FAYETTEVILLE — Ninth-ranked Arkansas is scheduled to play Oklahoma on Saturday at noon inside BOK Center in Tulsa. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
The Razorbacks are off to an 8-1 start while the Sooners are 7-2. Arkansas has won four consecutive games, including 65-58 over North Carolina-Greensboro on Tuesday, and Oklahoma beat Missouri-Kansas City 75-53 earlier this week.
Here are a few things to watch on Saturday:
Operating without Trevon Brazile
Arkansas was dealt a crushing blow Wednesday when it learned the Missouri transfer would miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.
Brazile was among the Razorbacks’ primary sources of offense in the first eight games of the season and showed strong defensive capabilities. He scored 20-plus points three times, is tied for the team lead in blocks and three-pointers made, and has a team-high 54 rebounds.
The talented sophomore was dynamic and his impact all-encompassing when engaged. His play early on and undeniable upside earned him a spot on multiple NBA mock drafts.
But now Arkansas must refocus and chart a course of action with Oklahoma on the horizon and SEC play drawing closer by the day. What is next for the Razorbacks without Brazile?
It is only a hunch, but Arkansas may rely more on Rhode Island transfer Makhi Mitchell, and additional minutes could come for his brother, Makhel Mitchell, who stands 6-10. ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said during the Maui Invitational that Makhel Mitchell is more of an old-school, traditional center who provides physicality.
Between the Mitchells, they can attempt to fill the void on the glass and from a shot-blocking standpoint. Veteran forward Kamani Johnson can provide toughness and rebound in bulk, as well.
Makhi Mitchell ranks seventh in the SEC in block rate, according to KenPom data, and 16th in steal percentage. Makhel Mitchell had a three-game stretch on Maui in which he blocked six shots, so the duo should be able to contribute so long as each player strays from foul trouble.
But what about the perimeter scoring Brazile provided the Razorbacks? He changed the complexion of Arkansas’ offense when locked in beyond the arc. I foresee his field goal attempts largely being distributed amongst Nick Smith, Anthony Black and Ricky Council — Arkansas’ top three scorers.
And there could be a few for freshman wing Jordan Walsh, too, should he seize the moments. Walsh is a capable three-point shooter, but he has largely been gun shy of late — 0 of 4 in the last four games. On Tuesday, he hesitated prior to taking and missing his first three, then he fumbled a pass in the right corner for a turnover.
Eric Musselman, prior to a recent game, told reporters that Arkansas needs Walsh to trust his jump shot and take open threes when opportunities arise. With Smith shooting 40% from deep in his two starts and Black hitting 5 of his last 9 beyond the arc, adding another weapon in Walsh to the equation would greatly benefit the Razorbacks.
In 197 minutes on the floor, Walsh has Arkansas’ second-best net rating (points scored per 100 possessions minus points allowed per 100 possessions when on the floor) on the team at 16.6, per CBB Analytics. Only Council’s figure (33.2) is higher.
Walsh, an eight-game starter, has the potential to be an outstanding defender, and he possesses great length and natural instincts on that end that will pay dividends for the Razorbacks when he puts it all together. According to HoopLens analytics, Arkansas has allowed 0.76 points per possession in his 391 defensive possessions this season — down from 0.89 PPP when he sits.
It might just be Walsh’s time to shine.
Arkansas’ ball-screen defense
Following the Razorbacks’ win Tuesday, Smith, unprompted, brought up his dissatisfaction with the way he defended the Spartans’ ball screens.
On Thursday, when asked about the team’s ball-screen defense of late, Black echoed a similar sentiment.
"We played some quick guards last game,” Black said. “They had some pretty talented, fast guards. It's always going to be tough when you play guards like that, but at the same time we haven't been keeping the ball in coverage well.”
Arkansas’ ability to fight through picks and be disruptive on the perimeter will be a big factor Saturday against Oklahoma, which gave the Razorbacks fits in that regard last season.
Forward Tanner Groves burned Arkansas in the pick-and-pop game and finished 3 of 5 from three-point range. Sooners forward Jalen Hill also knocked down a three in Oklahoma’s 88-66 win.
“We go over (the coverage plan) every day in practice, and we just get undisciplined a little bit during the game,” Black said. “We're going to try and focus on keeping that coverage from here on out.”
Musselman said the Sooners have a “really good” dribble-handoff game with Groves and several players, but especially guard Grant Sherfield. Jacob Groves, who stands 6-9, will pick-and-pop, as well, as a 37.9% three-point shooter on 29 attempts.
He added Tanner Groves (8 of 26 from deep) is “a little bit more of a roller.” The 6-10 big has finished 31 of 40 two-point attempts. But he will also pop to the perimeter at times and initiate a dribble-handoff on the second side of the floor.
“Coverages, we haven’t really gotten to our B coverage much,” Musselman said. “For most of the year, even the Creighton game, we’ve kind of stuck to our plan A scheme defensively. If we have to get to plan B then we’ll be able to work on that (Thursday) and work on that (Friday), as well.”
Oklahoma’s Grant Sherfield
Arkansas has faced a handful of ultra-talented guards who are wired to score.
The top names that come to mind are Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard and Baylor Scheierman, San Diego State’s Matt Bradley and San Jose State’s Omari Moore. Sherfield may be the best the Razorbacks will have faced yet.
A transfer from Nevada, he has been a dynamite offensive piece for the Sooners, averaging a team-high 17.1 points on 43.9% from the floor. But he is most dangerous beyond the arc.
Sherfield has knocked down 55.6% of his 45 three-point attempts. He will enter the weekend 11 of his last 14 from deep against UMKC and Villanova.
“I got to watch Sherfield the last couple years,” Musselman said Thursday. “He’s a really tough cover. He’s a really, really good offensive player.”
During Oklahoma’s 3-1 stretch vs. Nebraska, Seton Hall, Ole Miss and Villanova, he hit 13 of 22 (59.1%) long-range looks.
At 6-2 and 201 pounds, he is a big-bodied guard. Arkansas, obviously, will do its best to limit his effectiveness with length and athleticism, and a well-thought-out game plan.
The Razorbacks, under Musselman, have taken great pride in slowing opposing teams’ stars. They have been a bit hit-and-miss so far this season.
Musselman told the Razorback Sports Network on Tuesday that Sherfield has a solid pull-up game and is “kind of the catalyst” for the Sooners. Additionally, he has turned in five games with at least four assists.
“We’re just going to try and take away his three and just play him like everybody else,” Black said Thursday.
Note: The note regarding an NBA three-point line being on the playing floor at BOK Center has been removed. Unlike last season, an NBA three-point line will not be on the court for Saturday’s game.