Analyzing Arkansas’ 79-76 loss at Missouri

All the pieces Arkansas basketball needs in 2022-23 is on the opposite facet of exhausting.

Proper now, it’s exhausting for the Razorbacks to win on the highway within the Southeastern Convention. They fell to 1-5 in league play Wednesday night time following a 79-76 loss at Missouri through which they led by 10 factors with 5:07 remaining.

Arkansas’ 1-5 begin within the SEC is its worst because the 2008-09 season. Its dropping streak can also be at 4 video games for the primary time since Eric Musselman’s first season in 2019-20.

“I assumed our aggressive nature tonight was at a excessive stage,” Musselman mentioned. “We’re only a basketball group that has not found out the best way to win down the stretch. … We haven’t caught any breaks. Each group’s obtained to attempt to create the breaks for themselves.

“Then on the ground attempting to maintain our composure in shut video games has obtained to (enhance). All you are able to do is achieve expertise by way of this.”

The Razorbacks are additionally having a tough time taking good care of the basketball. In keeping with KenPom knowledge, they’re final in league-only video games with a turnover fee of 21.1%.

Arkansas dedicated 21 towards the Tigers, and 14 of them got here from main ball handlers Anthony Black (5), Davonte Davis (6) and Ricky Council (3).

Davis’ six turnovers had been a profession excessive. He has 15 turnovers in SEC video games, and 11 have come within the Razorbacks’ two video games towards Missouri.

For Black, his 5 turnovers matched a season excessive. He’s averaging 4.2 turnovers within the final 5 video games.

Arkansas’ turnovers led to 31 factors for the Tigers, who had been opportunistic for a lot of the night time. That they had 18 factors off turnovers within the first half, permitting them to enter halftime down solely 35-34.

However the killer for the Razorbacks: Missouri scored 9 of its 13 second-half factors off turnovers within the ultimate 4:27 of the sport, in response to StatBroadcast. 

“We turned the ball over. Loads of that’s on me,” Black mentioned. “As the purpose guard and the sport supervisor, with a couple of minutes and we’re up 10, we’re speculated to win the sport. I take the duty for what occurred down the stretch.”

Arkansas has discovered it exhausting of late to maintain opposing groups off the free-throw line. After Alabama and Vanderbilt tried 36 free throws apiece in wins over the Razorbacks, the Tigers completed with 40 pictures on the stripe. They made 30.

Missouri made 21 of 28 second-half free throws, and the Razorbacks had 4 gamers, together with three starters, foul out of the sport. Musselman mentioned freshman wing Jordan Walsh fouling out with 6:48 to go was vital.

Arkansas outscored the Tigers 31-18 in his 13:02 on the ground. He completed with 12 factors on 4 of 4 from the ground and a pair of of two past the arc.

In keeping with KenPom knowledge, the Tigers recorded a free-throw fee (free throws tried/subject objectives tried) of 81.6%. It was the very best mark for an Arkansas opponent since March 2014.

The Razorbacks rank final in SEC video games in defensive free-throw fee at 50.6%. Auburn is subsequent to final at 44.9%.

“I’ve by no means coached a group that had 4 foul-outs earlier than,” Musselman mentioned. “And then you definitely add within the truth, clearly, that you’ve got a participant out with a season-ending harm (Trevon Brazile) and one other man that hasn’t been together with your group (Nick Smith), I imply, you are form of down six gamers to shut out the sport.

“I really feel like I have been round quite a bit, coached quite a bit. I’ve by no means skilled that in all of the years that I have been teaching. That’s what it’s.”

Positives had been a lot for the Razorbacks within the loss. Walsh appeared as assured as he had in weeks, freshman guard Derrian Ford offered key first-half minutes, Arkansas made 7 threes and largely owned the glass.

Black was on no account all in favour of an ethical victory.

“We did plenty of stuff higher than we have been doing,” he mentioned. “On the finish of the day, now we have to win. You may say it is a step ahead or no matter, however we did not win, so it does not actually assist us that a lot.

“We simply have to return to work and work out the best way to win on Saturday.”

Arkansas hosts Ole Miss on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Rebels are additionally 1-5 within the SEC.