5 Out: Moody's work on offensive glass, Notae's quick-strike offense and more

Arkansas guard Moses Moody attempts a layup after drawing contact during a game against North Texas on Nov. 28, 2020, in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — On April 20, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman was asked to give a scouting report on Moses Moody, who days before had officially signed with the Razorbacks.

The coach first mentioned the then-incoming freshman’s ability as a three-level scorer then touched on how proud he was that the guard added some strength and weight in his time at national power Montverde Academy in Florida.

Musselman’s next bit of insight was something Arkansas fans would eventually see play out in the Razorbacks’ first six games of the 2020-21 season. He labeled the 6-6 Moody “an extremely underrated offensive rebounder,” and later noted the staff thought he could be an excellent rebounder at the off guard and small forward spots.

Early on in his college career, Moody’s knack for snagging teammates’ missed shots has been impressive. He is second on the team with 12 offensive rebounds, trailing only forward Justin Smith, who has 17. Smith actually has more offensive boards and defensive rebounds (16). I have liked his activity tracking misses, too.

But Moody has at least one offensive rebound in five of six games, and he has recorded three in wins over UT-Arlington, Lipscomb and Southern. According to KenPom analytics, he is rebounding 7.4% of available misses. That may not sound like a big number, but it is good enough to earn a national rank from the website (437).

Perhaps more impressive is the fact Arkansas is turning Moody’s offensive boards into near-instant offense.

The Razorbacks have scored 22 points off of his effort plays, and Moody has scored 16. Jalen Tate and Desi Sills have also hit 3-pointers on extra possessions provided by the freshman.

"I think that’s one of the things that Moses has done a great job of since he’s gotten here, just his ability to offensive rebound and crash the glass," Musselman said Thursday. "He’s got a nose for the ball on the offensive boards. He’s done a really good job. I think he’s gotten better and better finishing around the rim, as well.

"Those are just extra points, extra possessions for our team."

Moody himself is 5 of 6 from the floor and 5 of 6 at the free throw line immediately following his offensive rebounds, and Arkansas is 7 of 9 from the floor as a team. If the Razorbacks can continue to generate these dirty-work points in SEC play against some physical defensive rebounding teams, it would be a big plus and could turn out to be the difference in tight games.

Musselman has commended his star freshman for his work on the glass in general through six games. He is currently second on the team in total rebounds with 34 and has grabbed at least five defensive rebounds in three games.

Moody has always felt as if he was a capable rebounder when engaged because of his size and length. His 12 offensive rebounds rank third among SEC freshmen.

“A lot of people don't necessarily box out the guards,” Moody said. “They're focused on the bigs. Just a lot of advantages I've been having like that. Then, Coach has been so adamant in telling me to rebound offensively and defensively, so now that I have that on my mind all the time it's something that I've always been able to do but I'm more locked in and prepared to do it.”

JD Notae’s quick-strike offense and pro qualities

At halftime of last Saturday’s game against Central Arkansas, Razorbacks guard JD Notae was having a very mediocre night. In his 14 minutes, 36 seconds in the lineup, he was 2 of 9 from the floor and 1 of 5 from 3-point range. He had only five points.

Notae did have three assists at the break, which was part of the reason Arkansas was plus-14 with him on the floor. I thought his shot selection was fine. He saw a couple of wide open 3s miss the mark, but he was also 1 of 4 on 2-point attempts.

During halftime I wondered how much action Notae would see in the second half given that it just didn’t seem to be his night offensively. Plus, Musselman had sat Notae for an entire second half before, so it wasn’t crazy to believe his minutes would be limited the rest of the way.

Notae wound up leading all scorers with 22 points in Arkansas’ 100-75 win over UCA.

He was much more effective in the second half, scoring 17 points in his 11 minutes, 54 seconds on the floor. Notae chipped in three assists, too, and finished with six, one shy of his season high. Actually, he put up those numbers in the final 7 minutes, 37 seconds of the game.

