Arkansas
No. 16 Arkansas to face new Gamecocks’ QB Rattler
By ETHAN WESTERMAN
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Spencer Rattler’s debut at South Carolina wasn’t something extraordinary in a season-opening 35-14 win over Georgia State.
The Oklahoma switch threw his first landing move as a Gamecock within the third quarter, a 16-yarder to working again MarShawn Lloyd that put South Carolina forward for good, nevertheless it was sandwiched between a pair of interceptions. Rattler handed for 227 yards, and by most measures, his first begin for the reason that 2021 recreation in opposition to Texas was underwhelming.
He acknowledged there are issues to repair.
“As a bunch, myself, everyone, we all the time wish to clear stuff up,” he mentioned. “It is recreation one, and everybody has stuff to scrub up after week one. We will take an enormous bounce this week.”
His take a look at will get a little bit more durable Saturday. Rattler and the Gamecocks go to No. 16 Arkansas within the SEC opener for each groups. Arkansas coach Sam Pittman shouldn’t be underestimating Rattler, who was producing some Heisman Trophy buzz heading into final season, and he led Oklahoma to a Cotton Bowl win over Florida after the 2020 season.
“He performs like a man that is performed earlier than, you understand, skilled, loads of poise, can really feel his confidence by way of the movie,” Pittman mentioned.
“The place he is most harmful is when he will get out of the pocket,” Pittman added. “Then when he will get out of pocket, he can throw it on the run as correct as anyone.”
Arkansas has a quarterback it feels good about, too. The Razorbacks hosted a Cincinnati crew that hadn’t misplaced a regular-season recreation since 2019 and KJ Jefferson’s f our touchdowns helped the Hogs pull out a gutsy 31-24 win to open the season.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer mentioned simulating the 6-foot-3, 246-pound Jefferson in apply is not possible.
“To be that large – folks simply bounce off him again there,” Beamer mentioned. “And the way in which he is capable of run the soccer like he does, however then additionally within the passing recreation have the ability to sit again there and take hits and throw the ball downfield, or to have folks bounce off him and he is capable of scramble however retains his eyes downfield and is ready to throw. We might need to take, I do not know who, one in all our defensive ends and make him a quarterback (to imitate Jefferson precisely).”
Pittman has full confidence in his junior sign caller.
“KJ is gonna do what KJ is gonna do,” he mentioned. “And more often than not, it is appropriate.”
BEAMER BALL
A key to the South Carolina victory every week in the past was very good particular groups play.
The Gamecocks blocked two punts, each returned for touchdowns, and scored the sport’s first factors after a transformed faux subject objective picked up a primary down. Junior Kai Kroeger averaged 49 yards on seven punts, together with a career-best bomb that went 79 yards.
Mitch Jeter additionally made two subject targets of greater than 50 yards, with a protracted of 53.
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, the daddy of Shane Beamer, grew to become recognized for highlighting the significance of particular groups and the “Beamer Ball” philosophy hasn’t fallen removed from the tree.
“We all the time wish to be aggressors on particular groups,” Shane Beamer mentioned.
SNAGGING SOONERS
The matchup will characteristic the 2 highest-rated recruits within the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2019 recruiting class, Arkansas huge receiver Jadon Haselwood and South Carolina’s Rattler. Each spent two seasons with Oklahoma earlier than transferring this offseason. The 2 linked for 25 completions, 212 yards and two touchdowns whereas with the Sooners, with each scores coming in a 76-0 victory in 2021 over Western Carolina.
Former Oklahoma tight finish Austin Stogner additionally transferred to South Carolina. Stogner earned All-Large 12 honors as one in all Rattler’s prime targets in the course of the 2020 season after snagging 654 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
SERIES RENEWED
Upon becoming a member of the Southeastern Convention in 1992, Arkansas and South Carolina have been positioned in an annual cross-divisional recreation. That resulted in 2013 when Missouri and Texas A&M joined the convention.
When the groups meet Saturday, it can finish the sequence’ largest hole since they joined the SEC. The final assembly got here in 2017, a 48-22 South Carolina victory. The final time South Carolina performed at Arkansas (2011), the eighth-ranked Razorbacks toppled the No. 10 Gamecocks 44-28. It is the final time a top-10 matchup was performed inside Razorback Stadium.
RUN-HEAVY RAZORBACKS
Arkansas rushed for 224 yards in opposition to Cincinnati, led by 117 from Raheim Sanders.
South Carolina struggled in opposition to the run in 2021, and Georgia State rushed for 200 yards within the opener. Behind a veteran offensive line, which paved the SEC’s main dashing assault a 12 months in the past, count on Arkansas to be run-heavy.
Arkansas
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.”
Officials said they will continue to monitor conditions on the ground and will communicate additional changes to their operations as needed.
Arkansas
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.
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.
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.
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.
Arkansas
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.
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