March 20, 2021
Who: #10 (#3 seed) Arkansas Razorbacks (23-6) vs. #21 (#6 seed) Texas Tech (18-10)
What: Arkansas and Texas Tech were former members of the Southwest Conference. Texas Tech won the last meeting (Jan. 2019 in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge) to take a 40-39 lead in the all-time series.
When: Sunday – Mar. 21 – 6:10 pm (ET) / 5:10 pm (CT)
Where: NCAA 2nd Round – Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse
Note: Arkansas will be making its first appearance in Hinkle Fieldhouse since Jan. 2, 1931 (Arkansas lost to Butler, 37-21)
How (to follow):
– TV:
TNT (Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Dana Jacobson)
^ Watch NCAA March Madness Online: CLICK HERE
^ Download the March Madness App: CLICK HERE
– Radio:
Learfield IMG College Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
^ Listen to Razorback Sports Network Online: CLICK HERE
Westwood One (Craig Way and Donny Marshall)
^ Sirius/XM: XM Channel 210 – Sirius Channel 138 – Streaming Online 968
– NCAA Arkansas-Texas Tech Game Center (stats and video): CLICK HERE
– Arkansas Game Notes: CLICK HERE or HERE
– Texas Tech Game Notes: CLICK HERE
40th Anniv. of Reed’s Big Shot
• This is the 40th anniversary of one of the biggest
shots in NCAA tournament history. On Mar. 14,
1981, U.S. Reed sank a halfcourt shot at the
buzzer as the 5th-seeded Razorbacks — led
by Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton — upset
Louisville, 74-73, in Austin, Texas, to advance to
the Sweet 16.
• Louisville hit a shot with five seconds left to
take the lead. Then, Reed got the inbounds
pass from Darrell Walker, zig-zagged and
heaved the ball from a few feet from the other
side of the halfcourt stripe.
• The Shot can bee seen at the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgwDUv_Yhr4
Familiar Foe in Texas Tech
• Arkansas will face a familiar foe in Texas
Tech.Both teams are former members of the
Southwest Conference — the Razorbacks from
1915-1991 and Red Raiders from 1956-1996.
• The two have renewed in recent yeas in the
annual SEC-Big 12 Challenge. Arkansas won the
first meeting — 75-68 in overtime in Fayetteville — and the Red Raiders won three
years later (67-64) in Lubbock in 2019.
• The two schools have met on 79 previous meetings with the Red Raiders taking a
40-39 lead in the series with that 2019 SEC-Big 12 Challenge victory.
• Then freshman and current junior Desi Sills is the only Razorback that faced
Texas Tech two seasons ago.
• HOWEVER, Arkansas graduate senior Jalen Tate faced then #3 seed Texas Tech
as a member of then #14 seed Northern Kentucky in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Tate started ad played 36 minutes in the 72-57 loss. He was 2-12 from the field and
scored six points with six assists and four steals.
Smith Has Historic NCAA Tourney Game vs Colgate
• Justin Smith, who played all 40 minutes, was led the Hogs with a career-high 27
points – going a career-best 11-of-13 at the free throw line – and 12 rebounds for
his fifth double-double of the year and fourth in the last 11 games.
• He tied his career-high with five steals and added two blocked shots
• Smith is just the second player to record 27-plus points, 12-plus rebounds, 5-plus
steals and 2-plus blocks in an NCAA Tournament game, joining Kansas great
Danny Manning in the 1988 championship game versus Oklahoma. (Manning had 31
points, 18 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 rebounds.)
Musselman Doesn’t Mind Being Down
• Eric Musselman would certainly prefer to be in the lead, but has no woories when getting down in the NCAA Tournament.
• Each of Eric Musselman’s three NCAA Tournament wins have come despite facing significant deficits.
^ 2018 NCAA 1st Round: Nevada was down 14 (40-26) to Texas with 18:42 left in regulation. Nevada made a basket with
three seconds left to force overtime and defeated the Longhorns by four (87-83).
^2018 NCAA 2nd Round: Nevada was down 17 (27-10) to Cincinnati in the first half and down 20 (65-45) with 10:49 left
in the second half. Nevada tied it (73-73) with 54 seconds left then sank a basket with three seconds left to win 75-73.
^ 2021 NCAA 1st Round; Arkansas was down 14 with 5:28 left in the first half before going on a 19-0 run. Arkansas was
down six (50-44) with 13:49 left but took a 55-54 lead with 10:20 left and led the rest of the way.
^ 2019 NCAA 1st Round: Nevada did not win but was down 18 (51-33) to Florida with 14:03 left in the game. Nevada worked
its deficit to two (63-61) with 2:02 left, but the Gators held on for a 70-61 win.
Razorbacks Rewarded
• MOSES MOODY
- 2nd Team NCAA March Madness All-America
- Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year Finalist
- NABC and USBWA All-Region
- Consensus first team All-SEC
- SEC Freshman of the Year (coaches) and SEC Newcomer of the Year (AP).
• JD NOTAE - National Sixth Man of the Year by Bleacher Report
- SEC Sixth Man of the Year by the league’s coaches.
• JUSTIN SMITH - Seth Davis’ ALL-GLUE Team
• ERIC MUSSELMAN - Jim Phalen Coach of the Year Finalist
- Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year Semifinalist
Hogs #10 in Polls
• Arkansas fell two spots to #10 in both polls after falling in the SEC semifinals to snap a 12-game SEC win streak. Overall,
Arkansas won 12 of its final 14 games heading into the NCAA Championship.
• Arkansas closed the 2020-21 regular season with 11 straight SEC wins – the best streak in the league this season and
tied for the best SEC win streak in program history. The Razorbacks were rewarded by entering the top 10 at #8 in both
national polls for the first time since the end of the 1994-95 season.
• During the Razorbacks’ run, Arkansas went from unranked to 24th, to 20th, to 12th and 8th in the polls.
7 Quad 1 Wins over Last 11 Games; 4 of 9 Non-Conf Opp in NCAA Field • Arkansas was 6-0 in the month of February and tallied five QUAD 1 wins in the month vs Alabama (then #7 NET), at
Missouri (then #43 NET), vs Florida (then #29 NET), vs LSU (then #28 NET) and at Kentucky (then #60 NET).
• With a win over Missouri in the SEC quarterfinal and over Colgate in the NCAA first round, Arkansas has seven QUAD
1 wins over its last 11 games.
• Arkansas is 7-5 in QUAD 1 games, 6-1 in QUAD 2 and combined 10-0 in QUAD 3 and 4 games.
• Of Arkansas’ nine non-conference opponents, four are in the NCAA field including North Texas (W, 69-54), Oral Roberts
(W, 87-76), Abilene Christian (W, 85-72) and Oklahoma State (L, 81-77 in SEC-Big 12 Challenge).
^ North Texas, Oral Roberts and Oklahoma State each won on Friday in Round 1
Hogs #14 in NCAA NET
• After a 28-point road win at South Carolina, Arkansas climbed seven spots to 12th — the program’s highest ever NCAA
NET Rankings. However, Arkansas dropped four spots to 16th after an eight-point win over Texas A&M in the season
finale. Te Hogs rallied to #14 after beating Missouri in the SEC quarterfinal and falling to LSU in the SEC semifinal.
• The NCAA released its first NET ranking on Jan. 4 and the Razorbacks came in at #24. After the losses to #12 Missouri
at #9/8 Tennessee, Arkansas dropped to #29.
• The Razorbacks climbed nine spots to #20 after the 30-point win over Georgia but dropped back to #35 after road
losses at LSU and Alabama.
• Ironically, after a home win versus Auburn, Arkansas fell three spots to #38 but jumped five spots to #33 with a road
win at Vanderbilt and five more spots to 28th with a home win over Ole Miss.
• Arkansas fell three spots to 32nd after a close loss at Oklahoma State but climbed back to #29 after the Miss State win
and up to #26 after the road win at Kentucky.
• Arkansas jumped two more spots to #24 with a QUAD 1 win at #10 Missouri and remained there after its QUAD 1 win over
Florida last time out. However, after not playing Saturday at Texas A&M, Arkansas fell two spots to 26th.
• With a 15-point win over #6 Alabama, Arkansas moved up five to #21 then beat LSU to climb two more spots to #19.
Arkansas Wins 12th Straight vs SEC Opponents; Following 1994 Footsteps?
• After defeating Missouri in the SEC quarterfinal, Arkansas’ won its 12th-straight versus an SEC opponent to tie the
program record.
