Connect with us

Arkansas

Senior success: Things go right in UA win | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

on

Senior success: Things go right in UA win | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


FAYETTEVILLE — A lot of things have gone wrong for the University of Arkansas men’s basketball team this season.

One thing that went right was Senior Night.

In the final home game of the season, the Razorbacks beat LSU 94-83 on Wednesday night at Walton Arena.

Immediately after the game, Arkansas’ seniors were honored in a brief ceremony.

Advertisement

“It’s probably hard to go out there and take pictures smiling if you’re a competitor,” Razorbacks Coach Eric Musselman said. “So you want to win. I’m happy that the team played well in Bud Walton.”

Arkansas (15-15, 6-11 SEC) earned a season split with LSU (16-14, 8-9) after the Tigers won the teams’ first game 95-74 in Baton Rouge on Feb. 3.

“Credit to Arkansas, they played very well on their Senior Night,” Tigers Coach Matt McMahon said on LSU’s postgame radio show. “They were the better team.”

Musselman used an eight-man rotation that featured six seniors — guards Khalif Battle, El Ellis, Davonte Davis and Jeremiah Davenport along with big men Makhi Mitchell, Chandler Lawson and Jeremiah Davenport — along with junior guard Tramon Mark and sophomore forward Trevon Brazile.

The seniors combined for 79 points, 31 rebounds, 12 assists, 8 steals and 7 blocked shots.

Advertisement

“Them beating us, we knew coming in for the seniors and for the last game, it was a get-back game,” said Davenport, who had 5 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. “We came out here with a great attitude.”

Battle, who led the Razorbacks with 29 points, is a fifth-year graduate transfer, but he still has another season of eligibility remaining.

“I’m a Razorback. I’m right here,” Battle said when asked about his plans for next season. “I’m a Razorback. Ain’t nothing changed. I’m a Razorback until the end.”

Musselman was asked about Battle’s indication he plans to be back at Arkansas next season.

“I think with all players, you play the season out and you see how it unwinds, so it would be unfair for me to speculate either way,” Musselman said. “I do think he’s really happy playing at Arkansas. We’re happy with the way that he’s progressed.

Advertisement

“The way that he’s evolved as the season’s gone on. He’s done a great job of buying in, and I think that’s why you see the productivity continue to improve.

“I know that he enjoys playing here and playing in [the Razorbacks’] system, but it’s whenever he makes a decision or whatever’s on him.”

Battle has scored 141 points the past four games, the most by an SEC player in 20 seasons, according to the SEC Network. He surpassed Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks, who had 134 points in a four-game stretch in 2009, the SEC Network posted on social media.

Battle had the ball in his hands in the final seconds, but dribbled out the clock rather than trying to score more than 30 points for the fourth consecutive game after having 42 against Missouri, 36 against Vanderbilt and 34 at Kentucky.

“I ain’t going to show up [LSU] when we already had ’em,” Battle said. “We already had won, and 30 points don’t mean nothing, you know what I’m saying?

Advertisement

“The win is more important. Years from now, nobody’s going to remember, ‘Oh, K.B. had 29 against LSU on Senior Night.’ Nobody’s going to remember that. They’re going to remember we won.”

Battle hit 7 of 14 shots, including 2 of 6 three-pointers, and made 13 of 14 free throws.

“There’s not many players in the history of the SEC that have gone on a scoring spurt like K.B. has,” Musselman said. “And he’s defending better, he’s defensive rebounding better.”

Battle had 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a career-high 3 blocked shots.

“That’s cool, for sure,” Battle said of the blocked shots. “I think the team was more hyped than I was. I was just worried about us winning the game.

Advertisement

“I think I’m an all-around basketball player. I know people say things about my defense. … But people that really watch, I think they’ll see that I give value on the defensive end and I take a lot of pride in it.”

Mitchell had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

“Makhi was dominant inside,” Musselman said.

