Arkansas vs. Fresno State: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

Fresno State has possibly the best perimeter game never talked about. In their effort to get an at-large bid, they’ll travel to Fayetteville for what could be “40 minutes of hell” as they take on a physical Arkansas Razorbacks team.

TV schedule: Friday, Nov. 17, 8:00 p.m. ET. SEC Network

Arena: Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas

While the identities of most basketball teams are unknown after just a couple of games, Fresno State (2-0) head coach Rodney Terry has made it clear what the Bulldogs are about.

With the return of Deshon Taylor (17.0 ppg) and Jahmel Taylor (15.5 ppg), Fresno State has arguably the best set of guards in the Mountain West Conference.

That doesn’t even include potential MWC Player of the Year and do-it-all guard senior Jaron Hopkins, who filled up the stat sheet last year and has done so already this time around. It’s only been two games, but his 15.0 ppg, 7.5 ppg, and 3.5 apg are similar to a year ago, and will likely stay that way.

Fresno hasn’t beaten anyone of importance, but the league as a whole has gotten off to a strong start, including some good wins by Nevada and Wyoming. Expect the Bulldogs to be part of the mix. If they want to shoot for a bigger goal, they’ll have to take down an experienced SEC basketball opponent.

Mike Anderson has a senior-laden team in the Razorbacks, particularly in the backcourt with Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon. Unlike the Bulldogs, Arkansas (2-0) has faced some small, yet legitimate competition. Their first two games have been blowouts against Samford and Bucknell, two mid-major teams expected to win their respective leagues.

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While Barford (21.5 ppg) and Macon (18.5 ppg, 6.0 apg) have led the way, it’s been a collective effort by the team in most aspects of the game. No one on the team currently has more than ten total rebounds. The team obviously won’t average 98 ppg for the season, but the offense looks different and at a faster pace than last season.

These teams are mirror images of each other at the guard position, and whoever wins that battle will likely win the game. Unless, of course, one of the frontcourt players featured in this game becomes a game-changing factor. The Bulldogs really need this one to help out the conference, while the Razorbacks need it to defend their home court.

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With so much experience in this game, the number of mistakes will be at a minimum, so it will come down to who makes their shots. I’m a big believer in the Bulldogs, and they have the roster to win in a hostile environment. Both teams could be making a run at the top of their leagues while no one’s watching.

Prediction: Arkansas 75 – Fresno State 80

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