Arkansas Basketball: Previewing the Razorbacks’ matchup with Butler
By John Ryan
In one of the most compelling first-round matchups, Arkansas basketball will battle Butler in an always competitive 7-seed vs 10-seed showdown.
Matchup: (7) Arkansas vs. (10) Butler
When: March 16th, 3:10 PM
Where: Detroit
How to Watch: TruTV
The 7-seeded Razorbacks draw a tough opening round matchup to kick off their March Madness run. Butler is under-seeded and talented. However, the defensive impact of a guy like Daniel Gafford could help slow down the Bulldogs talented frontcourt.
Even with Gafford manning the middle, the Razorbacks have struggled on the defensive end throughout the entire season. This could pose a problem, with Butler averaging nearly 80 points per game this season.
This game will likely be a shoot-out. Arkansas has consistently put up points in a tough SEC and will need to maintain their pace if they want to survive and advance. The Razorbacks are led by senior guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Mason, who combined to score 34.9 points per game during the season. Experienced guard play is directly correlated with tournament success, giving Arkansas a slight edge on the surface.
Keys to an Arkansas Victory
- Control the pace, Play up-tempo
- Defensive Stops
- Guard Play
Butler’s senior forward Kelan Martin will likely be the best player on the floor, though. He’s always a threat to score 25 and can take over a game at any time. This will make Daniel Gafford the X-factor of this game. Points will come in bunches, but ultimately this game will be decided by late defensive stops. Gafford is a talented rim protector with size and will be key to stopping Butler.
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Due to it’s potential in being a tight, high-scoring game, this should be one of the more entertaining first-round matchup. Butler has the talent to make a run, but ultimately the Razorbacks guard play should give them the edge.