Tigers clash with Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE — In addition to the home court, momentum seems to ride with the Arkansas Razorbacks tonight against the LSU Tigers.
Mike Anderson’s Razorbacks, 14-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference after winning their last two games, and Johnny Jones’ Tigers, 9-8 and 1-5, meet at 7:30 p.m. at Walton Arena on the SEC Network (Resort Channel 79).
LSU has lost four consecutive SEC games — three by blowouts, 95-78 at home against Mississippi State, 9262 at Texas A&M, where Arkansas prevailed 62-60 Tuesday night, and 81-66 at home against Alabama.
LSU rallied from 15 points down within two points four times Wednesday night at Auburn before losing 78-74.
Given LSU’s three games preceding it, Jones was encouraged that his Tigers fought to the finish against Auburn on the road.
“I thought these guys gave a great effort,” Jones said postgame. “Unfortunately, we came up short. The good thing is the kids battled all game and gave ourselves a chance there at the end. I told the guys that we put up a great battle and showed a lot of fight. If we keep doing that, good things will happen.”
LSU generally shows a lot of fight against Arkansas.
Though routed by 30 at Walton, last season’s Tigers beat Arkansas by two in Baton Rouge. LSU spoiled Arkansas’ Senior Day two seasons ago with an 81-78 of the Bobby Portis-led (27-9) Hogs.
The Tigers never lack for talent and return half of last season’s freshman dynamic duo.
Coveted forward Ben Simmons completed one season at LSU and was selected No. 1 in last summer’s NBA draft.
However, 6-4 guard Antonio Blakeney returns as a sophomore. Blakeney leads the Tigers averaging 16.8 points. Not starting Wednesday at Auburn because of an ankle injury, Blakeney shrugged off the pain to come off the bench for 31 minutes and score 13 points with seven rebounds.
“Of course when you have a guy like Blakeney, we know he is capable of getting some big numbers,” Anderson said.
Anderson reminded media that the Razorbacks knew Mississippi State’s Quinndary Weatherspoon was capable of getting some big numbers yet couldn’t stop him from scoring 25 in the Bulldogs’ 84-78 Walton Arena win over the Hogs.
Jones’ Tigers start two 6-10 forwards, Duop Reath and Aaron Epps, who rebound well. Reath leads the Tigers with a 6.2 rebounding average and his 13.6 scoring average is second on the team to Blakeney.
“They are long and they are athletic,” Anderson said.
Jones vows his Tigers will profit from their near-miss against Auburn to be focused on Arkansas tonight.
“We have to quickly turn our attention to a really good Arkansas team (that) is extremely talented,” Jones said. “They’ve really gotten off to a good start, and have gone on the road and won some big games, including at Texas A&M in a really closely contested game the other night.”
Arkansas has received an unexpected three-point shot in the arm from Manny Watkins, the senior guard heretofore known for his defensive dirty work rather than his scoring.
Watkins stunned his teammates with the first three-pointer of his career in last week’s 92-73 win over visiting Missouri. He had three treys Tuesday night against Texas A&M, where his father, Arkansas assistant Melvin Wakins, formerly was head coach.
“How about that Manny three-point buckets Watkins?” Anderson said laughing on postgame radio. “He has been working on them for the last two years. And what a time for them to come to fruition at a place where he hadn’t won and we hadn’t won.”
Watkins said Friday he’s getting teased as much as much as celebrated for his sudden three-shooting prowess, included mock companions with Arkansas nationally renowned senior three-point shooter Dusty Hannahs.
“Some of my friends that are friends with Dusty say, ‘Hey, you need to teach Dusty how to shoot!” Watkins said. “Put him in one of your shooting classes!’ It’s been fun but I let everybody know that three-point shooting comes and goes. And that’s not my game at all.
Anderson and his Razorbacks were giddy to escape victoriously from College Station but ever mindful how close they came to blowing it with turnovers and missed free throws down the stretch.
Arkansas’ defense rescued a classic “ugly win” holding A&M without a field goal the final 6:52.
“I tell you what,” Anderson said even while acknowledging the Hogs won ugly. “Defense is beautiful all the time. We had a couple of mishaps of getting the ball in and stepping out of bounds and all that, but our guys never wavered and we will learn from it. We will get better from it.”
Besides, only victories, not style points, can compensate for the Hogs already unaccustomedly losing two SEC games at Walton.
“We took steps backwards not winning those games,” Arkansas senior center Moses Kingsley said. “We felt like we’re behind now, way behind, so we’re trying to catch up.”