In that span, he hit 6 of 8 shots, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and tallied a pair of steals and a block for good measure. That was the Notae that Musselman praised in the preseason. He can be streaky and he can score in bunches.

One thing you have probably noticed in watching Notae this season is that he is a gunner. According to KenPom, he has taken 31.7% of Arkansas’ shots when on the floor. Only 80 players nationally who have played at least 40% of their team’s minutes have a higher mark, and that figure ranks sixth in the SEC.

That style of play can be frustrating for fans and Arkansas’ coaches when his shots aren’t falling, but it is incredibly rewarding when he is in a zone, like he was vs. UCA. Notae has not shot the 3 at a great clip so far (13 of 41), but he has been solid getting to and finishing in the lane, where he is 13 of 20 this season.

Notae’s shot fake on the perimeter is lethal, and he draws defenders off the floor regularly, allowing him to penetrate off the bounce. His stepback, footwork and ability to finish challenging looks around the rim is impressive, too. Much of his game looks almost effortless and he has multiple pro-like qualities about him.

“One of the best instant offense players in the nation,” Musselman tweeted Monday.

Decision making and defensive engagement are things I’m certain the Razorbacks’ staff are stressing with Notae. But on top of his quick-strike offensive capabilities, he is assisting on 24.3% of Arkansas’ scores when on the floor. He is one of the team’s best playmakers, able to find teammates and create nearly any shot he wants.

Notae will be a key piece for Arkansas moving forward and his efficiency will be something to keep an eye on.

Comparing Moody's start to other notable Hog freshmen

Vance Jackson, Jalen Tate and JD Notae have each reached significant milestones this season, surpassing 1,000 career points. Tate and Notae did so together against UCA last weekend, and Jackson hit the mark in Arkansas’ season-opening win over Mississippi Valley State.

Moses Moody, barring something unforeseen, will reach the 100-point mark Sunday against Oral Roberts in just his seventh game as a Razorback. Outside of his first two games, Moody has been terrific offensively.

But even through his early struggles, he worked his way to the line and made teams pay there.

He enters this weekend averaging a team-high 16 points per game, and he needs only four points to hit 100 for the season. Here is a look at how many games it took other notable Arkansas freshman to reach that mark:

• 6 games: Scotty Thurman

• 7 games: Corliss Williamson, BJ Young, Isaiah Joe, Courtney Fortson

• 8 games: Marshawn Powell, Sidney Moncrief, Ronnie Brewer, Joe Johnson

• 9 games: Patrick Beverley, Jonathon Modica, Bobby Portis, Daniel Gafford, Lee Mayberry

• 10 games: Todd Day

Moody has reached this point by showcasing his ability, as Musselman noted above, to score at each level. Since his 3 of 9 start finishing at the rim in the team’s first two games, he is 14 of his last 18, including 10 of 11 vs. Lipscomb, Southern and UCA.

He has also hit a pair of nice pull-up jumpers on three attempts in the middle of the floor. I have been impressed with the touch on his midrange looks there. The lone miss rattled out, too.

Moody has not yet found a rhythm from 3-point range on the left wing, connecting on just 2 of 11 attempts, but he has been very good in other areas of the floor, particularly the corners. The Razorbacks, as I wrote a number of times, were a poor corner 3-point shooting team a season ago. Moody has found great success there.

He is a team-best 2 of 4 in the left corner through six games and a sizzling 5 of 7 from the right corner. Moody is 2 of 4 from the right wing as well.

“Other than that first game, I think he’s come out and, for any freshman, it’s hard, but he’s been consistent,” Musselman said. “He’s a go-to player. I love his business-like approach. He stays after practice, he comes in in the middle of the day and gets shots up. I mean, he’s really singularly focused.”

Opponents’ shooting numbers vs. Arkansas defenders

One of the more impressive things about this Razorbacks team through the first three weeks of the season has been its interior defense and the degree of difficulty of many of Arkansas’ opponents’ shots. This group has forced a number of challenging looks.

