Connect with us

Arkansas

HawgBeat – What LSU HC Brian Kelly said about Arkansas

Published

on

HawgBeat  –  What LSU HC Brian Kelly said about Arkansas


NOT A SUBSCRIBER? SIGN UP TODAY FOR ACCESS TO ALL OF HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM CONTENT AND FEATURES

LSU head coach Brian Kelly began his second season with the Tigers this year after finishing the 2022 season with a 10-4 overall record and an appearance in the SEC Championship game.

The former Notre Dame coach won 92 games with the Irish, including three 10-win seasons, two 11-win seasons and one 12-win season.

Advertisement

In a matchup against the Tigers last year, the Razorbacks couldn’t get anything going offensively without quarterback KJ Jefferson in a cold and dry environment in Fayetteville.

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. harassed the Arkansas offensive line with eight total tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss, and he will look to do more of the same in this year’s matchup.

After starting the season off with a 45-24 loss to Florida State, LSU followed that up with a huge 72-10 win over Grambling State before demolishing Mississippi State in Starkville 41-14 last weekend.

Here is everything Kelly had to say in his Monday press conference about Arkansas ahead of Saturday’s game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which is slated to kick off at 6:00 p.m. CT and will be available to watch on ESPN:

On matchup with Arkansas

Kelly: “I think we all know about this game, it is a hard-fought, physical game each and every year. I think the last three years have been decided by a total of something like nine points I think. It’s a rivalry trophy, the Battle for the Boot. It’s an annual trophy that started between the two schools back in the mid-90’s.

Advertisement

“So, I know our guys understand who we’re playing and the tough games that we’ve had with them, including last year. So they’ll be prepared for that. Now it’s about preparing the right way again this week and playing with that competitive edge. So, looking forward to that.”

On Sam Pittman and offensive players:

Kelly: “They’ve got some good players. Sam Pittman does a great job. Have a ton of respect for Sam and he’ll have his team ready to play. Bouncing back from last week’s loss. He’ll have his team ready to go and we’ll have to respond.

“KJ Jefferson, the quarterback, three-year starter. Think we all know about his size and strength. Can run the football. Raheim Sanders, AJ Green, two outstanding backs. Armstrong too.”

On Arkansas defense and new DC Travis Williams

Kelly: “And then defense, new defensive coordinator from UCF. He’s had great success, great pedigree in the SEC. He was with Kevin Steele at Auburn. So, we know we got our hands full.”

On quarterback KJ Jefferson

Kelly: “Well, I think it’s like any other quarterback. When you get into the final year where you feel like this is your year, you want to do well. And I think he certainly feels like this is his year to showcase himself. So, I thought maybe if you look at the last quarters, he’s trying to make plays.

Advertisement

“But he’s got a lot of new players around him as well. So it’s not all about him. He’s got some new players that have to develop around him, but he’s still the big, physical, athletic quarterback that scares you. He’s hard to bring down, he has a live arm. And we’re going to be prepared for him to play his best against us.”

**JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH ARKANSAS FANS ON THE TROUGH, HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM MESSAGE BOARD**



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Arkansas

DoorDash activates severe weather protocol, suspending service in parts of Arkansas

Published

on

DoorDash activates severe weather protocol, suspending service in parts of Arkansas


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Due to the ongoing winter storm sweeping through the Natural State, DoorDash has activated its Severe Weather Protocol and temporarily suspended operations in Little Rock and various parts of the Natural State.

According to a release Friday night, the precautionary measure comes as the winter storms deliver hazardous conditions across the city, including heavy snowfall and strong winds.

Cities with suspended operations include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Pine Bluff, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy, Malvern, Lonoke, Heber Springs, Star City, Clinton, Rison and Sheridan.

“With heavy snowfall and low visibility, the snowstorm is a serious threat to our community, and we’ve taken decisive action by activating our Severe Weather Protocol,” DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley said. “We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of Dashers, merchants and consumers, and will resume operations as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Advertisement

Officials said they will continue to monitor conditions on the ground and will communicate additional changes to their operations as needed. 



