Arkansas’s early season schedule is deceptively tough.
The Razorbacks opened up with a surprisingly thorough victory over a talented Samford team. The Bulldogs returned almost everyone from a 20-win team from last year, but Arkansas went on a 16-0 run early in the game and never looked back, cruising to a 95-56 rout.
The Razorbacks have plenty of reasons to be happy about opening night, but they can’t celebrate for long because the Patriot League favorites—the Bucknell Bison—are on their way to Fayetteville on Sunday night.
The Bison will be looking to shake off a tough 79-78 loss to recent mid-major power Monmouth.
Players to Watch
Daryl Macon (Arkansas)
Macon scored 16 points and made his first four buckets against Samford on Friday night, but his passing was the most impressive part of his game.
Macon no-looked several passes on his way to a career-best eight assists while only turning the ball over once.
He can fill the basket quickly, especially from deep. Macon made four treys on Friday in only seven attempts.
The Hogs will count on him to be their go-to player against Bucknell.
Daniel Gafford (Arkansas)
The highly-touted freshman big man was efficient in his first collegiate action.
Gafford was 4 of 6 from the floor on his way to 10 points and four rebounds in the rout of Samford.
Arkansas’s ball-pressure defense provides great shot-blocking opportunities for a rim protector, but it also creates opportunities to foul.
Case in point, Gafford’s college career started with an impressive five blocks, but it also included five fouls which disqualified him from the game after only 17 minutes played.
If Gafford can log more minutes, expect his numbers to only grow against Bucknell.
Zach Thomas (Bucknell)
Thomas is without a doubt the key cog in Bucknell’s offense. The 6’7 senior had a monster game against Monmouth, scoring 31 points and gobbling up 16 boards.
The Patriot-league tournament MVP is dangerous from inside and out. Thomas made 5 of 11 shots from 3-point range.
When he catches the ball, he is looking to score (23 shot attempts against Monmouth). He did not have a single assist despite playing 35 minutes on Friday.
Nana Foulland (Bucknell)
Foulland is another senior for the experienced Bison.
At 6’10, the veteran center does the dirty work for Bucknell. Last season, he was the Patriot League Player of the Year and its Defensive Player of the Year becoming only the second player ever to earn both awards in the same season.
On Friday, Foulland was productive again in the loss, scoring 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
How Arkansas Can Win
Arkansas’s patented “Fastest 40” man-to-man pressure defense is difficult to prepare for because few teams can simulate it in practice.
The on-ball pressure is enough to make even the most experienced backcourts fret. The Razorbacks need to turn up the heat against Bucknell and create turnovers.
They forced 19 against Samford in route to 35 points. That’s a recipe for success.
The Hogs need to continue to share the ball too. They assisted on 28 of 36 baskets against Samford.
Of course, that’s easier to do when many of those assisted buckets were on fast-break opportunities caused by a high-intensity defense.
How Bucknell Can Win
Bucknell can’t get rattled by the Razorbacks pressure defense. If the Bison do turn the ball over some, they can’t let those turnovers frustrate their offense into turning it over even more.
They must avoid a big early run by Arkansas like the Hogs had against Samford.
The Bison also need to look to attack the shot-blocking centers of Arkansas, Gafford and Trey Thompson. It will be worth having a few shots rejected in order to accumulate a few fouls on those tough interior players.
Phil’s Prediction
Arkansas will have its hands full throughout the game. Bucknell will not get rattled by Arkansas’s up-and-down pace and will weather a few storms to stay close in the game.
Ultimately, Arkansas’s athleticism will help them get just enough timely baskets to win.
Prediction: Arkansas 86, Bucknell 83