FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas' men's basketball team on Wednesday held its third of 10 practices allowed by the NCAA ahead of a foreign tour.
The Razorbacks are scheduled to visit Italy and Spain from Aug. 6-16 and play four exhibition games. Here are some notes and takeaways after observing one hour of practice:
• Nick Smith effortlessly makes things happen
There is a reason Nick Smith is a projected top-three pick in next year’s NBA Draft. He has long been one of — if not — the best players on the floor every time he takes the court. The freshman stood out during the Razorbacks’ practice in a handful of ways.
Smith’s jumper, from start to finish, is smooth as silk, and his consistency beyond the arc has improved throughout the summer. In a bit of 5-on-5 work, he led his group to a 9-6 victory after it jumped ahead 9-0.
What I was most impressed with, aside from his vocal leadership, was the manner in which he pushed the ball in transition and sought easy scores. The highlight of the day was a half-court lob from Smith to Jordan Walsh.
Smith also hit Derrian Ford on the run moments after receiving an outlet pass, and Ford finished an uncontested layup on the other end. The freshman also made some high-level skip passes and cross-court passes to teammates for open threes.
PHOTOS: Arkansas goes through open practice before European tour
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman was asked if he has seen any similarities in Smith and Moses Moody, another 5-star recruit the Razorbacks landed and the program’s first one-and-done player, and Musselman answered affirmatively. So far, Smith has been punctual, is leading teammates and understands well the work necessary to thrive at the college level.
Smith also spoke to reporters in the Bud Walton Arena interview room for the first time Wednesday. It’s no surprise he is as confident as they come and can speak the game in great detail.
• The Mitchell twins are making positive strides
Smith, freshman guard Anthony Black and Missouri forward transfer Trevon Brazile were asked who on the roster does the most talking on the floor, either to those on his team in scrimmage settings or otherwise. Makhi and Makhel Mitchell’s names were brought up.
Brazile is a big fan of the energy the pair bring. They were both active Wednesday and impressed in their fluidity at their size.
Musselman said both players have grown in how they have handled the pace, intensity and demands of practice.
“I think from a growth standpoint on how we practice, how we want our culture to be, they’ve probably grown the most in a short amount of time,” Musselman said. “But it’s demanding to play here. Both those guys, like I said, Makhel is really physical and he won’t back down from anybody.
“Makhi is really physical, too. He maybe feels a little bit more comfortable on the perimeter. Khel might feel a little bit more comfortable around the rim. They’re both good shot blockers. They both run the floor really hard. They’re intense guys, too.”
From the way they ran the floor, rebounded on both ends, stood their ground defending post ups and altered and blocked shots, their actions were those of players who can impact winning.
It was intriguing to hear Musselman speak highly of them because they were not discussed much when we got our first summer update in mid-June.
• Team shooting and speed as a whole
Shortly after media members were let inside the practice gym, Arkansas went through a shooting drill in which two players shot threes and one ran rim-to-rim. The Razorbacks finished in the 130s points-wise the first two times through the three-minute session.
On the third, they hit 168 and made perimeter jumpers at a high clip.
Musselman hopes to see more of that efficiency from this group. He said Wednesday this team has to be better beyond the arc than in 2021-22, when Arkansas finished 316th nationally in three-point percentage. Smith agreed.
“For me, one thing I tried to preach and something Muss tries to preach all the time with us is just getting in the gym and getting extra shots,” Smith said. “After practice, we have 10-minute shooting. We don't have to do that; we can just go home. But we know that shooting is going to be a big part of what we're trying to do, especially in our offense.
“As you can see, we play open and free, so knowing that we have to be able to shoot the ball is going to be be big when it comes down to March.”
The shooting drill was an interesting watch from a front-court rim-runner standpoint. Getting to see the Mitchells, Graham, Brazile and others showcase their versatility as trail men was eye opening at times. They all cover a lot of ground in a hurry.
Smith, Black and Walsh have to love that. They want to push the pace, and they have a set of bigs who will run, too.
• Big emphasis on open offense
In late June, Musselman told WholeHogSports about the ways in which former South Dakota coach and new Arkansas director of scouting Todd Lee has put his fingerprints on the program in a few months. One of them was regarding the Razorbacks’ open offense, which is on display when an initial play call in a possession breaks down.
Lee has formed Musselman’s thoughts in those situations into rules then backed up the work with video. Arkansas’ fourth-year coach stressed the importance of functional open offense over and over again Wednesday.
Musselman urged players to move the ball to multiple sides of the floor, for 15 to 17 feet of spacing and a 1-on-1 breakdown of a defender when in an advantageous matchup.
According to CBB Analytics, the Razorbacks last season averaged 0.93 PPP over 340 possessions that lasted 24-30 seconds. That figure placed them in the 19th percentile nationally.
• Ricky Council’s bounce is unbelievable in person
The Wichita State transfer’s shows of athleticism and dunks since arriving on campus have wowed many on social media. Until you see him take flight live, videos don’t do Council justice.
I was fascinated watching Council in the shooting drill when he was the rim runner. Because Arkansas was going for the highest point total possible in three minutes, Council toned the in-air flair way down to maximize time. It was obvious.
Then in 5-on-5 action came his biggest moment of the day. Catching a pass in the left corner in transition, Council attacked a close out, loaded up from the short corner and put down a huge dunk.
Once he was back on the floor, the rim was bent at a downward angle and had to be reset.
“Ricky is unbelievable. Ricky is crazy,” Smith said. “I haven't seen anything like that before. I've literally seen him walk under the basket and do a between-the-legs (dunk) literally under the basket, not even trying.
"I thought I was athletic until I saw Ricky."
• Enjoyed watching the Council/Walsh matchups
One of the team’s top freshmen and the most explosive athlete among the transfer additions went head-to-head frequently during Wednesday’s workout.
For Walsh, who has been described by Musselman as a violent defender, I found it to be a great test for him to consistently check a multi-year college player and athlete of Council’s caliber.
On the flip side, Council benefits in the long run from facing Walsh, who is long and a multi-faceted offensive piece.
Both players were intense on both ends and had a number of high-motor moments that stood out.