5 keys to Arkansas basketball defeating No. 23 Ole Miss

After the Arkansas Razorbacks 11-3 (0-1 SEC) were flattened by the Tennessee Volunteers 14-1 (1-1 SEC) in Knoxville, Tennessee, 76-52, the Hogs have no time to lick their collective wounds, given that they must face the talented No. 23 Ole Miss Rebels in Bud Walton Arena tonight.

Although Arkansas played poorly against Tennessee, which is an understatement, the Razorbacks have a talented team with several future NBA players on the roster. While Arkansas has several critical areas to improve on from that game against the top-ranked team in the nation, no one should have misguided thoughts about the Hogs; they are much better than they performed against the Volunteers. This article discusses five key factors for an Arkansas win against Ole Miss tonight in Bud Walton Arena.

5 keys to victory for Arkansas basketball over Ole Miss

Bud Walton Arena must be elite

Arkansas has arguably the greatest home-court advantage in college basketball. When Arkansas’s fans are at their best, they engender one of the most intimidating environments. However, as Tommy Foltz, staff writer at Best of Arkansas Sports, has explained, Razorback fan attendance at Bud Walton Arena has been horrible this season, though many, including many Arkansas fans, attribute this to the inferior competition on the home game non-conference schedule this season.

Even if that is the case, it is unacceptable. With the caliber of head coach, John Calipari, and the elite players, including Boogie Fland and DJ Wagner, at Arkansas, the facility should be filled each game. Arkansas players feed off the energy in Bud Walton Arena. However, if the energy is absent, then the powerful advantage of playing at home will not materialize.

Arkansas assistant basketball coach Chin Coleman shared with Inside Arkansas “the importance of making sure Bud Walton Arena is a rocking atmosphere when Ole Miss comes to town tomorrow night.”

Possess SEC physicality

Although Arkansas basketball has the size to compete with any team in the nation, it lacks the physicality, especially down low, to be successful against many teams in the SEC, including Ole Miss. While playing for Tennessee, Jonas Aidoo demonstrated excellent physicality in the Volunteers’ offensive and defensive interior. However, Aidoo has not exhibited that type of physicality as he progressively recovers from injury. The Hogs need him to bring the physicality against Ole Miss and the rest of their SEC opponents.

Another huge player, even larger than Jonas Aidoo, who must develop into a more physical player, is Zvonimir Ivisic. Although he has imposing size, he plays, to be frank, soft, with no more physicality than a player half his size. Even though John Calipari has emphasized how vital it is for Ivisic to be more physical, especially down low, Ivisic must take the challenge personally to help his team achieve the success it can experience.

Rebound consistently

Both Aidoo and Ivisic must take ownership of the offensive and defensive boards. Given their size, it is reasonable to hold Aidoo and Ivisic accountable for being rebounding leaders for the team. Successful rebounders have a determined mindset to own the glass that these two players must develop.

While Aidoo and Ivisic must take the lead on ameliorating Arkansas’s rebounding outcomes, the entire team must commit to improving these outcomes. Effective rebounding is a team effort. Therefore, the Razorbacks must concentrate on team rebounding, which includes an authentic commitment from every player who steps on the court to boxing out.  

The Razorbacks must never have such an embarrassing game rebounding as they had against Tennessee. According to ESPN, the Volunteers had 22 more rebounds than the Hogs, which includes surrendering 24 offensive rebounds. If Arkansas allows Ole Miss to have such success on the offensive glass, the Razorbacks will suffer their second consecutive SEC loss to open conference play.

Competitive shooting

Without question, the Arkansas Razorbacks must shoot better to defeat Ole Miss and all SEC opponents. The team experiences too many scoring droughts, which they overcame against much weaker non-conference teams. Their fierce SEC competitors will not allow them to recover from these droughts, however.

Arkansas shot 37.7% from the field and 20.7% from behind the three-point line against the Volunteers. Such shooting does not give the team a chance to win many games in the SEC. Therefore, the Hogs must look to shoot much better to beat the Rebels and spark improved shooting for the rest of the season. Also, the team must improve its free throw shooting, a challenge Arkansas faces that merits more attention. The Hogs made six of 13 free throw attempts against the Volunteers, a miserable 46.2%.

Demonstrable intensity

While going on the road to battle the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers is difficult, and no one should feel shame about losing to such an excellent team, the Razorbacks should be ashamed of their lack of competitive fire against the Volunteers. Okay, to be fair and technical, Arkansas showed competitive fire for about the first three minutes. When Arkansas lost a close game against Baylor earlier in the season, the Hogs mounted a noteworthy comeback in the second half. At the heart of the comeback was passion, a conspicuous will to win.

Unfortunately, that same will to make a comeback Arkansas exhibited against Baylor did not manifest against Tennessee. In front of their home crowd, the Razorbacks can ignite this essential competitive fire. Without it, though, Razorback fans will leave Bud Walton Arena disappointed tonight.