Arkansas
Everything Rick Barnes Said After Tennessee Dominated Arkansas | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee basketball earned its first win at Bud Walton Arena in 15 years on Wednesday night and it came in dominating fashion as the Vols outpaced the Razorbacks 92-63.
The victory marked the Vols second biggest road victory of this century and came just days after their biggest loss of the season at Texas A&M.
After the win, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes discussed Jonas Aidoo’s big night, the Vols keeping their poise and more. Here’s everything Barnes said.
More From RTI: Three Quick Takeaways From Tennessee’s Win Over Arkansas
On postgame press conference
On what it means for to win so convincingly
“One, we had a lot of respect for Arkansas coming in. We knew that they were capable of beating anyone in this building because we have so much respect for their fans in this building here. I thought really after our game the other night our guys did a good job preparing, getting ready to come here. I thought all around we played a really good all around basketball game. Shot the ball well, didn’t make as many threes as we normally take or shoot but just got a really good all around performance from everyone who was in the game.”
On what Arkansas did in the first half that kept Tennessee from running away with the game
“They’re so good at getting fouled and so good at getting into the lane area. They’re so good with their ball screen where they hit the roll and they can spread out of there but we just felt like we had to get them shooting threes as much as we could and try to keep them from getting in the lane, getting us in foul trouble and in rotation. Then on the other end really trying to take care of the ball because they do a great job of turning you over and getting out (in transition). They made shots in the first half. They started making them and last time out against A&M they made them and we got away from our gap defense. Tonight we stayed with it. We showed some discipline there but they obviously didn’t make as many shots in the second half as they did in the first half.”
On why he felt Arkansas didn’t shoot the ball as well in the second half
“The game is a game that, the one thing coaches can’t coach is making shots. We know our guys. We know what we see in practice everyday. Eric’s a terrific coach. He knows his teams. He knows his players better than anybody. There’s some nights where we get great looks and they don’t go in. It’s those nights when you hope you can find other ways to facilitate some offense. And that’s where I thought Jonas was really — Jonas played a heck of a game for us tonight. Tobe did some things in there, but I just think, again, in a game when you get behind and you gotta start making those three’s, or making those plays, it gets more difficult. But, again, we just felt like we had to force them into as many jump shots as we could.”
On what led to Jonas Aidoo playing so well and what the ceiling is for the team when he plays like that
“Well, when he plays like that, when he plays with force to the rim like he did tonight, he played quicker. Because they do a very good job. They will block shots on you and if you mess with it, they will come get it. The guy on the ball can block it. I thought he played much quicker. I think they blocked one of his shots where he did take too much time. They got one of Tobe’s too and we had talked about that coming in here that we wanted those guys to play quicker once we got the ball there. But Jonas, I thought he looked relaxed shooting his little 15-footers. What he did at the rim and his rebounding in the second half was really big. He came up with a lot of plays in there. His length affects things around the rim when he gets himself in position.”
On how big it was that Arkansas didn’t play in any ball-screens tonight
“Well, it was big because we didn’t want them to hit the roll. They do a great job of passing it there and they do a great job of doing that as well as anybody that we’ve played against, and we felt like it was important that we tried to take away the roll man as much as possible and try to keep them on the perimeter and keep them out of the high-percentage areas. Because his (Musselman) teams always have done a great job of exploiting that.”
On Vol Network postgame
Opening Statement
“The real good part about it was that we had a game plan and we stuck to it. I thought that defensively especially, we were pretty consistent throughout the game. We said, hey, we’re not going to jump out there if they make the threes early, which we expect them to be a little jacked up. And we’re going to stick with it. And they hit something early. Second half, I don’t think, maybe (they) hit one or two there at the very end. But just really proud of the mental concentration on the defensive end. And thought Jonas Aidoo was really (good), responded extremely well. But, overall, I mean, everybody. Jordan Gainey came in and gave us a big spark too. But everyone that played had a big contribution.”
On Tennessee’s gap integrity on defense
“We were watching (film) last night, the one thing that we showed the team was how much (Arkansas) counts on hitting that roll man out of that ball screen. I don’t think they got it one time tonight. I don’t think they were able to get it to it. Again, it goes back to what you said, being so effective and disciplined to stay in a gap. And with that, we knew that they would get a little more breathing room from the perimeter, but at least say those threes were on our terms as opposed to the other way. We kept them off the free-throw line, which we thought was important. First half, I think they had six points off of turnovers. And they forced them, we trying to over dribble.
“ … But again, I thought Jonas came up big. I was really pleased with Cade. I thought Cade Phillips came in and he’s gotten back to what we thought he would do. He was active. But overall really good defensive effort by everyone.”
On Jonas Aidoo playing well
“I thought he played to the rim. That was a big thing. He played with some force in there. The last couple days we told him he’s got to play quicker. And I thought he did that. I thought he mixed in a few stationary jump shots that we know he’s capable of making and rebounded. He had a major presence on that (defensive) end down there, too.”
On Barnes saying that Jonas Aidoo can be a player that has a double-double player every game
“He is. He just played with more force. That’s what it was all about. And he’s got continue to do it.”
On Jordan Gainey giving Tennessee a spark off the bench
“Think about it, you go to the bench, get a guy like that coming in and I think him doing that really helped Santi (Vescovi) too, where Santi doesn’t feel like he has to do as much as he’s had to do in the past. I think that’s important but Tobe (Awaka) we got to talk about some of his post ups, they’re really important. But Jordan, what he gives us is again, another guy that people have to game plan against.”
Arkansas
George Dunklin’s legacy of conservation in Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rex Nelson
Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, and he has a biweekly podcast called “Southern Fried.”
