FAYETTEVILLE — Fittingly, Arkansas forward Justin Smith wore a hoodie with “UnderDog” written across the chest to his media availability Tuesday afternoon.
Arguably the most critical piece to the success of a Razorbacks team that boasts its highest ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 since before he was born, Smith did not appear on the two eight-player All-SEC teams selected by the league’s coaches. He was nowhere to be found on the AP’s two five-player teams either.
Arkansas second-year coach Eric Musselman had a difficult time understanding the lack of acknowledgement for Smith, who averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds over 22 games.
“Justin Smith has been as important to our team as any player is to any team,” Musselman said Tuesday. “I think Justin is so mature. Just knowing him as well as I do, I don't think it affects him at all, to be honest.
“Thankfully the USA Today recognized him. Those guys must really study with the USA Today to recognize him.”
Musselman was correct. Smith not seeing his name on the All-SEC teams didn’t necessarily faze him, but, in a moment of honesty, he admitted it was a bit of a surprise.
He played perhaps the best basketball of his college career over the final month-plus of the regular season — after returning from ankle surgery. Over the team’s last nine games, Smith led the Razorbacks in rebounding six times and in scoring three times.
In that span, he put together a five-game stretch against Missouri, Florida, Alabama, LSU and South Carolina in which he averaged 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and recorded back-to-back double-doubles for the first time as a college player.
He shot 77.4% in the second halves of those games.
“I’m not going to let it bother me,” Smith said. “I’m just glad that (Moses Moody) was recognized accordingly, and so was JD (Notae). I mean, at the end of the day, we still have a conference tournament to play and some of those guys are going to have to see me and see us.
“It is what is. It’s just a list. It doesn’t really mean anything, so I wasn’t too worried about it.”
Moody was named SEC freshman of the year by the league’s coaches and SEC newcomer of the year by the AP on Tuesday. He said Smith’s impact goes without saying given the team’s record when he is in the lineup.
Arkansas is 20-2 in games Smith has played.
“He's a prime contributor on this team,” Moody added. “What he gives us each and every day (is invaluable). You guys can see it. So, that is what it is.”
Smith finished the regular season fifth in SEC games with an offensive rating of 119.4, according to KenPom data. His net rating in league play was 20.8, per Sports Reference, the highest mark on the team.
And entering postseason play, Smith is on pace to set career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game.
“I don't know what all goes into the decision-making process behind closed doors,” Moody said, “but I feel like he definitely could have been there and should have been there."