Billy Richmond III has become the steadying force Arkansas leans on when the game starts to wobble.
That was on full display Friday night inside Bud Walton Arena, where Richmond’s all-around night helped keep the Razorbacks from slipping against Central Arkansas. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, hit all three of his attempts from deep, and added nine rebounds and four assists in Arkansas’ third win of the season.
For a team John Calipari is still trying to mold into a group that knows how to win, Richmond’s blend of production and presence has stood out.
“He dove and drove, he rebounded, he [stuck] back,” Calipari said after the game. “I’m trying to get everybody to go at the rim like him rebounding, and most of them won’t go.”
Richmond did most of his damage early. Fifteen of his points came in the first half, and all three of his made 3-pointers came before halftime. He was quiet for much of the second half, scoring just two points through the first 17-plus minutes, before punctuating the night with a powerful dunk that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
“Just going out there, having the feel for the game, that’s what I try to do every game,” Richmond said.“ It’s my turn, and just come to me.
That’s about it. Just having confidence with everything that I do.”
The junior guard’s shooting has been one of the most noticeable developments in Arkansas’ early season. Richmond showed growth as a shooter last year, and now he looks like a dependable option from the perimeter alongside transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson. He was 0-for-4 from three in the Razorbacks’ first three games, but he had already shown touch in exhibition play and carried that over Friday.
Calipari said on Sept. 30 that Richmond was “shooting the ball better”, and that has held up.
“Just the small things, and just really all mental,” Richmond said when asked about his improved shooting. “Like I said, just go out there and being confident in everything that I do.
So, just being ready for the shot and just shooting the ball. That’s about it.
My teammates need me to do that.”
Before the season, Calipari said Richmond could wind up being UA’s best player. So far, that case has only gotten stronger. Arkansas’ eight freshmen have had their moments, and transfers Wilkinson and Cooper Bowser have contributed too, but Richmond has emerged as the Razorbacks’ clear leader on and off the floor.
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Billy Richmond Is Rolling As Arkansas Gets An Intriguing Boost
Billy Richmond has given Arkansas a much-needed lift at Bud Walton Arena, where the No. 19 Razorbacks led Central Arkansas 43-27 at halftime. Richmond put together an efficient opening half with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, a welcome sign for a team looking for more consistent scoring support as the season settles in.
Jordan Smith Jr. also made his presence felt with eight points on perfect shooting, while Miikka Muurinen chipped in four points and helped on the defensive end. For Arkansas, the broader takeaway goes beyond the halftime margin: the Razorbacks are getting useful production from multiple pieces, and Richmonds offensive rhythm is the kind of development that can change the feel of a game quickly. [Read more 🡒]