Arkansas Basketball: Can Daniel Gafford lead the young Razorbacks back to the Big Dance?
Where can Gafford and the Razorbacks improve on?
It will also be on the back of Gafford and he says the team must be better at is defense. “One thing we really need to improve on is our defense. There have been times where we settled and we let teams back in the game and that can be dangerous. Our offense is great but our defense leads to our offense.”
He also feels that he has to get better at extending his offensive game. I want to improve to where I can come out beyond the free throw line and be able to attack the basket without just catching the ball below the post. I want to become a threat on the free throw line extended. I want to come out beyond the three-point line and be able to attack the basket or maybe even shoot a three here and there.”
There is bound to be a learning curve with such a young team and Gafford knows. When there are growing pains Gafford says, “everyone has to come together and get back to where we need to be. Someone comes in and gets everyone huddled up and we have a little talk.”
To prepare the newcomers for the every-night battles of the SEC he wants them to know that “It’s a tough conference, be ready and be able to play strong. It’s not going to be easy, you’re going to have to earn everything you get on the court.”
The non-conference schedule will likely prepare the team for the riggers of conference play. The Razorbacks are scheduled to take part in the Hardwood Showcase in November which also includes the likes of Indiana, Texas-Arlington, and UC Davis, they also travel to Texas Tech as a part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Next. Preseason SEC Rankings for 2018-19. dark
The Razorbacks will be youthful but if Anderson from the sideline and Gafford on the floor can take advantage of the preseason and pre-holiday portion of their schedule to gel and get everyone on the same page, Arkansas may indeed find themselves back in the NCAA Tournament again.