FAYETTEVILLE - Miikka Muurinen’s first college game had a little bit of everything.
The 7-foot freshman from Jarvenpaa, Finland opened No. 12 Arkansas’ 76-72 exhibition win over No.
15 Gonzaga on Saturday by scoring the first two field goals of the game for the Razorbacks. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks, showing the kind of upside that has Arkansas excited about what he can become.
But the debut came with the other side of the freshman coin, too. Muurinen picked up a technical foul, shot just 1-3 from the free-throw line and committed four turnovers.
One of those giveaways came on a first-half inbounds play that should have ended with him calling timeout. It was the kind of mistake that reminded everyone this was his first college basketball game.
The technical came after Muurinen was tripped by Gonzaga’s Massamba Diop. After a short exchange, Diop shoved Muurinen, and Muurinen likely wouldn’t have been called for anything himself if he hadn’t started clapping.
The double technical didn’t end up costing Arkansas, but it was a clear example of Muurinen’s youth and inexperience surfacing in a tight game.
Even with the rough edges, the talent was obvious. Muurinen flashed the kind of versatility Arkansas can use, especially on offense. He played with real aggression, used his athleticism to attack, and even handled the ball like a guard at times, including bringing it up the floor in the first half.
His first basket as a Razorback came after he caught the ball, took two dribbles and rose for a mid-range jumper off a shot fake. Not long after, he knocked down his first three.
The production faded as the game moved along. Muurinen went 4-11 from the field and 1-4 from behind the arc, but the ceiling was still easy to see. He has the potential to be one of Arkansas’ leading scorers this season.
“I thought he was really good,” Arkansas head coach John Calipari said. “Thought he was really good.
Rebounded, fought inside, can stretch the court, can go get you a basket. Good passer.”
“He actually got us going this game,” junior guard Billy Richmond said. “The first two minutes started off with five [points], started off hot.”
“Miika, he could do everything,” freshman guard Davion Thompson said. “He's seven foot, [can] shoot, rebounds.
I mean, he's vocal. Just having him and knowing he's able to play with us, it was great for us.
He helps us in every way and impacts winning.
Gonzaga head coach Mark Few also had praise for Muurinen, while pointing to the technical foul as something he’ll need to clean up.
“Obviously, Miikka's a talent,” Few said. “I really think it'll help if he'll kind of keep his head in the game, not lose his mind and get caught up in all that other stuff.”
For Arkansas, the biggest takeaway is straightforward: Muurinen brings edge, athleticism and enough skill to make a real impact. He also brings some volatility with it. On Saturday, both versions showed up.
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