The Arkansas Razorbacks played their first basketball game of the season on Wednesday, November 25th against the Mississippi Valley State Devils.
The Arkansas Razorbacks Basketball team had a dominant showing in their first game of the season. This is a team that looks very different from last years squad, as there are 11 new players on the team and four of those are in the starting lineup. One of those new players is Brandon Kimble, who transferred to Arkansas from the Delta Devils.
With an 80-point win, the hogs looked great and are heading in the right direction. However, there are some bad performances given the circumstances of the game.
Arkansas’s Good performances
Connor Vanover, PF
Vanover, like many other Hogs this year, debuted in the White and Red for the first time against the Devils. While the seven-footer did not start, he had some valuable minutes off the bench and lead the team in scoring with 23 points in 19 minutes. Connor Vanover was also able to display his ability to protect the rim with his length. While he will not be the best post defender because of his smaller 247-pound frame. The big man got it done from behind the arc with four for five shooting, and 100% from the line on three trips and was also eight for eleven from the field.
Jalen Tate, G
The 6’6” senior guard from Ohio plays lights out an did a little bit of everything and was one third of a way from a triple double. His 12 points were key in his 17 minutes, as he showed his ability to hit from outside. His three-point shooting is not a huge strength of his, but he did go two for three. If he can consistently hit the outside jumper, it will add a huge versatility to this hog roster.
Arkansas’s Bad performances
Moses Moody, SF
Moses Moody was maybe the biggest signee going into the 2020 season for the Hogs. The four-star recruit from Monte Verde high school was recruited by big time schools like Michigan, Kansas, Ohio State, and Auburn. However, he chose Arkansas over the 24 other division one schools with great basketball programs.
After getting the starting nod at the small forward spot, Moses Moody played 24 minutes. While he finished with 16 points, he didn’t score in the most efficient ways. Shooting three for twelve from the floor and one for six from three, he was still able to get nine points from the free throw line on ten attempts. Moody was also in foul trouble a few times tonight, racking up three personals. In a dominant win by the hogs, Moody’s bad play was overshadowed.
Davonte Davis, PG
Yes, Davis only played 12 minutes but in those 12 he was not the most efficient as well. Playing against a smaller, less dominant team in Miss. Valley St. he should have token advantage of the huge skill gap between the two teams. Davis finished with only five points and shot two for five from the field.
Fans got to see how good he was at Jacksonville High School, but high-end division one basketball is a big step up from 6A Arkansas basketball. If he wants to be more of a contributor off of the bench, or even make the starting lineup he will need to prove to coach Musselman that he can produce and make winning plays with little time.
