Central Arkansas results have been mixed for Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE — When the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks tackle Bradley at 3 p.m. at the moment in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment, it is going to be the primary time Nick Smith has performed within the North Little Rock venue.

Smith, a freshman guard for the College of Arkansas projected to be a top-five decide within the NBA Draft, recalled watching the Razorbacks play “a few occasions” in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment as a fan.

“After I give it some thought, each time I went to an Arkansas recreation in Little Rock, they misplaced,” mentioned Smith, who’s from Jacksonville. “In order that’s one of many issues I’m making an attempt not to do that weekend for certain.”

Smith wasn’t particular about which Arkansas video games he attended in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment, however there are many losses to select from.

The Razorbacks are 12-10 there, together with an 89-81 loss to Hofstra final season when  Arkansas was ranked No. 24 and had a 9-1 report.

It’s the one regular-season loss in a non-conference recreation performed in Arkansas for Razorbacks Coach Eric Musselman, who’s 32-1 in such matchups, together with 31-0 in Walton Enviornment in Fayetteville. Musselman additionally has a 72-68 victory over Valparaiso in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment in the course of the 2019-20 season.

Smith didn’t attend the Arkansas-Hofstra recreation as a result of he was enjoying for North Little Rock Excessive Faculty within the Metropolis of Palms Match in Fort Myers, Fla.

“I used to be fairly mad I didn’t go,” Smith mentioned of lacking the Arkansas-Hofstra recreation. “However I watched it like 10 occasions on YouTube and I noticed what occurred.”

The Razorbacks misplaced to Mercer 69-66 in additional time in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment in the course of the 2015-16 season and had a 3-8 stretch there between the 2004-05 and 2011-12 seasons.

“This has not been a one-year factor,” Musselman mentioned. “You have a look at our report in North Little Rock, it’s bought to enhance. We’ve bought to play higher basketball than what we’ve of late.”

Arkansas has misplaced in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment to some notable groups and coaches resembling Oklahoma State and Eddie Sutton; Illinois (twice) and Invoice Self; Texas Tech and Bob Knight; Baylor and Scott Drew; and Houston and James Dickey.

However the Razorbacks even have misplaced there to Appalachian State and Alabama-Birmingham, along with Mercer and Hofstra.

Each Arkansas coach who has led his crew into Simmons Financial institution Enviornment going again to the 1999-2000 season — Nolan Richardson, Stan Heath, John Pelphrey, Mike Anderson and Musselman — misplaced no less than as soon as in North Little Rock.

One other oddity is Arkansas beneath Heath beat Texas Tech 78-65 in Dallas in the course of the 2005-06 season, then misplaced to the Purple Raiders 71-56 in North Little Rock the following yr. 

Pelphrey’s Razorbacks beat Baylor 85-78 in Dallas in the course of the 2007-08 season and misplaced to the Bears 70-49 in North Little Rock the following yr.

“It begins on the defensive finish,” Smith mentioned of what the Razorbacks must do to win at the moment. “Bradley is without doubt one of the greatest mid-majors in our nation. I really feel like they’re going to make a run to the NCAA Match.

“We’ve simply bought to play Arkansas basketball and play the proper method. It’s going to be a tough 40-minute recreation.”

Bradley Coach Brian Wardle was stunned when instructed the Razorbacks are 12-10 in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment.

“Are they actually? I did not know that,” Wardle instructed the Peoria (Sick.) Journal Star. “To be trustworthy, I feel you base a crew’s success on the yr it is in. This crew, this season, they’re nice and their report in that place previously does not imply a lot.

“Each season is completely different. All we see is the No. 10 crew within the nation.”

Extra from WholeHogSports: Yurachek says TV in NLR ‘unavoidable problem’

As we speak’s recreation is a sellout, so the venue will probably be stuffed with Arkansas followers. However junior guard Davonte “Devo” Davis is the one Razorback who has performed a recreation in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment.

“Sure, we’ve a house benefit due to our fanbase,” Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek mentioned. “However we don’t play there any extra usually than Bradley performs there when your roster turns over prefer it does now.

“You’re going to get on a bus and drive down and go keep in a lodge. You’re going to shoot in a venue that you simply don’t shoot in frequently. So from that standpoint, it’s like a street recreation.”

For NCAA Analysis Software (NET) rankings, at the moment is taken into account a house recreation for the Razorbacks reasonably than a neutral-site matchup.

The NET rankings are utilized by the NCAA Match choice committee to assist select and seed groups, and victories on the street and at a impartial web site are closely weighed within the method.

If Arkansas (9-1), No. 22 within the newest NET rankings, beats the Braves (7-3), No. 77, it gained’t be a lift for the Razorbacks due to the house recreation designation.

“Not that I really like that or agree with it,” Musselman mentioned.

“It’s not a house recreation, as a result of it’s not a spot the place we play persistently or observe persistently,” Yurachek mentioned. “From a NET perspective, I feel that’s the fallacious option to deal with this recreation.

“However you may’t change it within the laptop format for the NET rankings proper now.”

Musselman mentioned he hopes enjoying within the afternoon — the Arkansas-Hofstra recreation was an evening tipoff — will assist change the Razorbacks’ fortunes at Simmons Financial institution Enviornment. The crew additionally switched up its journey schedule by departing Fayetteville by bus about 11 a.m. Friday — a number of hours sooner than final yr.

“Go to the lodge, head over for an early afternoon observe after which have a pleasant meal,” Musselman mentioned of Friday’s schedule. “Have a few movie periods, get up the following morning and prepare to play.”

Regardless of the Razorbacks’ report in Simmons Financial institution Enviornment and the house recreation for NET functions, Yurachek mentioned Arkansas stays dedicated to enjoying in North Little Rock for the foreseeable future.

The truth that commencement ceremonies are being held in Walton Enviornment at the moment, Yurachek mentioned, makes this a great time to play in North Little Rock.

Ensuring followers outdoors of Northwest Arkansas have an opportunity to see the Razorbacks play is also vital, Yurachek mentioned, particularly with video games in Walton Enviornment being offered out for the second consecutive season.

“There are folks within the central and japanese and southern elements of our state that don’t have tickets for video games in Fayetteville or don’t have the flexibility to return up for video games,” Yurachek mentioned. “This provides them the chance to see the boys’s basketball program for the flagship faculty in our state compete.

“The sport is offered out, so there’s clearly curiosity from folks within the central a part of the state and surrounding areas to return and watch the Razorbacks play in particular person.”

The biggest crowd for 22 video games within the enviornment is 17,201. There have been 14 video games with greater than 11,000, together with 14,685 final season.

“The crowds have been nice there,” Musselman mentioned. “The passion has been nice.

“Once we exit to eat the evening earlier than the sport, nice atmosphere. Within the lodge strolling by means of the foyer, everyone’s excited.

“Now we’ve bought to go play higher.”