After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia’s Daily Siftings Herald. He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23. Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985.
He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985. From 1986-1989, he was its Washington correspondent. He left to be Jackson T. Stephens’ consultant.
Rex became the Democrat-Gazette’s first political editor in 1992, but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office. He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W. Bush.
From 2009-2018, he worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp.
Arkansas
Hogs Look to Rebound After Midweek Split with Arkansas State
Arkansas got a quick reminder this week that baseball doesn’t hand out easy wins.
The Razorbacks head into the weekend after splitting a midweek set with Arkansas State, a two-game stretch that showed both the highs and lows of early season baseball.
Now, the Hogs turn the page and prepare to host UT Arlington in a three-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Arkansas enters the weekend 7-2 overall. UT Arlington comes in at 2-6. First pitch Friday is set for 3 p.m., with Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Friday’s game will stream on SEC Network+.
Midweek Split Shows Two Sides of Arkansas
The midweek matchup with Arkansas State didn’t go the way the Razorbacks expected at first. In Game 1, Arkansas State won 12-4. It marked the first loss to the Red Wolves in program history.
The Hogs struggled on the mound and couldn’t keep pace as Arkansas State built separation. The result was a reminder that even in-state games can turn quickly if things slip early.
But 24 hours later, Arkansas looked like a different team.
In Game 2, the Razorbacks leaned on dominant pitching and edged Arkansas State 1-0 in a tight contest. It was the kind of bounce-back performance coaches want to see after a tough loss.
The split left Arkansas with lessons on both sides — how quickly things can unravel and how steady pitching can win a game even when runs are hard to find.
Home Comfort at Baum-Walker Stadium
Now the Razorbacks return to Baum-Walker Stadium looking to build momentum.
The Hogs have been strong at home and will try to use that setting to steady the ship after the midweek ups and downs. Playing in Fayetteville gives Arkansas a familiar environment and a chance to settle into its routine.
UT Arlington, meanwhile, is coming off a rough stretch. The Mavericks lost their midweek game to Dallas Baptist 6-1 and were swept in a weekend series against Lamar after winning the opener 10-2 before dropping the next two games.
Arkansas has the edge historically, leading the all-time series 7-1. The teams haven’t met since 2006, when the Razorbacks swept a series in Honolulu. This will be the first time UT Arlington plays in Fayetteville.
Pitching Matchups to Watch
The Hogs will roll out a strong weekend rotation.
Friday’s starter is right-hander Gabe Gaeckle (1-0, 1.93 ERA). He’ll face UT Arlington right-hander Caylon Dygert (0-0, 1.80 ERA). That matchup could set the tone for the series opener.
On Saturday, left-hander Hunter Dietz (0-1, 9.00 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Arkansas against Dylan Skolfield (0-2, 6.48 ERA) for the Mavericks.
Sunday’s game will feature left-hander Colin Fisher (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Razorbacks. UT Arlington has not yet named a starter for the series finale.
After seeing how important pitching was in the 1-0 win over Arkansas State, Arkansas will look for more steady outings from its starters and bullpen.
Finding Consistency Early
Through nine games, the Hogs have shown flashes of strong offense and solid pitching. But the midweek split showed that consistency is still forming.
The loss to Arkansas State proved that mistakes can pile up fast. The narrow win that followed showed that disciplined pitching and defense can close out tight games.
This weekend gives Arkansas another chance to sharpen its approach before the schedule gets tougher later in the season.
For fans, the path to watching is simple. Friday’s game streams on SEC Network+, and radio coverage will be available in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM and AM 1590, along with other affiliates across the state.
Hogs Feed
Arkansas
No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals
COLLEGE STATION – A victory in the 5,000m by Nick Busienei and third place in the distance medley relay had No. 1 Arkansas leading the team score with 18 points on the first day of the SEC Indoor Championships.
The Razorbacks produced 12 of those points in the 5,000m as Nick Busienei won the race in a meet record of 13;31.86, which ranks him No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Busienei bettered the meet record of 13:37.52 set by Razorback Patrick Kiprop in 2025.
James Sankei added two more points in placing seventh with a time of 13:44.57.
Dating back to 1992 when Arkansas competed in its first SEC Indoor meet, Busienei claimed the 21st title for the program and is the 14th Razorback to win the indoor 5,000m.
Six more points were added in the distance medley relay as Arkansas posted a time of 9:30.84 from the foursome of Owan Logorodi (2:58.46), Zyaire Nuriddin (46.51), Julian Carter (1:49.10), and Brian Masai (3:56.77).
South Carolina won the race in 9:30.08 with Ole Miss runner-up in 9:30.34. Florida originally placed third in 9:30.37 but was disqualified for spiking the baton at the conclusion of the race.
Jelani Watkins led the Razorback crew in the 200m prelims as three Arkansas sprinters advanced to the final. Watkins produced an indoor career best of 20.42 rank second overall to a 20.38 by Florida’s Wayna McCoy. Watkins remains No. 2 on the UA all-time list as he improved his previous time of 20.43.
Dapriest Hogans followed with a 20.63 that equaled his career best and his No. 8 ranking on the UA all-time list. Tevijon Williams clocked 20.65 to reach the final where 20.71 was the cutoff time. Jamarion Stubbs ran 20.87 in his prelim heat.
Cooper Williams completed the first day of the heptathlon in sixth place with 2,862 points. He started with a 7.43 in the 60m (736), then added a 21-9.5 (6.64) long jump (729). In the shot put, a mark of 36-8.25 (11.18) picked up 557 points. Williams wrapped up day one by topping the field in the high jump with a clearance of 6-8.25 for 840 points.
Link Lindsey placed 15 in the long jump with a mark of 23-6.75 (7.18).
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