Analyzing Arkansas’ 72-59 loss at Auburn

Frustration was the central theme in the course of the post-game interviews with Arkansas guard Anthony Black and fourth-year coach Eric Musselman on Saturday evening after the No. 13 Razorbacks’ 72-59 loss at No. 22 Auburn.

For the second time in as many SEC street video games, Arkansas struggled mightily on the offensive finish. And defensively, the Razorbacks, who entered the weekend No. 5 within the nation from an effectivity standpoint, allowed Tigers guards Wendell Inexperienced and Allen Flanigan to attain 37 mixed factors.

Arkansas dropped to 12-3 total and 1-2 in league video games forward of Wednesday’s house matchup in opposition to Alabama, which may soar into the highest 5 of The Related Press High 25 ballot on Monday after a pair of blowout wins this week.

Black, the Razorbacks’ 6-7 freshman guard, exhibited Saturday the identical take-over-the-offense mentality he had for stretches whereas Arkansas was on the Maui Invitational. He completed with a game-high 23 factors at Auburn.

Black knocked down 5 of 11 pictures and 13 of 16 makes an attempt on the free-throw line behind 7 drawn fouls. The freshman scored 13 of the Razorbacks’ first 16 factors after halftime.

Arkansas’ offensive frustrations had been lots. The shortage of complementary mess around Black was obtrusive, notably from a scoring perspective, and the Razorbacks did not convert at a ample price at any degree of the ground.

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Past the arc, Arkansas hit simply 2 of 16 makes an attempt. The two threes made matched a season low.

On the free-throw line, the Razorbacks had been 19 of 32, and 6 of 16 outdoors of Black. They’re now taking pictures 61.5% on the line by means of three SEC video games.

And, final however not least, Arkansas was 16 of 33 within the painted space. StatBroadcast information reveals Musselman’s group was 7 of twenty-two on lay-up makes an attempt and scored solely 8 second-chance factors after grabbing 17 offensive rebounds.

Tigers ahead Johni Broome, who had 10 factors and 10 rebounds, contributed to a number of the points across the rim with 6 blocks.

“These additional possessions aren’t assured, so, to start with, we’ve bought to say good job to the bigs for getting these additional probabilities. However we’ve bought to complete them,” Black mentioned. “I feel we actually beat ourselves tonight. I imply, Auburn is a stable staff, however I feel we actually beat ourselves, to be trustworthy.”

Past Black, Wichita State switch Ricky Council was the one Razorback to attain in double figures. He added 14 factors, however on 5 of 15 from the ground, together with 3 of 9 on two-point makes an attempt.

For Council, it was one other evening within the SEC during which he lacked effectivity. In three convention video games in opposition to LSU, Missouri and Auburn, he has hit 11 of 31 appears contained in the arc and 5 of 18 three-point makes an attempt.

Council led Arkansas with 9 first-half factors, however there was no huge particular person second-half push like he supplied Wednesday in opposition to Missouri. Averaging 10.8 second-half factors by means of 14 video games, per CBB Analytics, he added 5 factors on 2 of 8 from the ground Saturday.

“We’re taking part in in opposition to higher expertise,” Musselman mentioned when requested about Council’s offense of late. “You’re going up in opposition to some size and a number of the greatest defensive groups within the nation. You’ve bought to maneuver with out the ball and determine find out how to rating throughout the board.

“We’re not getting as many basket cuts as we have now prior to now. We’re doing the identical drills. You’ve bought to determine when your shot isn’t falling find out how to get some simple baskets off of studying the protection.”

Given Arkansas shot 33.9% as a staff, extra gamers than simply Council discovered it troublesome to fall right into a rhythm on offense. Freshman wing Jordan Walsh completed 2 of 10 taking pictures, guard Davonte Davis was 1 of 5, and ahead Jalen Graham was 2 of 6 from the ground and 1 of 5 on the line.

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Walsh’s and ahead Makhi Mitchell’s six factors had been tied for third most on the staff. Black famous that Arkansas was merely far too stagnant in opposition to the Tigers’ zone defense, which had previously been played three possessions all season.

“Guys working relentlessly on their recreation outdoors of observe, that’s bought to enhance, for positive,” Musselman mentioned. “We have now some guys that have to share the basketball a bit bit extra from an offensive standpoint, as a result of we’re struggling to attain the ball. Everyone is aware of it.

“The three-point taking pictures, you’re not simply going to miraculously get up and rapidly grow to be an amazing three-point taking pictures staff, so that you’ve bought to determine different methods to attempt to put factors on the board.”

On the opposite finish, Arkansas, for probably the most half, was unable to disrupt or trouble Auburn. The Tigers dedicated eight turnovers and posted a turnover price of 11.9%, which is the bottom by a Razorbacks opponent this season, per KenPom information.

The location additionally reveals Arkansas is twelfth within the SEC in league video games in defensive turnover price. The Razorbacks are forcing 9.3 turnovers per recreation in convention play.

“The defensive recreation plan has not modified apart from the execution by a few of our guys,” Musselman mentioned. “We had 4 steals tonight, and two of them had been by our energy ahead/heart Kamani Johnson.

“That sort of tells you what our perimeter (defenders) did from a defensive creating turnovers standpoint — not a lot in any respect.”