Date: Wednesday, January 8
Time: 8:00pm CDT
TV/Streaming: ESPNU
All-Time Series: Arkansas leads 36-31
Most Recent Matchup: February 2019, Arkansas won 90-89.
The Tigers
2019-20 Record: 9-4 (1-0)
Head Coach: Will Wade (3rd season, 55-26)
Will Wade returned some talent this season, but had to replace Tremont Waters and Naz Reid. Waters was the heart and soul of the 2019 SEC Regular Season Champs. That role has been passed onto experienced senior Skylar Mays who is leading the Tigers in scoring so far this year.
These LSU Tigers may have a bewildering blowout home loss to a good East Tennessee State, but they are very, very talented. Do not let one game fool you. This is good group. Four top 100 recruits along with Mays highlight this Tigers attack. Five different LSU player average double figures. This team can score!
The Razorbacks
2019-20 Record: 12-1 (1-0)
Head Coach: Eric Musselman (1st season)
Arkansas started SEC play with a win over Texas A&M in front of a sold out crowd in Bud Walton Arena. It was not the type of game I expected but the Hogs still walked away with a win. Now we move on to the maybe the toughest opponent of the year so far for the Hogs and the game is on the road. The Hogs have proven they can go on the road and get a win, but this is the SEC where anyone can beat anyone.
This team has been consistent. Who they are right now is who they were at the beginning of the season. They struggle with turning the ball over, they play great defense, they go cold on offense at times, and they play with tremendous effort. As long as the Razorbacks continue playing with endless effort, they will give themselves a chance every night in this year’s SEC.
Prediction
Last year, LSU and Arkansas split the season series. Daniel Gafford carried the Hogs in both games. He was dominant! Both games were high scoring, but I do not think we will see a similar affair this season.
LSU does not shoot or do not defend the three ball well. We all know how well Arkansas defends the three, but as a team, the Hogs do not shoot it well either. How each team shoots the three will be something worth watching.
I think the Hogs can contain the guards of LSU. The factor in this game will be LSU’s Darious Days and Trendon Watford. Both player’s average high rebounds and can score the ball from all over the court.
In the end, I think the athleticism matched with LSU’s scoring ability will be too much for the Hogs.
I will take the Tigers in a close one.
Score Prediction: LSU 77, Arkansas 73
Like many in our state, I didn’t have a choice in who my favorite team would be growing up. I was raised on Razorback. I remember watching the early season games on ARSN or conference games on JP Sports. My first favorite players were Brandon Dean and Joe Johnson. Great memories. I never thought years ago I would be writing about Arkansas Basketball. I don’t have a journalism background or anything like that. When given the opportunity, I wanted to challenge myself with something new and it has been a blast!