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

Knowing the Florida Gators Opponent: Arkansas Razorbacks

Published

on

Knowing the Florida Gators Opponent: Arkansas Razorbacks


Gainesville, Fla. – The Florida Gators men’s basketball team’s next destination is Fayetteville, Ark., as they’ll take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (11-4, 0-2) on Saturday for their third SEC matchup of the season. 

Florida is currently sitting at 14-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. They opened their SEC slate with a nail-biting loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, losing 106-100 in Lexington. 

However, the Gators were able to avenge this loss with one of the most dominant wins in men’s basketball history on Tuesday over No. 1 Tennessee. They trounced the Volunteers 73-43 in the O’Dome, marking the Gators’ first regular-season win over an AP No. 1-ranked team in program history and the biggest win over a No. 1-ranked team in the NCAA since 1968. 

But enough about what Florida has done this season, let’s shift the focus to their opponents, the Razorbacks, and see who they are. 

Advertisement

Arkansas’ season started out nice with a win over Lipscomb. However, it wouldn’t be the same for them in their second game of the season against then-ranked No. 8 Baylor, as they found themselves on the losing end of a tightly contested battle. 

Then, following a good stretch for the team in red, they were tasked with the current No. 13 in the AP Poll, Illinois, and things wouldn’t go so well for new Razorbacks head coach John Calipari. His team was outclassed in this game 90-77, which ended their winning streak at four. 

Arkansas did make amends with their fans a few games later, though. While participating in the Jimmy V Classic, they matched up with then-ranked No. 14 Michigan, who they narrowed past 89-87. 

This win over the Wolverines helped maintain a three-game win streak that would eventually turn into a six-game streak. However, since SEC play started for the Razorbacks, they are 0-2 with losses to Tennessee and Ole Miss, who are currently ranked in the Top 25 AP Poll. 

These pair of losses put Arkansas at just a 1-4 record against teams on their schedule to have been ranked or that are currently ranked.

Advertisement

While it was a complete roster overhaul for Calipari and the Razorbacks this offseason that was fueled by the transfer portal, their biggest grab has been from the high school ranks. 

They added highly ranked players like Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Jonas Aidoo all from the portal, but it’s former five-star guard Boogie Fland who’s been arguably the best player for the Razorbacks this season. 

Fland is averaging 15.5 points, 5.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game through 15 games this season. He is also connecting on 35.7 percent of his threes, which shows he’s more than just an inside scorer. Additionally, his 5.9 assists rank 24th among his competitors. 

But in these first two SEC games, Fland is just 10-for-35 from the field and 3-for-17 from deep. 

If the Gators can’t keep him in check like he’s been over these last two, then it might be a long afternoon for the visitors on Saturday. 

Advertisement

Despite bringing in tons of talent that should’ve resulted in a great offense, Arkansas has been anything but that. 

They currently rank inside the bottom five teams in the SEC in scoring offense, averaging 79.4 points per game. They do have two players scoring at least 15.0 points per game, but that’s pretty much it. Outside of Thiero (16.9) and Fland, they only have one other player in double figures (DJ Wagner, 10.5). 

Moreover, if this becomes a free-throw-dominated affair, the Gators shouldn’t be too worried about the Razorbacks’ performance at the line. They are shooting 71.1 percent from the charity stripe, which is good for 12th in the league. 

And, lastly, they have little to no presence on the glass. They are the worst team in the SEC in offensive rebounding, and they are 13th out of 16 teams in overall rebounding. These are two areas where the Gators dominate, and if things play out like they have been this season, then the visitors should outmuscle their counterparts. 

This game will be televised on Saturday at 4 pm on ESPN. 

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

Viewer pictures: The Natural State transforms into a winter wonderland

Published

on

Viewer pictures: The Natural State transforms into a winter wonderland


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A winter storm rolled into Arkansas Thursday and brought with it snow to the majority of western and central Arkansas.

Many from around the Natural State sent in pictures of their area covered in snow.

Though Arkansas is already full of natural beauty, there’s something about the state covered in snow that makes it even more of a winter wonderland.

Several kids from around the state got out and took advantage of the day off of school by throwing snowballs, digging up the snow, sledding and of course making snow angels.

Many who got out in the snow had enough accumulated to make snow men.

Share your snow day pictures at KARK.com/winter-pics.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending