a game for good measure. Bell and Hannahs of course have the #SplashZone shooting around 44% from behind the arc. Which is isn’t something you see everyday.
Florida however, is second in the conference in rebounds, which is an area Arkansas struggles. The Gators also, play tight defense without fouling. They also do a good job of holding teams below their average in scoring everywhere on the court. On offense they have their own version of the “three-headed monster” that has just a little less bite than the Razorbacks trio. The Gators trio consist of 6’8 Senior Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, 6’11 Center John Egbunu and Little Rock native 6’2 Guard KeVaughn Allen. Allen which as some Hog fans remember, iced the game with a couple of big free-throws for the Gators, during the last match-up between the two teams. Those three average, 15, 11.5 and 11.5 points per game respectively.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Rebound, rebound, rebound: The Razorbacks have had issues getting the ball off the glass this season, and it won’t be easy this game due to Florida’s size. Arkansas is going to need every shot it can get against a tough Gator defense.
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#SplashZone needs a good showing: As mentioned earlier in the post, Bell and Hannahs are shooting 44% combined from downtown. They’ll need to get the three’s falling early and often to draw the defense out and give Moses Kingsley some breathing room to let the 2nd team All-SEC player (who honestly, I think should be first team, but maybe I’m bias?) do his thing in the paint.
Stay composed away from BWA: These Razorbacks have won a few games on the road this season, which is nice and Nashville is a short drive from the state border. So, hopefully it’ll be more red than blue in the stands. However, the “road Hogs” have shown up this season and with this being a high pressure game. Coach A is going to have to do everything he can to make sure his players don’t lose focus.