• The 1993-94 team also won 12 straight versus SEC opponents. Ironically, like this year, the 1993-94 team won its final 11
SEC games, won its SEC quarterfinal game and lost in the SEC semifinal.
• Hopefully, this year’s team can continue in the 1994 team’s footsteps. After losing in the SEC semifinal, the 1994 team
ran off six straight in the NCAA Tournament to win the national championship (over Duke in Charlotte).
Smith Helps 2nd Half Success Over Last 15 Games
• Justin Smith has been a key factor for the Hogs going 13-2 over the last 15 games. Specifically, he has played well in
the second halves of those games.
• In the SEC quarterfinal win over Mizzou, Smith scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, making 6-of-7 FG and he
grabbed all eight of his rebounds in the frame.
• In the SEC semifinal loss to LSU, Smith scored 15 of his 21 points in the second alf, making 7-of-9 FG.
• In the NCAA 1st round win over Colgate, Smith scored 18 of his 27 and had 7 of his 12 rebounds in the seocnd half.
SMITH BY HALF THE LAST 15 GAMES
1st HALF: team’s 4th-best 5.0 ppg 44.8 FG% 3.6 rpg 22 assists 8 BLK 7 steals
2nd HALF: team’s-best 9.9 ppg 69.2 FG% 3.7 rpg 11 assists 2 BLK 13 steals
20+ Overall Wins; 13 SEC Wins; Best SEC Finish in 2015
• Arkansas has won at least 20 games for the second straight season and Coach Musselman has won at least 20 games
in each of his six seasons as a collegiate head coach. He is the only Arkansas coach to win 20 in years one and two.
• Arkansas’ 13 conference wins ties for the second-best win total in program history and are the most since going 14-2 in
the national championship season (1993-94). Arkansas was 13-3 in its first season in the SEC (1991-92). NOTE: Arkansas
was one game shy of a full 18-game SEC schedule this season as a previous game with Texas A&M was canceled due to
COVID-19 protocols in the Aggie program.
• The second-place regular-season finish is the program’s best since finishing 2nd in 2014-15 and ties for the program’s
best league finish since the SEC went away from divisional play in 2011-12.
Highlights in SEC 12-Game Win Streak
AUBURN: Arkansas was down 19 (37-18) with just over four minutes left in the first half. Arkansas made 8 of its last 10
field goals in the first half to trim the deficit to 12 at the break.
• Arkansas opened the second half on a an 18-4 run and shot 52.9% from the field in the period.
AT VANDERBILT: Arkansas led from wire-to-wire, dished out 22 assists and shot a season-best 57.1% from the field,
including 42.1% from 3-point range. Arkansas has won seven straight and 11 of the last 12 versus Vanderbilt.
OLE MISS: Arkansas held Ole Miss to its season-low 59 points and the Rebels missed their first 14 3-pointers, finishing
1-of-16 from deep.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Arkansas snapped a six-game losing streak to Mississippi State dating back to Feb. 9, 2016.
• Arkansas was down 14-2 to start the game as the Razorbacks missed 16 of its first 17 shots of the game. Arkansas used
a 21-2 run in the first half and a 10-2 run to start the second to get the win.
• The MSU game was just the first time four Razorback players scored at least 10 points and had seven rebounds in
an SEC game (Smith 10 & 10; Vanover 13 & 8; Davis 10 & 8 and Moody 13 & 7). It was just the second time it has ever
happened with the other occurring in 1996 versus Troy. (HogStats.com)
AT KENTUCKY: Arkansas snapped an eight-game losing streak to Kentucky dating back to Feb. 27, 2014.
• Jalen Tate got an offensive rebound, was fouled and made two free throws with 4.3 seconds left to provide the 81-80
final. (Davonte Davis sealed the win with a steal.) The last time Arkansas won that late in a game was Mason Jones
banking a 3-pointer from right wing with 0.1 seconds left in OT to win at Georgia Tech, 62-61, on Nov. 25, 2019.
• Odd stat … Kentucky shot a season-best 53.8% (14-of-26) from 3-point range, but just 11-of-35 (31.4%) from 2-point.
