Arkansas walked out of Saturday’s exhibition with a 76-72 win over Gonzaga, but the box score pointed straight at the one issue John Calipari has to clean up fast: the Razorbacks are not finishing at the rim nearly well enough.
For a roster packed with veterans, athleticism, length and highly rated freshmen, the numbers were hard to ignore. Arkansas shot just 36.9% from the field and went only 5-of-16 on layups and dunks, a rough return for a team that figures to lean heavily on dribble penetration all season.
The outside shot helped keep the offense afloat. Arkansas hit 11 of 24 from 3-point range, good for 45.8%, but that kind of perimeter efficiency is not something any team can count on every night. Against Gonzaga, the Bulldogs’ size gave the Razorbacks problems close to the basket and forced more of the offense to come from outside.
Some of that could be chalked up to early-season rust. This was Arkansas’ first live action against real competition with so many new pieces trying to click at once. Still, the concern is real because it echoes what happened to last season’s Sweet 16 team, which was overwhelmed by elite frontcourts from Houston, Duke, Florida and Arizona.
The bright spot came from Cooper Bowser, who may have given Arkansas the best answer to its interior issues. The 6-foot-11 center finished with nine points, 10 rebounds and a team-best plus-12 in 20 minutes, while going 4-of-6 from the field.
Bowser’s production came with some variety too. Three of his makes were dunks, and he also showed touch on a post-up against Massamba Diop, using his body to get to the rim before finishing with a hook shot.
There is still room for teams to adjust to what Bowser does best, but Arkansas clearly has a more dependable option near the basket than it did at points last season. That mattered against Gonzaga, and it could matter even more once the games count.
His value may not stop with direct post touches, either. If Arkansas uses him more in high pick-and-roll action and drags him toward the rim instead of relying so much on guards to go downhill into shot blockers, Bowser could create cleaner lanes for the perimeter players around him.
Freshman forward Miikka Muurinen also flashed the kind of game that can make Arkansas harder to guard. In his first exhibition, he delivered a strong two-way showing with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 25 minutes, while also making multiple deflections and showing a strong defensive presence.
Muurinen’s appeal is tied to his versatility. At 7 feet, he can stretch the floor, which forces opposing big men to make a choice: step out and defend him, or stay home and risk opening up the lane. He knocked down shots from deep and also showed he could score from 12-15 feet, giving the Razorbacks another way to pull defenders away from the paint.
That kind of spacing could open things up for Jordan Smith Jr., Abdou Toure, Jeremiah Wilkinson and JJ Andrews to attack downhill and finish at the rim. It also gives Bowser and Muurinen a chance to form a dangerous inside tandem if Arkansas keeps finding ways to use both together.
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 🡒]