FAYETTEVILLE — Few scores came easy for Arkansas on Saturday against Mississippi State.
In their 70-64 loss inside Bud Walton Arena, the Razorbacks shot 43.8% overall and made just 21 field goals. It was their lowest total (19) since the 72-59 road loss to Auburn on Jan. 7.
The Bulldogs, top five in the country in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom data, made Arkansas grind for a quality look on many of its possessions, and often late into the shot clock.
According to StatBroadcast, the Razorbacks finished the game with 62 offensive possessions. Eighteen of them saw the shot clock wind to under 10 seconds, and Arkansas’ numbers in those instances were not ideal.
The Razorbacks were 3 of 14 from the floor, including 1 of 7 beyond the three-point line, and 0 of 2 at the free throw line. They turned the ball over three times, as well, highlighted by a shot clock violation with 3:12 remaining.
Beyond those possessions, Arkansas was 18 of 34 (52.9%) from the field.
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Mississippi State’s rugged defensive style contributed greatly to the Razorbacks’ struggles, and the game was ultimately played at the Bulldogs’ pace outside of an 11-0 Arkansas run in the second half. Tempo figures to be paramount again Wednesday when the Razorbacks travel to Texas A&M, which is 18-7 overall and 10-2 inside the conference.
The Aggies are fourth in SEC-only defensive efficiency, according to KenPom data, and they average the ninth-most possessions per game (66.0). Mississippi State is third and 10th in the league, respectively, in those metrics, so there are similarities in the teams.
“Pace of play every night is important for both teams that are playing,” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said Monday. “Sometimes when we don’t run, we don’t turn the ball over as much, as well. Hopefully going on the road we’ll play better than we did the other night against Mississippi State.”
It was the Razorbacks who dictated tempo in the first meeting with Texas A&M on Jan. 31. The Aggies had 72 offensive possessions to Arkansas’ 71, and the Razorbacks won 81-70 in Bud Walton Arena behind 20 fast-break points.
“We played pretty well against Texas A&M in the home game at our place,” Musselman added. “(The Aggies are) really well coached. They understand their roles. They do a good job every night of getting people to eat shot clock up.
“They’re two different teams, A&M and Mississippi State. Both of them are very good basketball teams. Both of them have grind-it-out type styles. But I thought we did a pretty good job in Game 1 against A&M. They’ll make some adjustments. We’ll certainly try to make some adjustments.”
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KenPom data shows the Aggies, on average, have the longest defensive possessions in SEC play at 18.5 seconds. Comparatively, the Razorbacks defend for an average of 17.2 seconds.
After Arkansas won at Kentucky last week, Musselman credited his team’s offensive pace. In the 88-73 win in Rupp Arena, the Razorbacks were decisive and had great shot selection, and they tied the program record for field goal percentage in an SEC game at 62.7%.
The return of freshman guard Nick Smith could assist Arkansas in creating offense earlier in possessions or more effective offense later in the shot clock. The Razorbacks scored 38 points in his 17:15 on the floor against Mississippi State and 26 in his 22:45 on the bench.
“This time of year, you’re not used to adding a player,” Musselman said Sunday on his TV show. “I thought he did a good job (against the Bulldogs). Obviously, (he has had) a lot of time off.
“How we integrate him is a balancing act, for sure.”