No. 19 Arkansas basketball defeated by Illinois, social media reacts
On Thanksgiving, November 28, 2024, the No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks 5-2 (0-0 SEC) were defeated by the Illinois Fighting Illini 6-1 (0-0 Big Ten) 90-77. Illinois outmatched the Hogs by making an uncharacteristic number of three-point shots.
According to ESPN, Illinois made 15 of 31 three-point attempts, 48.4%, whereas Arkansas only made five of 17 three-point attempts, 29.4%. When a team shoots three-pointers with such success as the Fighting Illini, it is difficult to beat them. Equally important, though, is how poor Arkansas’s three-point defense was against Illinois.
Also, the Razorbacks must shoot free throws better. The team made 16 of 27 free throw attempts, 59.3%, which is unacceptable. Adou Thiero must improve his ability to shoot free throws, connecting on only 12 of 21 free throw attempts. If the Hogs had hit their free throws, it would have dramatically changed the game.
After Arkansas’s 13-point loss to Illinois, most social media reactions expressed dissatisfaction with the Razorbacks’ performance—some even offered blistering critiques.
Social Media Reactions: Arkansas basketball vs Illinois
Riley McFerran, Managing Editor at Hawg Beat, criticized the Hogs’ poor three-point shooting and three-point defense.
The Razorbacks found out the hard way what happens when you can't hit threes or prevent opposing teams from making them.
— Riley McFerran (@RileyMcFerran) November 29, 2024
More on Arkansas' puzzling loss to Illinois:https://t.co/2cAoG2PWxc #WPS
Jackson Collier, Arkansas basketball journalist at Hawg Beat, expressed displeasure with Razorback fans “already writing off players seven games into the season,” arguing that such a reaction is “crazy.”
Good amount of fans already writing off players seven games into the season is crazy to me.
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) November 29, 2024
Hogtrough, a passionate Arkansas fan, asserted that the Razorbacks were “outcoached and outplayed.”
Arkansas outcoached and outplayed. No two ways around it.
— Hogtrough (@Hogtrough) November 28, 2024
Pinto, a Hog fan with a large social media following, contended that Johnell Davis is not demonstrating he is worth the NIL money he has received.
At what point are we planning on stopping the payments for Nelly Davis…
— pinto (@pinto479) November 28, 2024
Dan Wolken, national college football and basketball columnist at USA Today Sports, also criticized Johnell Davis: “Johnell Davis is like invisible out there. Very strange.”
Johnell Davis is like invisible out there. Very strange.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 28, 2024
Ben Brandon, an Arkansas fan, does not have high expectations for the Hogs for the rest of the season.
Arkansas compounded a lot of their “worst this year” on the same day. Probably a safe bet that won’t happen again. With that said, I still struggle to believe the team reaches its’ believed potential due to the level of injuries faced in the summer/fall.
— Ben Brandon (@BenBrandonHoops) November 29, 2024
Despite playing the…
Jeff Goodman, national college basketball analyst at Field of 68, is unsure of Arkansas’s ability to generate an impressive NCAA Tournament resume.
John Calipari and Arkansas won’t have too many more resume opportunities in non-conference after missing against Baylor and Illinois.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 28, 2024
Get a struggling Miami team next in ACC-SEC Challenge, Michigan in Jimmy V and also UTSA, Central Arkansas, NC A&T and Oakland.
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