Razorbacks need to break out track shoes in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa — This a pleasant metropolis. Chilly with snow on the bottom so far as the attention can see, however courteous.

Individuals maintain doorways open and attempt to assist along with your briefcase as if this was the heartland of America.

Of the eight NCAA Match groups right here, precisely half will get a few extra days, and there’s no doubt the Arkansas Razorbacks need to be a type of.

In keeping with Davonte Davis and Anthony Black, the 2 who drew Wednesday’s task of assembly the press, they know they’ve had ups and downs and have realized from them.

Right now, they are going to be examined however otherwise.

Illinois is tall, very tall. It is as if head coach Brad Underwood has a peak requirement.

The beginning line-up goes 6-10, 6-9, 6-9, 6-7 and 6-6. Heck, the sports activities info man, Kent Brown, is about 6-8.

In fact, the Hogs aren’t precisely brief, and if the Mitchell twins begin, the Preventing Illini’s whole benefit can be 6 inches.

When it got here time for Eric Musselman to handle the press, he mentioned Illinois is tall and athletic. He needed to say that second half as a result of he doesn’t need to say something to inspire who’s standing between him and a shot at No. 1 Kansas which faces Howard in its opener.

In his fourth season at Arkansas, everybody is aware of Musselman has an eye fixed for element and had began breaking down Illinois final Saturday.

He even factored in that Champaign, Unwell., is an hour nearer to Wells Fargo Area than Fayetteville, and the Illini might need a greater turnout of followers, however he mentioned he critically hopes not.

After listening to the information conferences, the guess right here is that Illinois goes to attempt to sluggish the ball down, management the tempo and make it a half-court sport, which is something however the Razorbacks’ power.

Musselman talked about that the Illini use extra of the shot clock than his group.

Illinois shoots lots of threes — most likely greater than the Illini ought to since they solely make 31% — however that additionally opens up the center and lets his bigs go to work.

An enormous issue on this sport could possibly be the referees. In the event that they allow them to play, Arkansas wins. If they’re inconsistent or name a bunch of ticky-tack fouls, it’ll favor Illinois.

Underwood overtly admitted that his group will not be used to seeing groups as “extraordinarily athletic as Arkansas.”

He in contrast them to the Texas Longhorns, who’re a No. 2 seed enjoying right here and who they beat in time beyond regulation 85-78 on Dec. 6. On Nov. 18, the Illini beat UCLA 79-70 and the Bruins are additionally a No. 2 seed.

Arkansas misplaced an exhibition sport to Texas in October, 90-60, however Chris Beard was nonetheless its head coach, and the Razorbacks had 23 turnovers that the Longhorns transformed into 26 factors.

Illinois had turnover issues earlier within the season however appear to have made some good changes and lower down on them, though as Underwood mentioned, it has not seen quickness like Arkansas.

Calling the Illini massive and sluggish is likely to be a little bit of exaggeration. To go together with their common of 6 blocks per sport, they common 6.8 steals. The Razorbacks common 5.2 blocks and eight.3 steals.

Clearly, the Razorbacks can’t enable the Illini to manage the tempo. Arkansas has to make it a monitor meet, and on the similar time the Hogs have to take excessive share pictures and never have scoring droughts.

In seven video games this season, the Hogs have misplaced a lead by going 5 or extra minutes with out a subject purpose.

To complete issues off tonight, the No. 7-seeded Texas A&M Aggies are right here, too, dealing with Penn State within the remaining sport of the night time. The Aggies completed second within the SEC forward of Tennessee and Kentucky. The Vols are a No. 4 and Kentucky a No. 6 seed.