The Razorbacks are entering a crucial part of their schedule, starting with the Arkansas vs LSU game Tuesday night.
Still winless in SEC play with three losses to top-25 foes, Arkansas hits the road for this week for a pair of winnable games. In fact, it is actually a slight favorite in its matchup with the Tigers, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
Both teams have identical 11-5 records that include 0-3 marks in conference play. On paper, it’s a relatively even match, with KenPom actually giving LSU a 51% chance to win and a projected score of 73-72. The difference, perhaps, is the fact that the game is in Baton Rouge, in front of a pro-Tigers crowd at the Pete Maravich Center.
However, getting away from Bud Walton Arena — where they lost to Ole Miss and Florida last week — might be just what the doctor ordered, especially if you buy the theory Pig Trail Nation’s Mike Irwin laid out in a recent episode of Ask Mike.
“I don’t think these guys feel comfortable in front of this crowd,” Irwin said, speaking about their play in Fayetteville. “It’s like you walked into a room full of strangers — and that’s what they are. You don’t know them and they don’t know you.
“I think these guys have kind of been tip-toeing around like, ‘Oh, we’re not playing well. They probably don’t like us.’ There’s been very little of that gesturing toward the crowd and a player having personality.”
The gesturing Irwin mentions was actually brought up by John Calipari after the Florida loss. He specifically brought up the emotion showed following D.J. Wagner’s dunk that cut the deficit to 3 in the second half — but said it was the only time any emotion was on display.
Over the years, the Razorbacks have had several players who fed off — or fed into — the great atmosphere that is Bud Walton Arena when it’s hopping.
Oliver Miller was an example brought up by Irwin, as he really played into the crowd. A more recent example might be Devo Davis.
“This team doesn’t really have anybody like that,” Irwin said. “They need to start doing that.”
While it may take some time for the new-look Arkansas basketball team to adjust to playing in front of a packed home crowd, it won’t have to worry about that Tuesday night.
The Razorbacks will be the villains and can just feed off the vitriol of a road crowd instead of trying to create their own as the home team.
That didn’t help in Knoxville, but that was the No. 1 team in the country. Perhaps it’s enough to make a difference against one of the lesser teams in the SEC, like LSU.
Follow along below for updates, stats and highlights from the showdown of 0-3 teams…
(READ NEXT: Check out our in-depth preview of the Arkansas vs LSU game)
LIVE UPDATES — Arkansas vs LSU
Pregame Tidbits
No Arkansas basketball players were listed on the initial SEC availability report. However, two LSU players are: Jalen Reed (out) and Vyctorius Miller (doubtful). Reed has been out since suffering a season-ending knee injury in early December, but Miller is a notable addition. He’s struggled in SEC play, scoring only 6 total points in three games, but had averaged 13.9 points over the Tigers’ final 11 non-conference games.
(UPDATE: Miller is officially out for Tuesday’s game.)
14:59, 1H – Arkansas 4, LSU 2
It has been ugly early on. The Hogs held the Tigers scoreless for the first 4:23, but lead by only two. The two teams are a combined 3 of 16 with four turnovers at the first media timeout.
11:27, 1H – Arkansas 13, LSU 11
LSU started the game just 1 of 13, but trails by just two. It has grabbed five offensive rebounds so far. The big play for the Tigers was a block of Zvonimir Ivisic down low that led to a transition 3. It was 11-4 Hogs at one point.
7:57, 1H – Arkansas 23, LSU 16
The Tigers battled all the way back to tie it up, but the Hogs have answered with a 7-0 run. After a rough game on Saturday, Johnell Davis has given Arkansas some really good minutes early on. Not only does he have 5 points, but the FAU transfer has also made a great pass and shown great effort on defense. Seven different Hogs have scored already.
4:47, 1H – Arkansas 28, LSU 23
It looks like the Hogs were starting to pull away with a 12-0 run, but LSU has answered with seven straight. Davis has continued to play really well and suddenly has 10 points. Aidoo already has 8 rebounds for Arkansas, while Thiero has 4 – but all other Hogs have combined for 2. It’s also worth noting that Aidoo has three turnovers. Calipari called a timeout after LSU hit a transition 3 to make it a five-point game.
HALF — Arkansas 36, LSU 24
Despite leading by as many as 12, Arkansas takes just a two-point lead into the break. It’ll be the Hogs’ first second-half lead of SEC play. LSU knocked down a 3 just before the buzzer to make it a one-possession game. Davis ends the half with 10 points, while Aidoo has 8 points and 8 rebounds (plus 3 turnovers and 2 blocks). Speaking of blocks, the Tigers have seven of them.
HALFTIME STATS
15:34, 2H – Arkansas 44, LSU 43
It took LSU less than a minute into the second half to take its first lead of the game. However, it’s been back and forth since then. The Hogs are just 2 of 9 from the floor since the break, but has made a couple of transition 3s to keep the lead.
10:08, 2H – Arkansas 52, LSU 49
The Hogs stretched their lead to 8, but it has shrunk back down to 3. A couple of turnovers have hurt Arkansas the last few minutes. Plus, Arkansas is still struggling offensively this half, shooting just 5 of 18 (27.8%) compared to the Tigers’ 6 of 13 (46.2%). LSU will also be shooting free throws when play resumes.
7:45, 2H – LSU 58, Arkansas 54
It ended up being a 14-0 run by LSU. A rough stretch by Trevon Brazile played a part in the last seven of those points, as he had a bad turnover that led to a fastbreak dunk and then he committed a Flagrant 1 that led to a pair of free throws before a deep 3.
5:57, 2H – LSU 64, Arkansas 55
Now it’s Davis’ turn for a terrible stretch. In a four-point game, he grabbed a rebound to give Arkansas a chance to make it a one-possession game, but he dribbled it off his foot out of bounds. LSU turned the turnover into two points via free throws. On the Hogs’ next possession, Davis turned it over again and LSU got a 3 out of it. That prompted a timeout by Calipari.
3:12, 2H – LSU 70, Arkansas 65
Arkansas is showing some fight, largely on the back of Fland. The freshman has made a pair of 3s sandwiched around a jumper for eight straight points for the Hogs, but the Tigers have scored a couple of times mixed in there. LSU called a timeout after the second of its buckets.
FINAL — LSU 78, Arkansas 74
The Hogs gave them a chance late in the game, but struggled with clock management and couldn’t get closer than four.
FINAL STATS
Starting Lineups
| LSU Basketball | Arkansas Basketball |
|---|---|
| #3 – Curtis Givens III – G | #2 – Boogie Fland – G |
| #5 – Cam Carter – G | #21 – D.J. Wagner – G |
| #4 – Dji Bailey – G | #11 – Karter Knox – F |
| #11 – Corey Chest – F | #3 – Adou Thiero – F |
| #10 – Daimion Collins – F | #9 – Jonas Aidoo – F |
How to Watch Arkansas vs LSU
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 14
Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, La.)
Tipoff Time/TV: 8 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
ESPN BPI: LSU is favored to win by 2.2 points.
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Last year was a disaster, but could any of the players from Eric Musselman’s final season have helped this year’s team? We rank them:
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Check out everything Mike Irwin said about this year’s basketball team and the home environment beginning at 17:10 here:
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