FAYETTEVILLE — Au’Diese Toney was arguably the most intriguing early season storyline for Arkansas basketball as it matched its best start under Eric Musselman at 9-0.
In November, Toney, a transfer from Pittsburgh, looked as good as advertised for the Razorbacks, averaging 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He was efficient offensively, finished 64.1% of his 6.5 two-point field goal attempts per game and produced on a consistent basis despite not being a focal point of Arkansas’ half-court sets.
He put his best foot forward in the Razorbacks’ 2-0 run in Kansas City, earning most valuable player honors at the Hall of Fame Classic after posting 16 points and 9 rebounds per game against Kansas State and Cincinnati. Bearcats coach Wes Miller said Toney was “like a nightmare” in the Razorbacks’ 73-67 win that earned them the event title.
His offensive success continued into December in victories over Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Little Rock. He put up 16 and 18 points, respectively, and made 13 of 15 shots.
Entering the UNC-Charlotte game on Dec. 7, Toney had scored at least 12 points in seven of eight games. In Arkansas’ last three games, he has not reached double figures and has seen a dip in his usage on the offensive end.
“His effectiveness is on the offensive glass and cutting, and I think that some people have taken away his cutting,” Musselman said Monday.
It is a sound strategy for opponents. In the Razorbacks’ first eight games, Toney scored 12 times on 14 shots following a cut to the rim, and he added three more buckets on dropoff-type passes.
Six other made field goals came after an offensive rebound.
In that stretch, with the exception of the Northern Iowa game, his usage rate ranged from 16-22%, according to KenPom data.
In Arkansas’ last three times out, Toney has attempted 11 total shots. Against Charlotte, when he finished with a single field goal attempt, and Oklahoma, his usage fell to 10% in each game. In the loss to Hofstra in North Little Rock, it was 13%.
Toney did not score in the halfcourt as a result of a cut in those games and he had just one bucket after corralling a teammate’s miss. The bulk of his scoring of late has stemmed from run-out opportunities.
“He's being blocked out a lot harder,” Musselman added. “It really wasn't plays being run for him when his usage was a little bit higher. You know, he's got to get back to being a little more active.”
An increase in Toney field goal attempts may be beneficial for Arkansas moving forward. He currently ranks ninth nationally, according to KenPom, with a true shooting percentage — an approximation of what two-point percentage a player would need to have to score the points he produces on all of his shots — of 71.7%.
Musselman, too, said Monday that Toney has lacked a bit of the defensive intensity that was present as he flourished early on.
Through nine games, opponents shot 38.9% with Toney as the nearest Arkansas defender. He now has the second-highest defensive rating (100.3) among players in the Razorbacks’ regular rotation, per Sports Reference.
Toney getting back in a groove on both ends is a key to the Razorbacks righting the ship as Southeastern Conference play approaches.
“I thought last game Au’Diese lacked the same defensive energy and going to the glass as he did, especially in Kansas City,” Musselman said. “Defensively, we need a little more energy than especially what we saw against Hofstra.”