UConn Basketball: 3 keys to beating Arkansas in Sweet 16 matchup

UConn Basketball: 3 keys to beating Arkansas Razorbacks in Sweet 16 matchup

Jan 26, 2019; Storrs, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (4) reacts after a basket by forward Eric Cobb (0) against the Wichita State Shockers in the second half at Gampel Pavilion. UConn defeated Wichita State 80-60. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

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UConn Basketball guard Tristen Newton David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Being active on defense could pay dividends

The first key to a UConn win over Arkansas comes at the defensive end of the floor. The Huskies can be a little more physical with the Razorbacks. Doing this has a couple of advantages as the game wears on. First, the physicality early on could wear down an Arkansas team that likes to get out and run. Secondly and more importantly from my perspective, being aggressive and fouling them isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Arkansas really struggles when they get to the stripe. The Hogs shoot it at just 69.8% which is 268th in the country, and we all know that come tournament time free throws are critical. In fact, only leading scorer Ricky Council IV shoots over 74% from the line with his 78.9%. After that, every single rotation player for the Razorbacks shoots 73% or less, a fact that could come in handy late in the game if needed.

In their first two wins, they have shot better from the line than they have most of the season, making 78% of their attempts against Illinois and Kansas. But being physical even if that means sending Arkansas to the line early will be important for UConn over 40 minutes of play. Look for UConn to attack the Razorbacks defensively even if that means sending them to the line earlier than most would think.