AT MISSOURI: Arkansas was 20-of-23 at the free throw line, including 7-of-9 in overtime. The 20 made were the most
since making 23-of-34 in an earlier loss to Missouri this year (Jan. 2, 2021). Arkansas has made 20-plus free throws five
times this year and has shot over 80% from the line seven times.
• The win was the Razorbacks’ first over an AP top 10 program since 2016. It was additionally the Hogs’ first road win over
an AP top 10 team since 2006. In fact, it was just Arkansas’ fifth-ever road win over an AP top 10 team
FLORIDA: Arkansas got just the third win over the Gators in the last 20 games. Florida had won three straight, 11 of the
last 12 and 17 of the last 19 heading into the game.
ALABAMA: Arkansas led for 31:55 but the Crimson Tide scored the first seven points of the second half to lead by six
45-39. Arkansas answered with a 17-2 run — including a 10-0 spurt — to lead by nine. Alabama cut its deficit to four
before the Hogs went a 14-2 run to go up 16 with 5:55 left and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
LSU: Arkansas was down five at halftime and shot just 33/3% from the field in the half. The Razorbacks bounced back
to score 51 second-half points and shot 55.2% from the field. Arkansas used a 17-5 run early in the second half to go
from seven down to up five with 14:41 left. LSU got to within three (56-53 with 12:11 left) before Arkansas went on a 22-4
run (including a 14-1 run) to take its largest lead of 21 points with six minutes left.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Three Razorbacks scored over 20 points for a 101-73 win for the program’s fourth straight SEC road
win. By scoring over 100 points, Arkansas cracked the century mark in an SEC game for the first time since defeating
Auburn 101-87 on Feb. 10, 2015. The 28-point win is the 11th-biggest margin of victory in an SEC game, the third-largest
in an SEC road game and the 22nd-largest in a road game ever.
TEXAS A&M: Arkansas erased a 14-point, first half deficit (three at halftime) and won for the first time this year when
trailing with two minutes to play. Arkansas shot 60% from the field (18-30) and was 4-of-8 from 3PT in the second half.
MISSOURI: Arkansas was down 10 to Missouri with 9:18 left in the first half. The Hogs used a 16-0 run and only trailed
one at halftime. With the win, Arkansas improved to 15-2 in SEC quarterfinal games.
The Smith Factor … Playing “Next-Level Basketball”
• Here is a breakdown (WITH TWO CAVEATS) to show the team’s success with a “healthy” Justin Smith … remember,
everything in this note centers around the following……
- Even though Justin Smith started and played at Alabama, he was not effective and probably should have waited one
more game so I’m not counting that game - I am not counting any games prior to opening league play (Dec. 30) at Auburn. I am including the Oklahoma State.
• Team “with” Justin Smith: 13-1 …. 1-4 “without.” Now, in reality for the year, Arkansas is 22-3 (even with
Alabama loss) and 1-3 without (losses to #12 Missouri, at #9 Tennessee and at #24 Alabama)
Muss says Smith is playing “next-level basketball” and,considering the two caveats above…..
^ With a healthy Smith, Arkansas averages 3.0 more assists (14.8 to 11.8) and 2.2 less turnovers (13.4 to 15.2)
^ With a healthy Smith, Arkansas is shooting 46.2% as a team and shot 39.2% without Smith
^ With a healthy Smith, Arkansas is scoring 81.8 ppg as a team and 75.2 ppg without Smith.
^ With a healthy Smith, Arkansas is allowing 71.1 ppg as a team and 82.2 ppg without Smith.
RARE AIR — #3 IN NCAA IN SCORING AMONG FROSH
•MOSES MOODY IS 1 OF ONLY 5 NCAA FRESHMEN AVERAGING OVER 16.0 POINTS PER GAME.
- Cameron Thomas (LSU) 22.6 ppg
- Cade Cunningham (OK St) 20.2 ppg
- Moses Moody (ARK) 17.4 ppg
- Rayshon Harrison (Presbyterian) 17.2 ppg
- Evan Mobley (Southern Cal) 16.8 ppg
•MOSES MOODY IS 1 OF ONLY 3 NCAA FRESHMEN AVERAGING OVER 15.0 POINTS AND 5.0 REBOUNDS.
