In a legendary matchup between two Hall-of-Fame coaches, Coach Calipari led Arkansas past Bill Self and Kansas in the first round of the NCAA tournament. It was a tale of two halves again, but this time, it was an electric first half on offense followed by a defensive stalwart in the second.
Jonas Aidoo and D.J. Wagner highlighted the first half putting on great performances on both sides of the ball, while Johnell Davis and Trevon Brazile stepped up in the second with their incredible play. Boogie Fland was back in action to give Arkansas an extra rotation player and energy off the bench.
The Hogs are getting healthy at the right time and playing their best basketball of the season. They have a chance at making a deep run in the tournament.
Arkansas vs. Kansas: Box Score Analysis
Electric First Half
Arkansas put on a show in the first half scoring 47 points going 54.3% from the field. Jonas Aidoo was dominant in the paint, recording 16 points and three blocks in the first half, helping Arkansas score 24 points in the paint. Johnell Davis and D.J. Wagner also combined for 20 points on an efficient 8-11 from the field.
Defensive Second Half
The second half was more of a defensive showing, allowing Kansas to score only 28 of their 72 points. Hunter Dickinson averaged 17.6 points this season, and while he scored 11 points in the first, Arkansas kept him scoreless in the second half.
The Hogs were very active and more physical in the second half as well, gathering 20 rebounds and forcing 10 turnovers, leading to 11 points off of turnovers. Of Arkansas' 20 rebounds in the second half, eight of them were offensive rebounds, which led to 10 second-chance points.
Player Standouts
Jonas Aidoo had a monster game, recording 22 points (season-high), five rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. His physicality on the defensive end and scoring touch on offense were difference-makers for the Razorbacks. His dominance on both sides of the ball was key against Kansas.
Trevon Brazile's length and athleticism were on display in this game. His ability to grab rebounds with a large catch radius was impressive. He grabbed 12 boards to go along with 11 points. Five of those rebounds came on the offensive end, giving the Razorbacks more opportunities with those extra possessions.
Johnell Davis had a few tremendous offensive spurts throughout the game, but most importantly he scored seven of the team's final 11 points to put the Jayhawks away. He scored 18 points with shooting splits of 50/44/100, including four threes.
D.J. Wagner was the leader of the offensive, finding ways to manipulate the defense. He poured in 14 points and six assists. It wasn't the most efficient outing for Wagner, but he made the right plays at the right time.