Arkansas Basketball: 2019-20 keys for success at home against Kentucky

Win the battle on the perimeter

Arkansas is not going to win the battle in the paint, but they have proven this season that they do not have to in order to win games.  The Hogs simply need to survive on the glass and limit as many second-chance opportunities as possible.

The way Arkansas has overcome its deficiencies inside has been by making up for it by winning on the perimeter.  One way the Hogs can achieve this is by ensuring their advantage at the three-point line negates their disadvantage on points in the paint.

The Razorbacks are the top three-point defense in the country, which makes a poor shooting Kentucky team a good match-up in that regard.  On the inverse, Arkansas is streaky but capable of filling it up from beyond the arc.  For the Razorbacks to get a victory Saturday, the stars need to shine.  Joe and Jones will need to dial it up frequently from long distance, and the goal should be to connect on a minimum of ten three-pointers.

Another key will be for Arkansas to negate the second-chance points they give up on the offensive glass by using their stingy defense to force turnovers and create transition scoring opportunities.

Arkansas generates over nine steals and forces over 17 turnovers per game.  Getting near those averages against Kentucky would be a huge boost for the Razorbacks.  They have done a nice job this season of using defense to fuel their offense, and Saturday needs to be no exception.

This is a fascinating match-up that features two of the better teams in the SEC.  Kentucky may have shown vulnerability in their loss at South Carolina, but the wounded Wildcats will be motivated to bounce back.  Arkansas is off to a tremendous start, but they feel undervalued and are hungry to prove themselves on the big stage.  Bud Walton will be electric.  Dickie V will be in the house.  Hogs win 76-72.