Cade Cunningham (OK St) 20.2 ppg 6.32 rpg
Moses Moody (ARK) 17.4 ppg 5.93 rpg
Evan Mobley (Southern Cal) 16.8 ppg 8.59 rpg
• MOSES MOODY IS 1 of 2 PLAYERS (ONLY FROSH) IN THE SEC to rank among the league’s top 20 in the following:
Moses Moody (ARK) ^ Scoring (3rd) ^ FG% (8th) ^ 3PT% (12th) ^ FT% (9th) ^ Rebounds (16th)
Tre Mann (FLA) ^ Scoring (8th) ^ FG% (7th) ^ 3PT% (6th) ^ FT% (3rd) ^ Rebounds (18th)
• MOSES MOODY IS 1 OF 3 PLAYERS (ONLY FROSH) IN THE SEC to average at least 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds
Moses Moody (ARK) 17.4 ppg (3rd in SEC) 5.9 rpg (16th in SEC)
Trendon Watford (LSU) 16.7 ppg (4th in SEC) 7.4 rpg (5th in SEC)
Tre Man (FLA) 16.0 ppg (8th in SEC) 5.8 rpg (18th in SEC)
• MOSES MOODY IS 1 OF3 PLAYERS (ONLY FROSH) IN THE SEC shooting at least: 42% FG, 35% 3PT AND 80% FT.
Moses Moody (ARK) 44.2 FG% 37.9 3PT% 81.7 FT%
Iverson Molinar (MSU) 47.5 FG% 43.4 3PT% 80.4 FT%
Tre Mann (FLA) 45.3 FG% 39.8 3PT% 84.9 F%
HOW HOT IS MOODY? ?
• Moses Moody closed the season o fire.
^ He earned back-to-back SEC Freshman of the Week honors in the final two weeks of the regular season.
^ His scoring average went from 16.2 to 17.4.
^ Tied his career-high three times with 28 at South Carolina, 28 vs Texas A&M and 28 vs LSU in the SEC semifinals.
- Added 24 versus #6 Alabama.
^ Led the team in rebounding in both SEC tourney games — 8 vs Mizzou and 9 vs LSU — and averaged 7.0 in the last 6
^ Made a career-high five 3-pointers vs Texas A&M, adding four at South Carolina and four vs LSU in the SEC Tourney
^ Dished out a career-high five assists vs LSU (2/27), adding four vs Alabama (2/24).
^ Had a career-high three steals versus Alabama AND a career-high three blocked shots vs Alabama.
Moses Delivers; Controls the Arc
• Razorback freshman Moses Moody leads the team — and ranks third in the SEC in scoring (17.4 ppg).
• He will be just the sixth freshman to led UA in points per game during a season (HogStats.com):
^ George Kok (18.7 in 1944-45) ^ Scotty Thurman (17.4 in 1992-93) ^ Joe Johnson (16.0 in 1999-00)
^ Jonathon Modica (11.5 in 2002-03) ^ Patrick Beverley (13.9 in 2006-07)
• He was the only Hog to make a 3-pointer in each of the first 14 games before going 0-of-4 in game 15 vs Auburn. He
has made a 3-pointer in 26 of 29 games.
• He made a season-best five 3-pointers versus Texas A&M and made four triples at Kentucky, at South
Carolina and vs LSU in th SEC tourney. He ranks eighth in the SEC with 55 3-pointers made and is 12th in
3-point percentage (.379)
• Moody has consecutive free throw streaks of 15, 13, 12 and 12 this season.
^ Moody is 7th in the NCAA / 3rd in the SEC in free throws made (134).
^ In a pandemic-shortened season, he has set the Arkansas freshman for free throws made (137 in 29
games). The previous mark was 116 by Kareem Reid in 1995-96 (in 33 games).
Impressive Rebound … Of 350 NCAA DI Schools
LAST YEAR in NCAA / SEC THIS YEAR in NCAA / SEC
342nd in rebound margin / 14th SEC -6.8 57th in rebound margin / 3rd SEC +4.2
332nd in rebounds per game / 14th SEC 31.53 16th in rebounds per game / 2nd SEC 39.96
325th in offensive rebounds / 14th SEC 7.5 45th in offensive rebounds / 8th SEC 11.96
288th in defensive rebounds / 12th SEC 24.03 27th in defensive rebounds / 2nd SEC 28.00
• This year, Arkansas has produced the top 6 as well as 9 of the top 11 rebounding efforts in the Musselman era
• This year, Arkansas has produced 14 of the top 16 offensive rebounding efforts in the Musselman era
• This year, Arkansas has produced each of the top 3 and 6 of the top 8 defensive rebounding efforts in the Musselman era
• Arkansas leads the SEC in defensive rebound percentage, grabbing 73.8% of opponents’ misses.
• Justin Smith’s 17 boards vs Oral Roberts is the most (tied) by an SEC player this season.
OTHER REBOUND NOTES
• Arkansas had 58 rebounds versus both Oral Roberts and Mississippi Valley — the most by Arkansas under Musselman
and 3rd-most by a Musselman-coached college team.
• Arkansas had 44 defensive rebounds versus Lipscomb – THE MOST by a Musselman-coached college team
• Arkansas’ 24 offensive rebounds versus Oral Roberts are the most by Arkansas under Musselman and the secondmost by a Musselman-coached college team.
• Arkansas has out-rebounded its opponent 18 times this season and is 16-2 in such games.
^ Arkansas only out-rebounded its opponent four times last season (4-0).
^ Musselman’s collegiate teams are 90-12 when out-rebounding their opponents.
• TENNESSEE MISSED 37 SHOTS (FG and AVAILABLE FT) — ARKANSAS HAD 31 DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS.
• GEORGIA MISSED 37 SHOTS (FG and AVAILABLE FT) — ARKANSAS HAD 29 DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS.
Double Digit Wins; 21st in NCAA/1st in SEC in Scoring Margin • 17 of Arkansas’ 23 wins this year have been in double digits. Lone exceptions were
during the 12-game SEC win streak (+2 versus Auburn; +1 win over Kentucky; +5 in OT
win at Missouri, +8 vs LSU. +7 vs Texas A&M and +6 vs Mizzou in the SEC Tourney).
• To start the year, Arkansas won each of its first nine games of 2020-21 by double
digits — and 10 straight dating back to an 86-73 victory over Vanderbilt in the 2020 SEC
Tournament.
• Arkansas was the first SEC team in six years to open the season with nine-straight wins
and all by double figures.
• Thanks to these totals, Arkansas ranks 21st in the NCAA / 1st in the SEC in
scoring margin at +11.7
Half a Hundred; 7th in NCAA/1st in SEC in Scoring
• Arkansas has scored 90-plus points six times this season, including four of
its wins in SEC play, and scored between 80-89 points an additional 10 times.
• Arkansas scored 56 second-half points in the win over Georgia. It was the most by
Arkansas in the second half of an SEC game since scoring 60 at Alabama on Jan 30,
2002 – a 109-94 final (HogStats.com).
• Arkansas (down five at halftime) scored 51 second-half points in the LSU win.
• Arkansas scored 49 first-half points in the first half; 52 in the second at South Carolina.
• Arkansas has scored at least 50 points in a half seven times this season.
^ Mississippi Valley State 61 in the first half AND 81 in the second half
^ Central Arkansas 59 in the second half
^ Oral Roberts 57 in the second half
^ Georgia 56 in the second half
^ LSU 51 in the second half
^ South Carolina 52 in the second half
• Despite its struggles at LSU and at Alabama, Arkansas still scored 45 and 40 secondhalf points, respectively.
• Arkansas has at least 40 points in a half 30 times in 29 games.
• Thanks to these totals, Arkansas ranks 7th in the NCAA / 1st in the SEC in
scoring at 82.4 ppg.
Valuing the Ball
• Coach Musselman preaches to his team to “value the ball.”
• In his first five years as a collegiate head coach, Musselman’s teams have led their
respective conference in fewest turnovers per game in each of the last four years,
assist-to-turnover ratio three times and turnover margin in each of the last three
years.
• This year in the SEC:
^ Arkansas ranks 2nd assist-to-turnover ratio (1.14)
^ Arkansas ranks 2nd in turnover margin (+2.2)
^ Arkansas ranks 3rd in fewest turnovers per game (13.1)
• Arkansas has committed single-digit turnovers four times this season.
7 vs Miss Valley State 8 vs Central Arkansas 9 vs Missouri 6 at Kentucky
No One Made 2 Bigger Plays Than Tate One Week, Except Maybe…
• Jalen Tate was not named the SEC Player of the Week after leading Arkansas to two
road wins at Kentucky and at #10 Missouri. However, it would be hard to argue no
player made two bigger plays in clutch moments that led to a win … except his own
teammates.
1A. At Kentucky and Arkansas down one, JALEN TATE got an offensive rebound with
seven seconds left, was fouled and sank two free throws to give Arkansas an 81-80
lead.
1B. Kentucky still had a chance but DAVONTE DAVIS followed through with his
prediction during a timeout between Tate’s free throws that he would make the game
winning steal.
2A. With Arkansas up one and 21 seconds left in overtime, Missouri’s Dru Smith
looked to have a clean line to the basket for a layup. However, .JALEN TATE chased
him down from behind and blocked the shot.
2B. Tate’s block was initially ruled basket interference. After review, it was deemed
a clean block. However, by rule, the ball was dead and went to Missouri on alternating
possession. On the ensuing play, MOSES MOODY stripped Parker Braun, was fouled
and made two free throws to put the Hogs up three with 12 seconds left.
2C. With the game still in doubt after Moody’s free throws, DAVONTE DAVIS picked
up Xavier Pinson three-quarter court and got his hand on Pinson’s final shot attempt
witth 3.7 seconds left that Justin Smith grabbed.
2D. JUSTIN SMITH was fouled, made both free throws to seal the win.
• As a side note, MOSES MOODY was named the College Sports Madness SEC
Player of the Week for a second time this season after the Kentucky and
Mizzou wins.
Sixth Man Has Fourth-Best
• JD Notae carried Arkansas in its quarterfinal win over Missouri.
^ Notae scored 27 points, his best as a Razorback and the fourth-best output of his
career.
^ It was his fifth 20-point game of the season and his 20th 20-point game of his career.
^ Scored 12 points during a 16-0 run in the first half to turn a 10-pt deficit (Mizzou’s
largest lead) into a 6-pt lead
^ Scored 16 of the team’s 32 first-half points.
^ Made a desperation bank shot in the lane as the shot clock was expiring and 1:19 left
in the game to put the Hogs’ up five (65-60).
J Tate the Great
• Jalen Tate has been exactly what was expected of him … a long, lock-down defender
that is a strong rebounder and pass-first point guard that can score. In other words a
stat sheet stuffer.
• During Arkansas’ 12-game SEC win streak, Tate averaged 11.6 ppg with a team-best
41 assists and a team-best 17 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 35.5%
from 3PT.
• Versus Colgate, Tate scored 17 points and tied a season-high with seven rebounds.
He added four assists and only committed one turnover in 38:13.
^ He has scored at least 12+ points 15 times this season.
^ Thanks to a career-high 11 assists versus UCA and adding 10 versus Georgia, he has a
team-best 113 assists.
^ In both his double-doubles (UCA and UGA), Tate had a combined 21 assists with just
one turnover.
^ Has at least four rebounds 17 times including an SEC-best six in just 13 minutes in the
LSU win..
4 Hogs Top 1,000
• Although Arkansas‘ roster has a lot of new faces, the roster has a lot of experience.
• Vance Jackson Jr., drained four 3-pointers during a 28-0 run in the first half of the
season opener. With his fourth triple, Jackson eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau. He also
grabbed his 500th career rebound in the game.
• Jalen Tate scored his 1,000th career point versus Central Arkansas and dished out his
300th career assist versus Lipscomb. With four boards in the Auburn win (1/20), he
grabbed his for 400th career rebound.
• JD Notae scored his 1,000th career point in just his 66th career game played (vs
Central Arkansas).
• Justin Smith became the fourth member at Missouri. Needing just one point entering
the game, the graduate transfer made two free throws at the 5:05 mark of the first
half to break the barrier. With six rebounds vs Ole Miss, he eclipsed the 500-rebound
plateau for his career.
PLAYER CAREER PTS TO REACH
VANCE JACKSON JR 1,094 Scored 1,000th career pt vs MVSU
JALEN TATE 1,257 Scored 1,000th career pt vs UCA
JD NOTAE 1,314 Scored 1,000th career pt vs UCA
JUSTIN SMITH 1,150 Scored 1,000th career pt at MIZ
COURTESY ARKANSAS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
