FAYETTEVILLE — An in-depth look at the Razorbacks and Mountaineers ahead of their Big 12/SEC Challenge matchup in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday:
Arkansas
After taking care of business at Ole Miss on Wednesday, the Razorbacks (15-5, 5-3 SEC) have set themselves up to play in what should be another electric Saturday environment at home. It is the second of three consecutive weekend home games for Arkansas, which went more than a month without one following its Dec. 4 win over Arkansas-Little Rock.
The Razorbacks are 3-0 all-time in the event at home, defeating Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and TCU.
Arkansas has leaned on physicality and defense during its five-game winning streak inside the SEC. In that stretch, the Razorbacks have allowed 0.76 points per possession, according to Hoop Lens analytics, and turned opponents over at a 24.1% clip.
Jaylin Williams, Trey Wade and Stanley Umude have contributed nicely on the defensive end throughout league play. Williams ranks in the top 10 in SEC-only games in block and steal percentage, per KenPom, and Umude is in the top 25 in both categories.
More from WholeHogSports: How to watch, listen to Arkansas-West Virginia
Opposing players are 14 of 49 shooting, including 0 of 12 beyond the arc, when Wade is the nearest Arkansas defender. Additionally, Williams’ and Umude’s matchups are 29 of 78 (37.2%) and 10 of 55 (18.2%) from the floor, respectively, in conference games.
Williams is averaging 15.0 points and 10.2 rebounds over the last five games.
JD Notae continues to spearhead the Razorbacks’ offense, averaging 20.6 points per game in conference play on 41.6% shooting. Over seven league games, Notae is 6 of 16 on off-the-dribble threes and 10 of 35 on catch-and-shoot attempts.
Au’Diese Toney, who has added 10-plus points in 3 of the last 4 games, has scored 8 times following cuts to the rim and 4 times after an offensive rebound since the Jan. 15 win at LSU.
The Razorbacks’ starting lineup of Notae-Toney-Umude-Wade-Williams has shot 47.6% from three-point range over 84 possessions the last four games, per Hoop Lens. Defensively, opponents have scored 0.73 PPP against the group and made 15.4% of their threes (78 poss.).
West Virginia
The Mountaineers (13-6, 2-5 Big 12) ride into Fayetteville losers of four straight games. But they are on no ordinary losing streak.
West Virginia’s last four losses have come against Kansas, Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Each team currently sits inside the top 27 in the KenPom rankings and three are in the top 15 of this week's Associated Press poll.
The lone team in the group that isn’t ranked is Oklahoma, and Arkansas knows all too well how effective the Sooners can be when engaged on both ends.
Saturday will be a homecoming for former Razorbacks forward Gabe Osabuohien, who played two seasons at Arkansas before being dismissed by Eric Musselman in August 2019. He is in his third season at West Virginia and has carved out a solid defensive role.
As you might expect, Osabuohien ranks in the top 25 nationally in steal percentage, according to KenPom. Last season, he finished No. 10 in the country and No. 1 in the Big 12 in that category.
And interestingly enough, he will enter the weekend fresh off a career-high 17-point game against Oklahoma on Wednesday. Osabuohien, who is No. 1 in conference games in defensive rebound rate, was 5 of 6 from the floor and 7 of 10 at the free throw line in the loss.
According to the Mountaineers’ official game notes, Osabuohien leads the team in deflections (131) and charges drawn (18).
West Virginia has four players averaging better than 8.5 points per game this season, led by guard Taz Sherman at 18.5. He is the engine offensively, shooting 42.1% from the field and 33.7% beyond the arc. Sherman also has a team-high 46 assists and is second with 28 steals.
Sean McNeil is second in scoring at 13.6 per game and the team’s most effective perimeter weapon. He has made 34 of 86 three-point attempts for the season, including 13 of 29 in Big 12 games.
During the team’s losing streak, he has two turnovers in 151 minutes played.
Jalen Bridges (8.8) and Malik Curry (8.6) round out the team’s top four scorers. Bridges, who leads the team in total rebounds, has started each game this season while Curry has been an essential reserve piece.
Curry scored a season-high 23 points at Kansas and is No. 2 in the conference in usage rate (26.8%), according to KenPom. Bridges is No. 7 in the Big 12 in offensive rebound rate (12.4%).
As a team, West Virginia ranks 32nd nationally in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, allowing 93.8 points per 100 possessions thanks to a strong turnover rate (24.2%). The Mountaineers, though, have struggled to finish possessions.
They have allowed opponents to grab 33.8% of their missed shots. That figure places them 339th nationally and is the worst mark for a Bob Huggins-coached team since the 2012-13 season.
Player to watch: Taz Sherman, West Virginia
“Really talented off-guard who can score the ball. Sherman can kind of score the ball in three areas. High-volume free-throw-attempt player. He can make threes and he can dribble drive.” — Eric Musselman
Key Razorback player trends
• JD Notae has made 8 of 11 top-of-the-key threes (4 of 4 off the dribble, 4 of 7 catch and shoot) in SEC games. On all other three-point attempts, he is 8 of 40.
• The Razorbacks are 13 of 28 (46.4%) from three-point range in conference play immediately following a Jaylin Williams pass.
• Dating back to the South Carolina game, Stanley Umude has seven steals, his most over a three-game stretch in his college career.
• Trey Wade has made 7 of 10 jump shots in the last three games.
• Arkansas made 7 of 14 catch-and-shoot threes at Ole Miss. It marked the first game in which the Razorbacks shot 50% or better on catch-and-shoot attempts since their victory over Gardner-Webb on Nov. 13 (13 of 23).
Game prediction
Arkansas 70, West Virginia 67