Although No. 20 Arkansas limped into this game against the Pacific Tigers, as the team continues to confront injuries, including being without Jonas Aidoo and Trevon Brazile, the Razorbacks overcame these injuries to secure a 91-72 home win.
Because of these injuries, the Hogs operated with a seven-man rotation, appearing conspicuously exhausted on the court. The limited players available significantly affected Arkansas’s performance. While the Razorbacks continued to play excellent defense, fatigue figured prominently in why the Tigers made 12 of 35 shots from behind the perimeter, as reported by ESPN.
Arkansas’s superior talent proved too much for Pacific in the second half, as the Hogs pulled comfortably away from the Tigers. While some shared positive reactions about the Razorbacks' performance after the game, many expressed concerns.
Social Media Reactions: Arkansas basketball vs Pacific
Hogtrough, a passionate Arkansas fan, acknowledged that the Hogs’ injuries resulted in evident fatigue.
Thing about having so few players on the bench is everyone starts getting tired around the 10 minute mark
— Hogtrough (@Hogtrough) November 19, 2024
Daniel Fair, who covers Hogs’ basketball at Hawg Beat, contended that this game was “much closer than it should have been.”
FINAL: Arkansas avoids disaster and pulls ahead of Pacific for a 91-72 win.
— Daniel Fair (@DanFair88) November 19, 2024
The score doesn't show it, but that game was much closer than it should have been.
Up next is an in-state matchup with Little Rock on Friday night. #WPS
Jacob Davis, an Arkansas beat writer at Sports Illustrated, gave Adou Thiero significant praise, asserting that he “is going to cause problems this season” for opposing teams.
Adou Thiero is the most improved player in college basketball and is going to cause problems this season.
His shooting 📈
Defense 📈
Basketball IQ 📈
Athleticism 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ka43ck5SUZ
Jackson Collier, who covers Arkansas basketball at Hawg Beat, argued that the Razorbacks had an overall “mediocre performance with a short bench” tonight.
Pros of tonight’s performance:
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) November 19, 2024
- perimeter shooting
- getting to the free throw line
- forcing turnovers
- scoring in transition
- Thiero, Fland, Z, Wagner
- Davis seeing a couple threes fall
- defense the final 10 minutes
- attacking rebounds
Negatives:
- defense the first 30…
Will Whitson, an Arkansas sports journalist, blamed John Calipari for the limited players available for this game against Pacific.
I’ll say it again. I’m really not sure why Calipari has only nine playable players on the roster
— Will Whitson (@willwhitson2) November 19, 2024
Arkansas wouldn’t be in this spot if they had any type of depth, but two injuries has Cal playing only seven guys early in the season
Really didn’t get why, and I still don’t
The Arkansas Razorbacks will return to Bud Walton Arena on Friday, November 22, 2024, to face the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans.