Razorbacks Trending Towards the Tournament

Coming off of an uplifting win over Missouri, the Razorbacks were set for a rematch against Tennessee. The Volunteers handed the Hogs their biggest loss of the season just 15 days earlier.

However, this time the Hogs would have their superstar sharp shooter, Isaiah Joe, back in the lineup.

Razorbacks Dominate from the Jump

The Hogs dominated this game from start to finish. After the Hogs took a 2-1 lead in the opening minutes, they would never look back. They started the game on a 14-1 run and led by as many as 16 in the first half. The Volunteers would pull together a run of their own early in the second half. In fact, they cut the lead to 45-43 five minutes into the second half.

However, to the delight of Hog fans everywhere, the Razorbacks responded in a big way. They immediately went on a 9-0 run and continued their hot shooting to extend their lead to a game-high 19 points with under 3:30 left in the game. This game was labeled as a must-win, as most of the Hogs’ games will be from here on out, and the Hogs showed out in a big way.

Key Stats

As a team, the Razorbacks won every single stat category aside from total rebounds, and they only lost that stat by five boards. They hit five more 3PTs, committed five fewer turnovers, and shot better percentages from all three levels: FG%, FT%, 3P%. The stat that gets the most criticism when it goes poorly, but the least attention when it goes well, is free-throw shooting.

The Hogs missed only six free throws on the game, shooting 82% as a team. Anytime the team number reaches 75% or above, it’s been a good day from the charity stripe. Slightly concerning is the fact that Mason Jones alone accounted for half of the misses, but this can be comfortably swept under the rug given his high volume of attempts. Not to mention he still managed to score 37 points, his 4^th highest total and 7^th game of 30+ points this season.

Razorbacks Unsung Heroes

While it’s easy to see that Mason Jones’s outstanding
scoring performance was a major key in this game, there were several Hogs that
exceled in their roles to make this win possible. Some of them filled up parts
of the stat sheet. Others played intangible roles that won’t appear in their
stats.

Ethan Henderson

Earning his second career start, and first on his home
court, Henderson balled out. Although he was held to only two points, he shot
50% from the field and was never asked to be a scorer. It was his interior
presence that drastically affected this game, both on rebounds and the
defensive side of the ball. He grabbed a career high nine rebounds, four of
them offensive, while adding three blocks in 30 minutes of action.

Most impressively to those who have kept up with Henderson’s playing time, is his three fouls committed through 30 minutes of playing time. We’ve seen stretches of multiple fouls in under 60 seconds at times this season, so for Henderson to play with that kind of discipline while continuing to bother the Volunteer big men all game was a huge addition for the Hogs.

More importantly, if he can maintain this level of play, the Hogs may have found a third big man with the length to be an elite interior defender down the road.

Desi Sills

In the midst of Ethan Henderson earning his second start, it was likely noted the both Desi Sills and Jalen Harris would come off the bench for this game. Fans that watched last year know that Sills was an excellent 6^th man for this team. His 3-point shooting was far better last year than it was to start this season.

However, Sills seems to have found his rhythm again after a stretch of games in which he comes off the bench. Against the Vols, Sills shot 3/5 from deep and scored 13 points while adding four rebounds as the shortest player on the team. His scoring contribution and overall confidence cannot be understated.

Isaiah Joe

Despite his lackluster 25% shooting from long range, Joe was still able to contribute 22 points. This came in large part to his stellar FT shooting, going 12/12 from the stripe. His willingness, and ability, to drive in the paint and create his own opportunities has been the biggest knock against his draft stock all season.

In the game against Tennessee, he showed he was both willing and able. 33% of his shots came from inside the 3-point line, which is a lot for someone known by many as nothing more than a 3-point marksman. His 12 free throw attempts were also a season-high, showing his improved willingness to draw contact and get to the line.

Jimmy Whitt

Whitt scored only six points in this game, but his efforts
should not be over looked. Just looking at the rest of the box score, Whitt
contributed nearly everywhere else. He added six rebounds, four assists, and two
steals in 36 minutes of action. He also shot a respectable 40% from the field
and 2/3 from the FT line.

However, his largest contribution to the win came in a role not translated by the box score. Whitt was tasked once again with guarding the best playmaker on the opposing team. For much of the game, he was in the left hip pocket of Tennessee point guard Santiago Vescovi. Vescovi is a pesky left-handed point guard that torched the Hogs in the teams’ first meeting earlier this month.

On the season, he averages 11-3-4 on points, rebounds, and assists respectively. In the game on Wednesday night, the crafty guard was held to only six points and one single rebound in 37 minutes of game time. He also committed five turnovers and four fouls. Whitt took Vescovi out of the game. He changed Tennessee’s entire offense by not letting Vescovi get to any of his spots without working hard, wasting time off the shot clock. This effort is easily over looked, but should not be under stated.

Razorbacks Road to the Tournament

The Hogs are currently sitting deep in the bubble. Lunardi has them in the Next Four Out group, meaning they’re about five spots away from the last team in. I’m sure the win against Tennessee, combined with a few losses from other bubble teams this week, will at least move the Hogs up to the First Four Out group. Arkansas has three games left on their schedule and they’re favored in all three.

Their next game is on the road against a Georgia squad that boasts one of the best players in the nation, but only four conference wins. Then they have a couple of rematches against LSU at home and Texas A&M on the road. No games are every easy, but all of these games can be firmly labeled as winnable.

Realistic Prediction

My prediction is the Hogs have to win at least two more regular season games, pushing their win total to 20, and make a run past the second round of the SEC tournament to get a bid for the NCAA Tournament. The committee has held firm in saying that they take overall record and quality of wins/losses into consideration more so than specifically conference record.

More importantly for Hog fans, they look at major injuries and how the teams dealing with injuries performed before, during, and after the injury. This bodes well for the Hogs as they have a 17-5 record when Isaiah Joe is in the lineup, but only a 1-5 record without him. If the team can finish strong, winning at least four out of five after Isaiah Joe’s return, I like their chances. The win over Tennessee makes it two down, hopefully three to go.

For more articles covering the Razorbacks and all your favorite teams check out the Overtime Heroics site here and our Twitter page here!

For coverage exclusively on the Hogs, check out the OTHArkansas Twitter page here!