One game down, three more to go.
On Friday, the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team showcased their new roster against the Bahamas National Team as part of the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, winning the contest in dominant fashion, 106-59. That said, while stars like Jordan Smith Jr., Billy Richmond III, and Abdou Toure all performed well, one familiar concern followed the Hogs to Nassau: Arkansas still doesn't have an obvious standout at center.
Arkansas Razorbacks still lack a go-to center after Bahamas debut
Last season was one of the most exciting in recent memory for the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team. SEC Player of the Year and First Team All-American Darius Acuff Jr. helped the Hogs produce one of the most explosive offenses in college basketball, and with talented players like Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile, and Billy Richmond III at his side, the team made a push to the Sweet 16 before suffering a 109-88 loss to Arizona.
However, if there was one thing that the team from last season lacked, it was a dominant presence at the center position. As much as fans appreciated Nick Pringle and Malique Ewin's contributions to the team, the Hogs were overwhelmed against top-tier frontcourts, putting them at a disadvantage against some of the best teams in college basketball. Arizona, for example, shot 64% from the field and scored 60 points in the paint while Ewin, Pringle, and Brazile battled foul trouble in their final games as Hogs.
For many fans, signing a quality big was the No. 1 priority this offseason, and while Caleb Ourigou's reclassification certainly helps, the raw four-star freshman isn't in the same tier as highly touted, instant-impact prospects like Acuff or Jordan Smith Jr.
John Calipari has been known as a guard whisperer since his days at Memphis -- if not his time at UMass -- even if this reputation is a bit unfair considering his role in the careers of elite bigs like Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Bam Adebayo. So, when the Hogs headed to the Bahamas, a lot of eyes fell on the 5 to see whether Calipari had fixed Arkansas' most obvious weakness from a year ago.
Unfortunately, the early returns weren't exactly promising. Arkansas' four bigs -- Caleb Ourigou, Cooper Bowser, Ilia Frolov, and Maper Maker -- combined for 13 points and 18 rebounds in 65 minutes of play, which is certainly an underwhelming offensive stat line given the competition.
Bowser started but finished with only four points and three rebounds in 19 minutes. Maker added four points and six rebounds, Ourigou produced three points and four rebounds, and Frolov contributed two points and five boards. None of the four attempted more than two shots, even as Arkansas poured in 66 points in the paint.
Arkansas didn't need a low-post scorer during a 47-point blowout, but SEC opponents won't often allow the Hogs to score 42 fast-break points or 28 combined layups/dunks. At some point, Calipari will need a center who can protect the rim, rebound against elite size, finish through contact, and stay on the floor without fouling.
If Calipari's big-man committee can defend, rebound, and finish around the rim, the Razorbacks should be fine. If it can't, he may have built one of the most talented rosters in the country around the same hole that ended Arkansas' season a year ago.
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