FAYETTEVILLE -- For the 2016-2017 basketball season Arkansas' first major test proved a major flop.
Addressing it any other way would be dishonest, Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson implied.
The now 3-1 Razorbacks, victors at Walton Arena over mid-majors Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Southern Illinois and the University of Texas-Arlington, played their first non-hyphenated or non-directional opponent away from Fayetteville on Tuesday night.
That's when the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Big Ten big-time blasted the Razorbacks, 85-71 in Minneapolis.
Phil Elson, subbing for Chuck Barrett on the Razorback Radio Network broadcast in Minneapolis, diplomatically couched his game summation to Anderson in the postgame interview.
It seems the Golden Gophers were allowed too many threes and Arkansas turned it over too often, Elson suggested gently.
"I think that's probably putting it nicely," Anderson responded.
The stats were stark. Minnesota sported a 27-3 advantage on threes, sinking 9 of 15 contrasted to Arkansas' 1 of 8.
Arkansas committed 21 turnovers to Minnesota's 14.
Arkansas did outrebound Minnesota, 38-30, That Arkansas stat on the boards meant nothing because Minnesota outscored Arkansas, 26-11 off turnovers while the Golden Gophers' bench outscored the Razorbacks' bench, 30-12.
"We had some unforced turnovers that led to some easy baskets for them," Anderson said. "You can't do that on the road. We only had eight assists. We've had eight assists the first eight minutes of any game. So that tells you the rhythm wasn't there."
For Anderson's style of play prevailing in points off turnovers and off the bench output is about as essential as air. Especially on the road.
"When you go on the road it's going to be physical," Anderson said. "You've got to fight through some adversity and we didn't."
Fortunately for the Razorbacks, it's still November in a sport measured by March.
One bad game their first venture out of Arkansas doesn't dissuade the view that this is a deeper, sounder and more talented team than last year's 16-16 Razorbacks who tailed off from the 27-9 Razorbacks of 2014-2015.
The three mid-majors that Arkansas defeated this month aren't weaklings. They are traditionally good mid-majors but not in 5-0 Minnesota's league.
The drubbing on the road isn't apt to help attendance at home.
Walton Arena has been closer to empty than full these three November games, though the Razorbacks themselves laud the crowd support.
"With our fans it doesn't matter how many people there are in the stands, they are always going to be loud," Arkansas junior guard Daryl Macon said after the victory over Southern Illinois.
It's not the volume of fans but giving them something to keep turning up the volume concerning the Razorbacks at this point.
Starting Monday night against Mount St. Mary's, Arkansas' seven newcomers and five returning lettermen have five games at Walton, one, Dec. 6 with major power Houston, to mesh before the next road test Dec. 17 against the Texas Longhorns in Houston.
Sports on 11/26/2016