FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas opened Wednesday’s exhibition against Memphis with a fast first half and took a 48-34 lead into the break inside Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks got an immediate lift from their most highly touted recruit, who bounced back from a rough night against Gonzaga. Against Gonzaga, Smith scored just one point on 0-9 shooting, though he made an impact defensively.
This time, the offense showed up early. Smith had four points on 2-3 shooting, highlighted by a lob dunk from Cooper Bowser, and he continued to make life difficult for Memphis with two blocks and a steal.
Memphis’ offense, meanwhile, leaned heavily on Nemanja Popovic to stay within striking distance. The 24-year-old forward scored 12 points in the opening half, hitting 4-5 from the floor and all four of his free throws. He added five rebounds and, at times, Arkansas’ bigs had trouble handling him.
The Tigers did not get much help beyond that. Luke Almodovar was the only other Memphis player to reach double figures, finishing the half with 10 points on 3-5 shooting and 3-3 at the line. No other Tiger had more than five points before halftime.
Arkansas also got a strong showing from Maper Maker, who looked especially sharp after John Calipari praised his play against Gonzaga and said on Sept. 30 that the big man from Perth, Australia, was better than he expected. Maker delivered what was easily his best half in a Razorback uniform, scoring seven points in nine minutes on 3-4 shooting. He also knocked down a catch-and-shoot 3, grabbed two rebounds and was active on the defensive end.
Among Arkansas’ other bigs, Miikka Muurinen played well early and finished the half with five points. Ilia Frolov, who did not play against Gonzaga, also got into the game. Caleb Ourigou did not record a stat in four minutes, while Cooper Bowser posted four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.
In Other News...
Arkansas Still Has One Offensive Problem It Can't Shake
Arkansas has found a little rhythm coming out of halftime, scoring touchdowns on the opening drive of the second half in consecutive games. The opening possession of games, though, has been a different story entirely, and that has remained one of the more frustrating blind spots for an offense trying to build momentum early instead of chasing it.
Offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey has pointed to the basics as the fix, stressing the need to cut down on penalties, negative plays and sacks that can derail a drive before it gets started. There was also a notable development up front against Vanderbilt, where backup center Kash Courtney filled in for injured captain Caden Kitler and earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors, even as Kitler stayed listed as the starter on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Gets A Real Opening Against Missouri In A Brutal SEC Test
Missouri comes into its matchup with Arkansas trying to clean up the kind of red-zone problems that can turn a tough SEC stretch into a real grind. Eli Drinkwitz singled out that inefficiency as one of the biggest issues for his team lately, while Ryan Silverfield spent part of the buildup talking through Arkansas injuries and also giving Missouris defense its due.
On the personnel front, the Tigers at least got a useful sign from Ahmad Hardy, who has returned to full practice after dealing with an injury. There still isnt a timetable for when he might be back in a game, which leaves one more layer of uncertainty for Missouri as it tries to steady itself before facing an Arkansas team looking for any opening it can find. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Gets One More Frontcourt Test As Memphis Waits On Key Big Man
Arkansas gets one more chance to sharpen its frontcourt before the games start counting, and the exhibition against Memphis should offer a useful look at how the Razorbacks handle size, length and physical play in the paint. For a team still sorting out its early identity, these tune-up games matter because they expose problems that can be hidden in practice, especially on the glass and around the rim.
Memphis brings its own uncertainty into the matchup, with forward Nemanja Popovic at the center of an NCAA eligibility dispute that could affect his availability when the regular season arrives. He just turned in a strong showing in an exhibition, which only adds to the intrigue for Arkansas as it tries to evaluate its interior defense against a frontcourt that may look different from one week to the next. [Read more 🡒]