By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas and Kentucky will close out the regular season on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena and televised on CBS.
Arkansas (19-11, 8-9) defeated Kentucky (20-10, 11-6) 88-73 on Feb. 7 in Lexington. The Hogs will enter Saturday's game having lost its last two outings. Both were on the road to Alabama and Tennessee.
Kentucky lost to Georgia following the loss to Arkansas, but then appeared to have figured things out winning four in a row. However, Wednesday night they were surprised in Rupp Arena by Vanderbilt 68-66. Eric Musselman knew this stretch of games was going to be difficult.
"Yeah, we knew the last three games of the year will be as hard as any three teams played, but I’m not really thinking about Kentucky right now," Musselman said Tuesday night. "Obviously I will on the plane but right now I’m extremely disappointed with many different factors in the game against Tennessee."
Arkansas needs to win on Saturday to help solidify its spot in the NCAA Tournament. A home loss to Kentucky would be devastating to the Razorbacks. Musselman was asked if the Hogs can bounce back from an 86-83 loss at Alabama and then a poorly played 75-57 loss at Tennessee?
"Well, we didn't bounce back like we had hoped after playing Alabama," Musselman said. "We'll continue to do what we've done with all of our teams and go back and prepare. We've got to do a better job, obviously. But the only thing I know is to go back to work and continue to try to improve. We took a step backwards tonight, there's no question, both as a team and individually, we took several steps backwards. And so we'll get back and try to prepare for Kentucky."
Wichita State transfer Ricky Council IV is leading the Razorbacks averaging 16.6 points per game. He's averaging 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals each outing. Council is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 28. 4 behind the 3-point line. Council talked about Saturday's game.
"I just think that we need to bring positive energy," Council said. "That’s all I’ve got to say about that. We’ve got to bring positive energy throughout the board. Start with the coaches, all the way down to the players. Got one more game left (in the) regular season then we go into the SEC Tournament. So hopefully win this one and bring momentum."
Kentucky is lead by preseason SEC Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe who is averaging 16.5 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.0 block per game. Tshiebwe is the leader for Kentucky in each of those three categories. The Hogs did an outstanding job on him in the first meeting. They held Tshiebwe to seven points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
Cason Wallace had a big game scoring 24 points against the Hogs. Wallace is a freshman guard who is projected as a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Wallace is averaging 11.7 points per game. He leads the Wildcats averaging 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals each game.
Freshman guard Nick Smith Jr. didn't play in the first meeting with Kentucky. He has now played in 11 games and is averaging 12.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.6 steal each outing.
The SEC Tournament will be March 8-12 in Nashville, Tenn.
Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Action Sports
Razorback freshman guard Nick Smith Jr. (#3) from Jacksonville, AR drives the baseline against Georgia at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback senior forward Makhel Mitchell (#22) from Washington, D.C. puts up a short jumper for two against Georgia at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback freshman guard Nick Smith Jr. (#3) from Jacksonville, AR shoots a free throw against Georgia at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback head basketball coach Eric Musselman encourages his defense to get their hands up during their game against Georgia at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, AR.