According to KenPom, the Razorbacks defense has an effective field goal percentage of 38.8%, which ranks seventh nationally, and have limited teams to 36.9% on 2-point attempts. Connor Vanover has a lot to do with that, swatting 20 shots so far, but it is not all his doing.

Arkansas’ forwards collectively have done such a terrific job contesting and altering shots while remaining vertical that I decided to track opponents’ field goal attempts versus each Razorbacks player. Jalen Tate has also received a lot of praise for his on-ball defense and I wanted to get some numbers to apply to that claim.

With Vanover as the nearest defender, teams are 17 of 57 (30%) on 2-point attempts and 3 of 7 from distance, meaning opponents have missed 24 shots that were not blocked by the 7-3 forward. He has a defensive rating — an estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions — of 62.0, according to Sports Reference.

Justin Smith has somewhat quietly been a very effective deterrent and shot alterer. Opponents are just 7 of 27 (26%) on 2-point attempts against him. He has blocked five shots this season, too, including four in the last three games. Smith had five blocks over his final 21 games at Indiana.

Freshman forward Jaylin Williams has held opposing players to 5 of 21 on 2-point looks in his fairly limited action this season. I have liked his activity on the glass when he is on the floor, too. He's grabbing 26.2% of available defensive rebounds in his run.

Opponents are 1 of 8 on the interior against Ethan Henderson and 5 of 9 vs. Vance Jackson as well. Here is a look at the guards’ numbers:

• Jalen Tate — 7/29 FG, 4/11 3FG

• Desi Sills — 8/26 FG, 3/11 3FG

• JD Notae — 12/31 FG, 4/15 3FG

• Moses Moody — 13/38 FG, 4/19 3FG

• KK Robinson — 5/12 FG, 4/7 3FG

• Davonte Davis — 1/7 FG, 1/4 3FG

Tate limiting opposing players to 3 of 18 on 2-point looks speaks to his defensive prowess early on. He does a very solid job making opponents shoot over a long, extended arm. Notae's defensive numbers inside the arc can stand some improvement and Sills' are sufficient. He has a block in back-to-back games after tallying only five all of last season. And Moody's figures, I think, are a sign he has been matched up with shooting guards who are not at all shy about getting shots up. His length has bothered a number of 3-point attempts.

Get familiar with Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas

Oral Roberts has challenged itself with four quality opponents in the first month of this season, traveling to Missouri to open the season, Wichita State on Dec. 2, Oklahoma State on Dec. 8 and Oklahoma on Wednesday.

The Golden Eagles are 0-4 in those games, but they have hung tough in three of them, losing to the Shockers, Cowboys and Sooners by 5, 5 and 14 points, respectively. ORU guard Max Abmas is unquestionably a big reason why the program has had a shot in those games.

The 6-1 sophomore guard has been stellar, averaging 21.2 points on 50.6% shooting and 4.8 assists per game. He is also shooting 48% from 3-point range. Against Wichita State, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, he knocked down 17 of 30 looks from distance and poured in 28, 36 and 20 points.

The most points the Razorbacks have allowed to a single player this season is 17 to UT-Arlington guard Shahada Wells. Abmas will challenge that mark.

"(Abmas) at the point guard position can really, really shoot the basketball. He’s a great scorer," Musselman said. "We’re going to have to defend the 3-ball, for sure, especially with No. 3."

According to KenPom, Abmas has taken 29% of ORU’s shots when on the floor and has a usage rate north of 28%. He can score at a high clip and has been ultra-efficient from the perimeter so far, but Arkansas will also need to limit his playmaking.

Abmas recorded 17 assists against Wichita State and Oklahoma State, and he holds an assist rate of 42.2%, according to KenPom, which ranks 21st nationally.

Kevin Obanor, the Golden Eagles’ 6-8 forward, is another name to know entering Sunday. He has scored in double figures in each game this season, recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double vs. the Cowboys and scored 27 points vs. Wichita State.

Obanor, who also hit 7 of 14 3-point attempts vs. OSU and Wichita State, has been terrific on the defensive glass, grabbing 22.4% of available rebounds. He leads ORU in rebounding at 8.8 per game.