Arkansas Razorbacks at Kentucky Wildcats (2): Game Preview

by Glenn Logan on Jan 17, 2012 6:43 PM EST in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

Tonight, the Arkansas Razorbacks call the Hawgs to Rupp Arena to face the Kentucky Wildcats in what will be Kentucky's second home stand against this year's SEC slate. The game is scheduled for 9:00 PM tonight, so those of us with early rise times will be a bit sleep-deprived tomorrow.

Arkansas comes into Lexington for the first time under the command of former Missouri Tigers head coach and Nolan Richardson assistant, Mike Anderson. Anderson has a bit of an interesting history with Kentucky. Anderson's UAB Blazers sent then #2-ranked Kentucky home from the 2004 NCAA Tournament in the second round, one of the more embarrassing and frustrating early-outs for UK in history. Kentucky would avenge that loss two years later in the 2006 tournament, but then ranked only #25.

Calipari himself has had better luck against Anderson, beating him all but a couple of times back during their mutual term in Conference USA. When Anderson moved to Missouri in 2006 through 2011, he compiled a 108-58 (.659) record there and left behind what is now one of the top teams in the land to coach Arkansas, where he and his mentor were so successful back in the 1990's.

Arkansas has started off well this year, but their schedule is full of teams ranked 150+, and so far, Anderson's Hawgs have only two victories inside the top 100, both at home against SEC schools. Their most recent game against the LSU Tigers was a nine-point victory in Fayetteville.

Roster and statistics

						FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
Player	Status	Class	Pos	Gm	Min	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Marshawn Powell	Injured	Jr	F	2	21.5	7.5	10.5	71.4	0.0	1.0	0.0	4.5	6.5	69.2	2.5	3.5	6.0	1.5	4.0	1.0	1.5	3.0	19.5
B.J. Young	Major res.	Fr	G	17	23.6	5.6	10.8	52.2	1.6	3.8	43.8	2.1	2.9	71.4	0.8	2.2	3.0	2.3	2.2	1.1	0.2	1.8	15.0
Mardracus Wade	Starter	So	G	17	27.4	3.4	6.6	50.4	2.1	4.3	49.3	2.2	2.8	78.7	1.1	1.2	2.3	1.6	1.5	1.7	0.1	2.0	11.0
Rickey Scott	Starter	So	G	17	26.6	3.7	9.1	40.6	0.2	1.9	9.1	2.1	3.5	61.0	0.9	2.8	3.6	2.6	1.5	1.2	0.2	1.6	9.7
Julysses Nobles	Starter	Jr	G	17	27.8	2.8	7.5	36.7	1.4	4.1	34.3	2.5	3.3	76.8	0.7	3.3	4.0	3.5	1.9	1.2	0.4	2.5	9.5
Rashad Madden	Major res.	Fr	G	17	20.2	2.5	6.1	40.8	0.5	2.0	23.5	1.9	2.7	69.6	0.9	3.0	3.9	2.0	1.4	0.5	0.3	1.9	7.3
Marvell Waithe	Major res.	Sr	F	17	16.1	2.1	4.3	49.3	0.5	1.4	37.5	1.6	2.2	75.7	1.4	2.1	3.4	0.7	0.8	0.9	1.1	1.4	6.4
Devonta Abron	Starter	Fr	F	17	16.9	2.0	5.1	39.1	0.0	0.1	0.0	1.9	3.0	64.7	2.4	2.8	5.2	0.8	1.0	0.9	0.3	2.4	5.9
Michael Sanchez	Starter	Sr	F	17	18.5	1.6	3.8	41.5	0.1	0.1	100.0	1.4	2.4	60.0	1.1	2.4	3.5	0.4	1.3	0.8	0.8	2.4	4.6
Hunter Mickelson	Major res.	Fr	F	17	16.6	2.1	5.4	38.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.5	0.9	53.3	1.5	2.4	3.8	0.8	1.2	0.6	2.7	1.6	4.6
Matt Thompson	Reserve	Fr	G	3	2.0	0.3	1.0	33.3	0.3	0.7	50.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	0.7	0.3	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.3	1.0
Kikko Haydar	Reserve	So	G	11	5.2	0.3	1.2	23.1	0.0	0.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.4	0.6	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.0	0.9	0.5

