FAYETTEVILLE — Following a season in which Arkansas finished outside the top 100 in defensive efficiency for the first time since 2011-12, Mike Anderson’s focus this preseason was getting back on track in that regard.
Two games is still a small sample size, but while the Razorbacks at times flutter on the offensive end (.94 points per possession, per HoopLens), their defense has been solid in a loss to Texas and an 81-58 win over UC Davis in Monday’s home opener.
"I have to make sure and encourage them, guys, this team scored 58 points," Anderson said Monday night. "That’s pretty darn good defense. ... So as long as we can stay consistent defensively, because, we know and we see it, offense comes and goes, but if your defense is consistent, you have a chance to win."
Arkansas showcased potential on the defensive end in the second half of the Armed Forces Classic against the Longhorns when it held Shaka Smart’s club to 5/26 (19.2 percent) shooting after overcoming a first-half barrage of 3-pointers and trailed 36-30 at halftime. Texas guard Kerwin Roach was the lone Texas player with more than one bucket in the second half, and all came from 3-point range.
That equated to a 2/16 effort on 2-point looks, which the Razorbacks have been among the nation’s best at defending in the first week of the season. The Longhorns finished just 4/12 layups in their overtime win, and UC Davis didn’t fare much better, connecting on 11/27 attempts inside the arc.
Arkansas’ 2-point field goal percentage against (34.9) ranks ninth in the country, according to KenPom figures, and sits better than 15 percentage points under the national average. South Carolina is currently second in the league in that area (37.9) and Tennessee, selected in the preseason to finish second in the SEC behind only Kentucky, is third among SEC teams defending close looks (39 percent).
In the video below are four instances of what I found to be great 2-point defensive efforts from the Razorbacks in their loss to Texas where length and athleticism stood out. In the first clip, Gabe Osabuohien, known for his rebounding and charge-taking prowess, does a good job of working his way around a half-hearted seal by Jericho Sims in transition that could have provided a clear path to the rim.
Osabuohien instead steps up to turn away Roach at the rim and nearly kicks off an Arkansas break with what would have been a great save along the baseline.
The next two videos are just very solid contests on midrange jumpers, which goes to show Arkansas' length can give opponents fits at times. The second contest from Mason Jones comes at a critical juncture in the game with the Longhorns needing a score to get back within a point in the final minute of regulation. Jones extends toward Roach after biting a bit on his jab step. He does a decent job recovering, gets a hand up and forces an airball.
At that point, Arkansas is in great position to ice the game away - until the turnover on its next possession against Texas' full-court pressure.
The final clip shows Adrio Bailey, who contested Roach well at the right elbow in the second video, protecting the rim against a smaller guard. The junior viciously rejects Elijah Mitrou-Long's soft floater attempt, but right into the hands of Dylan Osetkowski, who is then fouled by Gafford and splits a pair at the line.
Bailey's block is fairly indicative of what we've seen from Arkansas in terms of rim protection through two games this season. Gafford, as you might imagine, leads the team with six blocks, but the Razorbacks have four other players - Osabuohien, Bailey, Chaney, Jones - with at least one, which leads to a block rate of nearly 18 percent. That number (17.5) is good for second in the SEC and 27th nationally.
Monday, Arkansas blanked UC Davis for the first six minutes of the game. The Aggies did not score on their first 10 possessions and began the night 0/6 from the floor with four turnovers. Among the turnovers were a pair of drawn charges from Isaiah Joe, who also deflected a UC Davis pass to the rim in transition that began a fast break, and Osabuohien.
Behind that defensive showing, Arkansas raced out to leads of 11-0 and 15-5 following a dunk from Gafford. UC Davis connected on a 3 with 13:50 left in the half to get on the board then misfired on its next four shots as part of of a 1/11 start. The Razorbacks also held the Aggies to a 1/13 stretch – 1/9 from 3 - in the second half as they began to pull away after leading 37-30 at halftime.
Indiana will be the Razorbacks' stiffest test to date and perhaps of the entire nonconference schedule. The Hoosiers, in three wins over Montana State, Chicago State and Marquette, rank third in the country in 2-point offensive efficiency, connecting on 70.6 percent of those attempts.
Five-star freshman guard Romeo Langford (6-6, 215) and veteran forward Juwan Morgan (6-8, 232) are a combined 31/41 inside the arc this season. Thus far, they have both struggled at the line (15/29) and Langford is 2/12 from 3-point range, so limiting dribble penetration will be vital.
"He’s 6-6 and he’s really athletic with bounce," Anderson said of Langford. "He’s got a great first step and he can finish with contact. He just has a great feel for the game."