Arkansas Basketball: Razorbacks prove themselves in win over Tennessee
By Taylor Sturm
The Arkansas Razorbacks came into the 2017-18 college basketball season with several questions but look to have shaken that off. A win over Tennessee could have the Hogs ranked next week.
Coming into the 2017-18 college basketball season we knew just one thing about the Arkansas Razorbacks: their guards would be really, really good.
Daryl Macon, Jaylen Barford, and Anton Beard have not disappointed, averaging a combined 36 points per game around just over 29 minutes per game. This is one of the best guard trios in college basketball, and we knew that they would have to carry this team at times.
However, freshman forward Daniel Gafford has been everything this team needed and more, averaging 11.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game so far this season and dominating the inside with the feel of a much more experienced college basketball player.
This, in part, is what has led to Arkansas now being 11-2 with wins over the Oklahoma Sooners and the best player in college basketball, Trae Young, and the then-No. 14 Minnesota Golden Gophers. Now, throw in a 95-93 overtime win over the No. 19 Tennessee Volunteers, and Arkansas should find themselves ranked and on the path to an NCAA Tournament berth very soon.
Foul trouble hindered the Vols all game, and Arkansas took advantage. Gafford dominated the inside with eight rebounds, 15 points, and, most impressively, five blocks. Macon and Barford combined for 61 points (61!) and went an identical 10-18 from the floor.
Next: 5 Questions for the beginning of SEC play
This is a good win over a really underrated team, and the Razorbacks are proving themselves to be one of the better teams in the SEC. We’ll be seeing both of these teams in March.