Arkansas will try to pick up its second win of the season when it hosts Big Ten foe Indiana on Sunday afternoon.
The Razorbacks are coming off an 81-58 victory over UC Davis, which saw them force 24 turnovers en route to the win.
Meanwhile, Archie Miller has the Hoosiers playing very well through three games as they’ve earned wins over Marquette, Montana State, and Chicago State.
Let’s run through what to watch for in this matchup.
Game Details
- Indiana (3-0) at Arkansas (1-1)
- Location: Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, AR
- Game Date: Nov. 18
- Game Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Watch: ESPN
Players to Watch
Daniel Gafford (Arkansas)
The 6-11 sophomore followed up his double-double in the opening week loss to Texas with 12 points, four rebounds, and four blocks against UC Davis.
Something Mike Anderson would certainly like to see improve is Gafford’s turnover numbers, as he’s committed six in each of the first two games.
Mason Jones (Arkansas)
Jones has been the most impactful guard on the new-look Arkansas roster, with the 6-5 JUCO transfer averaging 16.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while playing 34.0 minutes per game.
Along with freshman Isaiah Joe (53.8 percent from beyond the arc), Jones has helped answer some concerns about the Hogs’ youth in the backcourt.
Romeo Langford (Indiana)
It’s no surprise to see the dynamic freshman already making a huge impact, as Langford is averaging 17.7 points and shooting 57.1 percent through three games.
He made a lot of impactful plays in the victory over Marquette, and there’s no doubt that Miller will continue to run plenty of offense through Langford.
Juwan Morgan (Indiana)
The 6-8 senior chose to return to the school for another season, and he’s contributing in many ways thus far by averaging 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
We know by now what Morgan is capable of, and like Langford, he’s going to be a major focal point for everything the Hoosiers do this season.
Key Stats
Indiana’s offensive efficiency certainly stands out right now, with the Hoosiers leading the nation in 2-point field-goal percentage (70.6 percent) and ranking third in effective field-goal percentage (64.6 percent).
On the flip side, the Razorbacks are fifth in 2-point field-goal defense (34.9 percent) and 12th in effective field-goal defense (38.6 percent), so something has got to give.
One troubling trend for Arkansas could be turnovers, as the Hogs are turning it over at a 20.9 percent clip (244th nationally) while Indiana is 21st in that category defensively.
If it becomes a free-throw shooting contest, both teams have struggled in that department, with Arkansas at 61.3 percent and Indiana at 61.5 percent.
Game Outlook
- Spread: Indiana -4
- Over/Under: 149.5
- KenPom Projection: Indiana, 59 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: Indiana, 66.6 percent chance to win
I’ve been impressed by Arkansas’s toughness thus far this season, and that will go a long way towards making up for the inexperience throughout the season.
Winning in Fayetteville is rarely easy, and even with Indiana’s talented offensive playmakers, there will likely be some struggles in what will be the first road game for Miller’s team.
Still, being able to rely on a veteran player like Morgan is an advantage that Arkansas doesn’t have.
If Indiana can continue to defend well on the perimeter while forcing Gafford to make mistakes, it may be hard for Anderson’s team to keep up.
I love the toughness that this Arkansas team has shown thus far, and that should allow Gafford and company to progress much quicker than people may have thought heading into the season.
However, the Hoosiers should be able to take advantage of some of the Razorbacks’ inconsistencies in picking up a hard-fought road victory.
Season Prediction Record (straight up): 35-5
Game Prediction: Indiana 83, Arkansas 77
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.