Mitchell hit 8 of 10 shots and 3 of 4 free throws. Along with Lawson, Mitchell helped hold LSU 7-0 senior Will Baker to 3 points on 1-of-4 shooting after he burned the Razorbacks with 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting in last month’s game.

“We had a game plan to try to stop Will Baker,” Musselman said. “Obviously he hurt us in the last game.

Advertisement

“We changed up our coverages, and I thought we did a great job taking him out of the game.”

The Razorbacks finished the season 11-6 in games at Walton Arena, including 4-5 in SEC games.

LSU has lost five consecutive games at Walton Arena. It last won at Arkansas in 2019, 94-88 in overtime.

Ellis had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, Mark had 9 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, and Lawson had 7 points and 2 steals.

Senior guard Jordan Wright led LSU with 24 points and sophomore guard Tyrell Ward added 19.

Advertisement

The Razorbacks shot 60.8% from the field (31 of 51) and hit 27 of 33 free throws.

LSU shot 44.8% (30 of 67) and hit 18 of 26 free throws.

“I thought they were just relentless, really hurt us on some ball screens,” McMahon said. “In a game where we got 16 more shot attempts than they did, they did a much better job finishing at the basket.”

The Razorbacks took the lead for good with 16:35 left in the first half when Ellis hit a jumper to put them up 8-7.

Arkansas was ahead 42-33 at halftime and Lawson’s three-point play pushed their lead to 49-37 with 18:37 left.

Advertisement

LSU pulled within 60-56 on a free throw by Trae Hannibal with 11:34 left, but the Razorbacks responded with a 7-0 run — including two free throws and a layup by Mitchell and a three-pointer by Battle — to move ahead 67-56.

LSU didn’t pull closer than five points the rest of the game, and the Razorbacks pushed their lead to 80-66.

“Every time we got [close] in the second half, they had a great response,” McMahon said.

Arkansas finished with 10 blocked shots, while LSU didn’t have any.

“In an SEC game, that’s hard to do, and we can get better at that, too,” Musselman said. “I thought they had a couple layups where we didn’t go vertical, so that’s something we want to keep getting better at.”

Advertisement

Musselman said he liked Wednesday night’s playing rotation.

“Sometimes during the course of the season, you’re constantly tinkering,” Musselman said. “If you pick up the box score from the last time we played LSU, it’s a much different look than we were then.

“I’ve settled in where guys are understanding roles, expectations.”

    Arkansas guard Khalif Battle goes up for a layup during the second half Wednesday against LSU at Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Battle scored 29 points as the Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 94-83 to improve to 15-15 overall and 6-11 in the SEC. More photos at arkansasonline.com/37hogsatlsu/ (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Hank Layton)
 
 



Source link

Advertisement

Arkansas

Arkansas Bested by Mizzou on Sunday

Published

on

Arkansas Bested by Mizzou on Sunday


It was a tight battle all the way through, but ultimately No. 7 Missouri took down No. 8 Arkansas in Sunday’s SEC dual, 197.425-197.225.

There was plenty for the Gymbacks to be proud of in the meet, starting with the all-around performance of freshman Allison Cucci. She earned a new career high of 39.500, good for the all-around crown and the highest of any freshman in the nation this season. Cucci also tied for first on vault (9.900) and got second on beam (9.925).

Redshirt junior had a fantastic outing as a floor specialist and scored a 9.900 on vault and 9.925 on floor. Both marks were good for a share of first place on the events. Senior Morgan Price earned a big 9.925 at bars anchor, which tied for first on the event.

The last two events of the day kept Arkansas in contention with Mizzou, as the Gymbacks went 49.425 on both floor and beam, the latter a season high.

Advertisement

Bars

After a 9.675 from Joscelyn Roberson in the lead-off spot, Hailey Klein got the Gymbacks on pace again with a 9.875. Avery King made her collegiate debut next and delivered a great 9.825 routine in a last-minute situation. Her fellow freshmen Avalon Campbell and Allison Cucci went next and scored a 9.750 and 9.800, respectively. Morgan Price anchored with the energy Arkansas needed and capped her routine with a stick to score 9.925. Arkansas finished the bars rotation with a 49.175.

