HawgBeat – Davis still a scoring threat in new role for Arkansas

The return of Nick Smith Jr. not solely granted Arkansas (19-9, 8-8) extra firepower offensively, however required one other in-season adjustment to the Razorback lineup and rotation. Inside these adjustments had been the roles that every participant was anticipated to fill, maybe the heaviest affect falling on junior guard Davonte Davis’s function.

With out Smith, Davis was closely relied on offensively. Within the 13 video games Smith missed between matchups in opposition to Bradley and Mississippi State, Davis averaged 14.2 factors per sport on 11.8 discipline aim makes an attempt per sport.

The scoring function was new for Davis, who in his freshman and sophomore seasons mixed to common 8.4 factors on simply 7.4 discipline aim makes an attempt per sport. The Jacksonville native has already far-exceeded his whole discipline aim makes an attempt whereas at Arkansas and the common season is not even over but. Thus far this season, Davis has 278 discipline aim makes an attempt in simply 28 video games. His earlier excessive was 266 in 37 contests final season.

Davis won’t have instantly match completely into the scoring function this season, however grew an increasing number of comfy in it because the 12 months went on.

The primary seven video games with out Smith — who was out with proper knee administration for the second time this season — had been an adjustment, with the Razorbacks going 2-5 and Davis not being an environment friendly scorer.

In these seven video games, from UNC-Asheville to a highway loss at Missouri, he averaged 12.6 factors whereas capturing 12.3 discipline objectives a sport. Davis nonetheless managed 5.3 rebounds and three.1 assists, together with enjoying his signature ferocious protection, however the scoring was not ok as the first possibility for Arkansas to achieve success. The odds spoke volumes: 40.7% from the sector, 29.6% from three, and 90.9% from the free throw line on a low 1.6 makes an attempt per sport.

Issues modified on Jan. 21 in a 67-57 win over Ole Miss, although. One thing lastly clicked and Davis was extra assured and extra environment friendly in his function because the workforce’s go-to scorer. He put up a formidable stat-line in opposition to the Rebels, tallying 16 factors, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists whereas capturing 6-of-11 from the sector and 3-of-5 from behind the arc. It wasn’t only a one-off efficiency, although.

Over a span of the subsequent six video games, Davis averaged 16.2 factors on 11.3 discipline aim makes an attempt, capturing 54.4% from the sector and 47.7% from three. Arkansas went 5-2 in these video games, and Davis was a reliable three-level major scoring menace for the primary time in his profession as a Razorback.

These numbers fell off after Smith’s return, although. Within the first 4 video games of the projected lottery choose being again, Davis averaged simply 6.3 factors, together with a efficiency through which he did not report some extent, on 7.0 discipline aim makes an attempt.

Davis was nonetheless enjoying loads, averaging 31.7 minutes over the course of these 4 video games, however his function had drastically modified. He was primarily a defender and slasher who may assist facilitate the offense, guard the opposition’s greatest perimeter participant, and rebound at a excessive stage for a guard, however he was now not the go-to scorer.

Regardless of that, when the lights had been the brightest, Davis proved that he was nonetheless greater than able to placing the ball within the basket when the workforce wants him to.

In Saturday’s 86-83 loss at No. 2 Alabama, the Razorbacks wanted to maintain up with the high-powered Crimson Tide. Freshman level guard Anthony Black was in foul hassle early and struggled to search out his footing, whereas the Razorback huge males had been overwhelmed by the dimensions and velocity of Alabama.

The Razorbacks discovered themselves down within the second half after being up as a lot as 11 factors within the first. They’d one other prolonged scoring drought and had been in search of something to get their offense going to provide them an opportunity to win. Insert Davis.

Davis completed the sport with 21 factors, 13 of which got here within the second half. Of these second half factors, 10 got here with underneath 11 minutes to go within the sport, together with a clutch and-one with 1:13 remaining to chop the Crimson Tide result in 5. These 21 factors had been environment friendly once more, approaching 8-of-15 capturing and 3-of-4 from three.

Regardless of arising brief within the effort, the Razorbacks have a pair extra alternatives to bolster their NCAA Match resume with two Quad 1 video games to shut out the season at Tennessee and in opposition to Kentucky. Davis will assist preserve defenses off steadiness together with his means to attain, although he won’t be the first scoring menace in his present function any longer.

Arkansas will journey to face the No. 12 Volunteers on Tuesday at Thompson-Boling Area in Knoxville, Tennessee. The sport will tipoff at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.