The Hogs are on a roll, just not the one they want to be on. Arkansas dropped its third SEC game, leaving it winless in conference play.
The Gators outlasted Arkansas 71-63 after surviving yet another hot start from the Hogs. Boogie Fland, DJ Wagner, Jonas Adioo, and Adou Thiero led Arkansas to an 11-2 start, scoring in every way possible. Alas, as fans have seen the past two games, the hot start was short-lived.
Florida was too much for the Razorbacks, but most of their problems stemmed from not being able to execute the basics.
Beyond the box score: Arkansas basketball vs Florida
Post problems
One of the most infuriating trends for Arkansas basketball over the past few years is the missed layups. Different teams, players, and now coaches have suffered under whatever curse has befallen Bud Walton Arena. Randomly throughout the years, the Hogs have struggled to make a the 'easiest' play in basketball, and that was the case tonight.
Arkansas finished 2-16 with layups. If half of the missed shots landed, the Hogs would've won tonight. To a point, luck has much to do with it. Balls didn't want to fall, even when Arkansas had a second chance to tip it in. On the other hand, Arkansas is still having trouble with SEC physicality in the post.
Rebounds were again a problem, with the Gators outworking Arkansas on the board 49-39. The second half was a decent showing for the Hogs, outrebounding Florida on the offensive board (9-4) and competing in total rebounds (21-20).
Contrastly, the first half was horrendous. Arkansas lost the rebounding battle 28-19, giving up 12 offensive boards.
Free throws
While we're talking about the basics, when it comes to shooting, there's nothing more elementary than free throws. And for some reason, the Razorbacks struggle in that area, too.
Tonight, Arkansas finished 24-35 from the line. With 15 more opportunities than Florida, the Razorbacks couldn't take advantage of the charity stripe, especially when it mattered.
It's time to call it. The clutch gene doesn't exist on this team, or at the very least, it's recessive. More than once tonight, Arkansas could have tied, taken the lead, or moved within one score with a made free throw. But every time they had a chance, they missed. Individually, no one stuck out like a sore thumb. Aidoo and Trevon Brazile made 3-6 and Thiero made 9-12. The rest missed one here or there, but they added up when the game clock struck zero.
Run Deja Vu
Arkansas has started all three SEC games on fire. Tennessee kept up through the Razorbacks' onslaught better than Ole Miss and Florida, but the Hogs played to their potential for the first ten minutes in every game. Afterward, they looked like they didn't even belong in the conference.
While Arkansas put up a fight down the stretch against the Gators, its night began the same as it had the last few games. As a matter of fact, it played out exactly like Arkansas's loss to Ole Miss. The Hogs nearly took a double-digit lead in the opening minutes with a large run (11-2). Shortly after, Florida essentially produced back-to-back runs, interrupted by halftime.
The first was a 16-7 run that tied the game before the break, with the Gators outscored Arkansas 26-14 in the final 15 minutes of the half. The final run was much smaller but made up the difference in the game. Arkansas allowed Florida to open up the second period with a 12-5 run. It was a seven-point swing, two points short of the final differential.