Vault

Cami Weaver and Leah Smith opened the vault rotation with Yurchenko fulls, scoring 9.800 and 9.750. Cucci and Klein were the team’s first 1.5s of the day, and the two scored 9.875 and 9.800, respectively. Lauren Williams went 9.875 in the fifth position and Morgan Price earned a 9.850. The Gymbacks scored 49.200 total on vault.

Floor

Advertisement

Arkansas started out floor with a 9.825 from Hailey Klein and a 9.850 from Cami Weaver. Cucci then broke into the 9.900 range with a new career high 9.900 midway through the rotation. Smith went 9.850 in the fourth position, keeping Arkansas on pace. Williams and Roberson closed the rotation strong with scores of 9.925 and 9.900, which pushed the Gymbacks’ floor total to 49.425.

Beam

Madison Gustitus began the beam rotation with a 9.775, and Priscilla Park went 9.875 next for the Gymbacks. Klein concluded her all-around day with a 9.850 on beam midway through the final rotation. Cucci came up next and got a huge 9.925, a new personal best for her. Weaver followed with a 9.875, which brought Roberson up to anchor. She did her usual and scored a 9.900, and Arkansas closed the meet with a 49.425 event score on beam, a new season high.

Up Next

Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena for its home finale against No. 1 Oklahoma on Friday, March 6. The meet has been deemed a White Out, and the team is pushing fans to help break the NCAA gymnastics attendance record, which is currently just over 16,000. It will also be Senior Night, honoring a fantastic class of Razorbacks. Action is set for 7:15 p.m. and tickets are available online, by phone, or in person. The meet will be streamed live on SEC Network+.

Advertisement

More Information

Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Gymnastics. You can also find the Razorbacks on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Gymnastics) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackGym).



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Arkansas

OPINION | WALLY HALL: Arkansas will need more than Robinson’s coerced contribution | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

on

OPINION | WALLY HALL: Arkansas will need more than Robinson’s coerced contribution | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


Wally Hall

whall@adgnewsroom.com

Wally Hall is assistant managing sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he is a member and past president of the Football Writers Association of America, member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, past president and current executive committee and board member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and voter for the Heisman Trophy. He has been awarded Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year 10 times and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

Who is Taylen Green? Arkansas QB dazzles with record-setting NFL combine performance

Published

on

Who is Taylen Green? Arkansas QB dazzles with record-setting NFL combine performance


play

Move over, Anthony Richardson. There’s a new quarterback athletic marvel at the NFL scouting combine.

On Saturday in Indianapolis, Arkansas’ Taylen Green broke Richardson’s top marks at the position since 2003 for both the vertical leap and broad jump. Green’s 43½-inch vertical topped Richardson’s previous high by three inches, while his 11-2 broad jump beat the Indianapolis Colts signal-caller’s measurement by five inches.

Advertisement

Then, Green reeled off a 4.36-second 40-yard dash time. That stood as the second-best time for any quarterback since 2003, trailing only Reggie McNeal in 2006 (4.35 seconds). Richardson, for comparison, logged a 4.43-second mark in 2023.

Green didn’t even bother with a second attempt after his initial time.

The testing profile created quite the stir around the 6-6, 227-pound passer, who had widely projected as a developmental option for teams on Day 3.

NFL Network’s Charles Davis said Green told him that no teams had approached him about working out as a receiver, adding that he would not be interested in a position switch.

Green started for the Razorbacks for the last two seasons after playing the first three years of his career at Boise State. Known for his running ability and ample arm strength, Green threw for 2,714 yards and 19 touchdowns last year while adding 777 yards and eight scores on the ground.

Advertisement

It was a banner day for Arkansas, as running back Mike Washington Jr. also stood out among his peers with a group-leading 4.33-second 40-yard dash as well as strong marks in the vertical leap (39 inches) and broad jump (10-8).



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending