FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 14 Arkansas trailed one time in the game, 2-0, before routing Southern 109-77 to open the basketball season in Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks built the lead to as much as 37, 101-64, with 4.25 remaining in the game. Arkansas placed four players in double figures led by Trevon Brazile with 25 points and 11 rebounds. John Calipari liked what he got from his senior and said the focus was to feed him the ball.
"The reason we did it, I told the team, ‘If he's going to rebound like that and block shots, throw him the ball," Calipari said. "You're not just going to play one side of the ball and, while you guys let him, and then you shoot all the balls? No, we're going to let him have shots.’ And so I said it again at halftime. He's just going to have to take advantage. They went zone, we put him in the middle. Did some good stuff. We put Billy in the middle, around the middle, he did some good stuff. Ran Meleek (Thomas) along the baseline. He makes shots in the corner. We made 10 3s, and we had a couple guys miss a bunch of open 3s."
The Razorbacks had three others in double figures and all were true freshmen. Thomas 21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Darius Acuff Jr. had 20 in the first half and finished with 22 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists. Isaiah Sealy added 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Calipari was complimentary of how Sealy played.
"He’s got a long way to go," Calipari said. "Love the kid, but defensively, coming up with balls, knowing where he's supposed to be, he's just behind the other guys that way. But he's talented and he's going to have opportunities. Hopefully Karter plays this weekend, which means it'll limit his opportunities. But if Karter doesn't play, then you're going to play some. The game, the one thing I liked, the game got a little physical. We had some guys that didn't play well in a physical game. Let me explain, this game we're playing this weekend, this football game we're going to play Saturday, you better be physical and know, foul out. In the first half, foul out. But you cannot just get pushed around. You're not gonna be able to play in the game."
Sealy played 17 minutes because the Razorbacks didn't have Karter Knox, who was out with a toe injury. Calipari was asked for an update?
"Probably have to wait," Calipari said. "He's got one more day off. We have a day off tomorrow. But if you can't practice Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, then you can't play. What? You're going to be able to go 70% in that game? Can't do it. You're not healthy enough to go, then you shouldn't go. We'll play with who we have."
It was obvious both 5-star guards, Thomas and Acuff, were impressive and played off each other.
"They need to be on the floor together 20 minutes at least," Calipari said. "I mean, it’s pretty obvious, wouldn’t you say? If anybody watched. So they need to be out there. So even if one doesn’t start, and the other starts the second half, whatever I do, I need to have 20 minutes of them together."
Transfer Nick Pringle came over from South Carolina. He started and finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
"Really did some great stuff defensively," Calipari said. "I didn't see his rebounds. Where are they? He had eight rebounds. But again, he missed that one layup where he has double. He could have had a double double. But I'll tell you what he does, he really defends. He's where he's supposed to be. He understands position basketball. He's really good in pick and roll defense. If he switches on a guard, he can guard him. Now, we've got to do some things to get him the ball around the basket [where] we can catch it and dunk some. But he's been a pleasure to coach."
Arkansas shot 51% from the field, 36 from behind the 3-point line and 86% at the charity stripe. Southern was led by Michael Jacobs with 22 points and Fazi Ishodi 15.
Arkansas (1-0) will travel to East Lansing to face No. 22 Michigan State at 6 p.m. Saturday and televised on Fox.
