HawgBeat – Arkansas defense proves strong in SEC opener

The No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks’ protection has been the crew’s energy up to now this season, and that remained evident in its SEC convention opener in opposition to LSU. Regardless of permitting simply 60 factors, the Razorbacks nonetheless misplaced.

It wasn’t simply that Eric Musselman’s squad didn’t enable LSU to attain, but it surely smothered the Tigers’ each shot try and put stress on their ball handlers. Probably the most spectacular feat, although, was how Arkansas restricted LSU star ahead KJ Williams.

Coming into the sport in opposition to the Razorbacks, Williams was averaging 19.3 factors and eight.3 rebounds per sport. In reality, the Murray State switch had scored in double figures in each sport this season besides one main as much as Wednesday’s matchup.

Arkansas managed to carry Williams to simply eight factors and 5 rebounds, and in addition simply his second sport beneath ten area purpose makes an attempt. The 6-foot-10 ahead is the Tigers’ main scorer and accounts for over 1 / 4 of their scoring output every sport, so stopping his scoring gave the Razorbacks a fantastic probability to win.

That defensive effort unfold into the remainder of the sport, as nicely. The 60 factors have been a season low for LSU, the 40.3% area purpose proportion was the second-lowest, the 23.5% three-point proportion was the third lowest and the 12 free throw makes an attempt have been the fewest. The Razorbacks stymied something LSU did offensively, but nonetheless couldn’t convey dwelling the win.

Arkansas entered the LSU sport 31-0 when permitting groups to attain simply 60 factors or fewer.

Whereas the efficiency gave credence to the Razorbacks’ Seventh-ranked defensive effectivity rating on KenPom, it additionally exhibits that the offense must hone its id extra with two key gamers out in Nick Smith Jr. and Trevon Brazile.