There won't be any easing into SEC play for Arkansas.
Jimmy Dykes' Razorbacks wrapped up nonconference play with back-to-back blowout wins but open league play at No. 2 South Carolina, an undefeated team with national title aspirations.
Arkansas at South Carolina
WHEN 2 p.m.
WHERE Colonial Life Arena, Columbia
RECORDS Arkansas 5-8; South Carolina 12-0
SERIES Arkansas leads 17-14
RADIO KABZ-FM 103.7 in Little Rock; KQSM-FM 92.1 in Fayetteville; KFPW-AM 1230 and KFPW-FM 94.5 in Fort Smith; KURM-AM 790 and KURM-FM 100.3 in Rogers.
ONLINE ArkansasRazorbacks.…
TELEVISION SEC Network
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
ARKANSAS
POS^NAME^HT.^YR.^PPG^RPG
G^Jordan Danberry^5-8^Fr.^6.7^2.8
G^Devin Cosper^5-10^So.^7.8^3.5
F^Melissa Wolff^6-0^Sr.^5.7^7.9
F^Jessica Jackson^6-3^Jr.^17.4^7.6
C^Alecia Cooley^6-3^Jr.^7.8^5.2
COACH Jimmy Dykes (23-22 in second season at Arkansas)
SOUTH CAROLINA
POS^NAME^HT.^YR.^PPG^RPG
G^Tiffany Mitchell^5-9^Sr.^14.2^3.3
G^Khadijah Sessions^5-8^Sr.^5.3^2.8
G^Asia Dozier^6-0^Sr.^4.3^1.0
F^A’ja Wilson^6-5^So.^7.0^6.3
C^Alaina Coates^6-4^Jr.^13.3^9.0
COACH Dawn Staley (102-14 in fifth season at USC)
TEAM COMPARISON
Arkansas^USC
63.9^Points Scored Per Game^78.0
59.2^Points Allowed Per Game^55.8
43.9^Rebounds Per Game^43.8
14.3^Turnovers Per Game^6.0
.369^FG pct.^.467
.241^3-pt FG pct.^.305
.690^FT pct.^.662
CHALK TALK South Carolina has been ranked in the top 14 in each of the teams’ last six meetings, all of which were won by the Gamecocks. … Arkansas senior Melissa Wolf had 20 points and 20 rebounds in the Razorbacks’ win over New Orleans in the nonconference finale, becoming the first player in the program’s modern history to accomplish the feat.
— Jimmy Carter
The Gamecocks (12-0) are outscoring opponents by nearly 22 points per game, the same margin they beat the Razorbacks (5-8) last season. Arkansas went on to win a game in the NCAA Tournament a season ago with a senior-laden team.
This year, Dykes will take a largely inexperienced team with seven newcomers into what will be the most hostile environment they've experienced thus far.
How Arkansas starts the game figures to be key.
The Razorbacks fell behind 20-3 after a quarter in their other matchup with a top-five team this year, a Dec. 20 meeting with No. 5 Texas. Arkansas bounced back by winning the second quarter 16-5 and outscoring the Longhorns over the course of the final three quarters.
Today will be the next test for the Razorbacks, the next opportunity to put together four good quarters against a top-tier opponent.
Arkansas will enter the game with some positive momentum after beating Mississippi Valley State and New Orleans by a combined 72 points to wrap up 2015 and nonconference play.
Junior forward Jessica Jackson closed out the year by averaging 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the two victories, while senior Melissa Wolff scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, both career-highs, in the win over New Orleans.
Sports on 01/03/2016