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Arkansas Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Razorbacks success against Indiana

By Curtis Wilkerson

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Jimmy Whitt #24 of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives the ball against Stanford Cardinal at Barclays Center on November 27, 2015 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Jimmy Whitt #24 of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives the ball against Stanford Cardinal at Barclays Center on November 27, 2015 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 26: Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against Isaiah Joe #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half of the game on January 26, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 26: Matt Mooney #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes to the basket against Isaiah Joe #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half of the game on January 26, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

1. Overall Defense

Arkansas’ defense was suffocating and stifling through the first eight games of the season. They defended the three-point line at a tremendous rate and frustrated opponents into turnovers in the half-court.

However, while the Razorbacks still grade out as one of the top defensive squads in the nation, they have seen their efficiency drop to a degree over the last few games.  Since December 7th, Arkansas has allowed 77.6 points per game and they have allowed a few big individual performances, something that did not happen early in the season.

It will be important for Arkansas to generate turnovers in the Indiana back-court on Sunday.  For one, that will help spur some transition opportunities for an offense that has struggled at times this season.  Secondly, it will keep the ball out of the paint where Indiana has a drastic size advantage.

The Indiana front-line goes 6’11, 6’9, 6’7 and is one of the nations best in terms of offensive rebounds, second-chance points, and drawing fouls.  This poses a tall challenge for an Arkansas team that starts a 6’6 center and does not have a single player on their active roster over 6’8.  Freshman phenom Trayce Jackson-Davis is likely to be the most talented forward Arkansas has faced this season.

Obviously, Eric Musselman is aware of this and will have a game plan on how to counteract it.  Expect Arkansas to collapse in the paint on post-entries and bring double teams from various spots throughout the game.  It is reasonable to expect that he will put his focus on protecting the paint while essentially daring an Indiana team that ranks 221st in the country in three-point percentage 313th in made three-pointers per game to beat them from the outside.

The goal for this undersized Arkansas team should be to have their fast-break points and points off turnovers outweigh the opponents’ second chance and points in the paint.  Therefore, harassing the guards and jumping passing lanes early to generate steals and collapsing into the paint when there is a post-entry is the key.

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