Arkansas Basketball: 3 keys to beat UConn Huskies in Sweet 16 matchup
By Elijah Campbell
#2- Stay disciplined on the perimeter defensively
The Huskies’ perimeter threat is real and defending them can be a real challenge. One thing Arkansas can’t afford to do is be undisciplined on that end of the floor.
Defense is Arkansas’ strength. They were number one in the SEC in block percentage (18th nationally) and are pretty good at forcing turnovers. They can sometimes be a high risk high reward defensive team since they also commit a ton of fouls.
UConn doesn’t necessarily get to the free throw line exceptionally well but they do have a few players who excel at drawing fouls anywhere on the floor. Sanogo and Newton both draw over four fouls per 40 minutes and can be a total trap for a defense like Arkansas that loves to make emphatic blocks and attempt to jump passing lanes to get steals. Discipline can be the key to Arkansas’ defense being a big factor in holding UConn to a manageable number.
I do want to discuss Sanogo specifically. Against Saint Mary’s, Sanogo caught a few passes on the perimeter and burned Gaels’ big man Mitchell Saxen on some fundamentally sound pump fakes. Sanogo used those to get Saxen either in the air or out of defensive position and would be given a clear driving lane to the basket.
Makhi Mitchell, Kamani Johnson and even Jordan Walsh will have to be mindful of Sanogo and other Huskies’ utilization of pump fakes to get defenders out of position. If they avoid picking up cheap fouls by being overzealous and take away that element of UConn’s offense, it could force them into settling for worse shots later in the shot clock.