Jordan Smith Jr. didn’t leave much doubt about the lesson he took from Arkansas’ first exhibition.
After going 0-for-9 from the floor against Gonzaga, Smith admitted he had been too passive. On Wednesday against Memphis, he flipped the script in a big way, pouring in 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Thirteen of those came after halftime, when he attacked the rim with conviction and gave Arkansas a much-needed offensive spark.
“In order for us to be who we are, we got to start somewhere by being aggressive,” Smith said. “Me being a point guard, the first play of the game, I went to the rim, didn't make the layup, but it just showed the aggressiveness, and I feel like it set the tone for the rest of the game. The aggressiveness standpoint from last game, I had to do better this game, but carry it over, and it showed the results.”
That aggressiveness helped fuel the decisive burst. Smith scored nine points in the first four minutes of the second half, and Arkansas turned that surge into a 65-44 lead by the first media timeout of the half.
“Any performance, you just got to have the next play mentality,” Smith said. “So if I play good, got to forget about it.
If I play bad, got to forget about it, because the next game presents itself for a different challenge every time. So, this game I played well.
The last game I didn't play well. I got to put both games behind me.
We have our first real game coming up soon, so I got to put all my focus towards that.”
Arkansas had already shown against Gonzaga that it could beat a strong opponent even without Smith at his best. But on Wednesday, the offense looked far smoother with the Washington, D.C., native getting downhill and scoring with purpose.
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway saw the difference, too.
“Jordan was more seasoned tonight,” Hardaway said. “He wasn't this seasoned against Gonzaga.
He kind of rushed himself. He was more under control today.”
Even so, Smith doesn’t need a big night in the scoring column to make an impact. His defense and versatility are part of what make him valuable, and John Calipari made clear that one off shooting night shouldn’t define him.
“You have other guys that are trying to judge their game, and their emotions, and their spirit on if I'm making shots,” Calipari said. “What does that mean you'll be all year?
You'll be up. You're gonna be down.
You'll be up. You're gonna be down.
You'll be up.”
Smith was certainly up Wednesday, and Arkansas benefited from it.
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 🡒]