Strengths and weaknesses

Kentucky Strengths

Size and length
Overall athleticism and skill
Shooting, particularly inside the arc
Team defense
Offensive rebounding
Shot blocking
Home court

Arkansas Strengths

Forcing turnovers -- Arkansas is 16th in the land
Taking care of the basketball
Offensive rebounding -- The Hawgs are not as good as UK, but still very competent
Steals % -- Arkansas is 22nd nationally
Team defense

Kentucky Weaknessess

Zone offense. UK has struggled to identify disguised zones. This should not be a problem against Arkansas
Ballhandling against pressure -- UK has been shaky at times.
Turnovers. The 'Cats are now 80th in turnover %
Battle and road tested.

Arkansas Weaknesses:

Youth. Arkansas is older than Kentucky, but not by much.
New coach, new system. This is only nominally a weakness, it may be more of a strength in Arkansas' case.
Defensive rebounding -- This is a real problem for the Hogs, and it is weakness on strength for UK.
Arkansas puts opponents on the line quite a bit.
Lack of tough opponents so far
Have not won a single game away from home this year

Analysis

Arkansas is very much a guard-oriented team this year thanks to the injury to star forward Marshawn Powell, who is down for the season with a knee injury. That gap in size has been filled somewhat by freshman Devonta Abron and senior reserve Marvell Waithe, along with the been-there-forever Michael Sanchez, who Kentucky unsuccessfully tried to recruit back during the Billy Gillispie years.

One thing Arkansas can really do is shoot the basketball, and even though they aren't a high-percentage shooting team, they do have several guys who can really light it up, notably sophomore Mandracus Wade and freshman BJ Young. Kentucky will have to really guard the perimeter tonight, as the Hogs are not afraid to fire from three.

But the real challenge for Kentucky will be dealing with Arkansas' full-court pressing and running style. Arkansas plays at a blistering 72.6 possessions per game, only a little slower than the North Carolina Tar Heels. Kentucky controlled the pace against the Heels, but they didn't press, and Arkansas really does, aggressively and continuously. They have 10 9 players who get over 16 minutes per game, so this will be a real test of Kentucky's conditioning. Arkansas' defense is how they get much of their offense.

The Wildcats cannot take this team lightly at all, even at home. The young Hawgs are very skilled, and if you'll remember, the Razorbacks had one of the top recruiting classes in the nation last year. These freshman, much like Kentucky, can really play. They aren't as advanced as the young Wildcats, but these Hogs are beginning to mirror the intensity and passion of their head coach. That's great for the future of Arkansas, but dangerous for Kentucky to be careless around. UK's recent tendency to turn the ball over is something they must not do against Arkansas, because the Razorbacks' press will force some, and they don't need any help from the 'Cats.

This game is likely to be nip and tuck for a good while. Arkansas has really improved from earlier in the year. Kentucky should be too much for them, but they had better give this Razorback team all their respect and attention.

Go, 'Cats!

0 recs | 20 comments

Comments

Now that Dundrecous Nelson is gone from Ole Miss

I vote “Mandracus Wade” as best name in the SEC.

Good preview Glenn, this will probably be another tougher-than-you-might-expect game. I will be interested to see how the team handles the pressure and how the offensive flow looks in the half court.

JLeverenz - January 17, 2012 reply

I nominate Julysses Nobles

KDH2011 - January 17, 2012 reply

also good

I prefer Wade, but the “Ulysses” and “Noble” combination is pretty good

JLeverenz - January 17, 2012 reply

Just a note on the Michigan-Michigan State game on right now:

I believe Dan Dakich is cutting his own hair. If he’s not, I’d like to represent him in the lawsuit.

Wheatgerm - January 17, 2012 reply

Haha!

Glenn Logan - January 17, 2012 reply

Dakich is from the Chicago "region" area where appearance does not seem to carry much weight

jdogblue - January 17, 2012 reply

Except for Wilbon and his expensive clothing.

GoLightning - January 17, 2012 reply

Another factor

Ark. has nine men getting 16+ minutes a game vs. UK who has Teague, Davis, and MKG averaging in the mid-30s. I hope fatigue does not become a factor for UK late in the game.

jdogblue - January 17, 2012 reply