Hogs overlooking no one

FAYETTEVILLE — Mike Anderson never has lost an exhibition game as Arkansas’ men’s basketball coach and hopes to improve his record to 10- 0 when the Razorbacks play Delta State at 7 tonight at Walton Arena.

It’s the Razorbacks’ final exhibition game before they open the regular season against Southern University on Friday night.

While most exhibition games between major conference teams and NCAA Division II teams have lopsided outcomes like Arkansas’ 10358 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State last Thursday night, upsets happen.

In the past week, St. Thomas Aquinas beat St. John’s 9058 and Augustana beat Iowa 76- 74. Auburn also had to go into overtime to beat Indianapolis 114- 109.

Since 2009, exhibition upsets have included Grand Valley State beating Michigan State, Seattle Pacific beating Arizona, LeMoyne beating Syracuse, St. Leo’s beating Miami and Dixie State beating UNLV.

“We don’t come in overlooking any of these teams,” Arkansas junior guard Manny Watkins said of the Razorbacks’ approach to exhibition games. “If you play in college, you can play basketball.

“We know all these teams

are good, so we’ve got to play like we’re playing any game.”

Exhibition games may not count on a team’s record, but Anderson said winning is always important.

“We’ve got a motto in the locker room that says, ‘ Some come to play, we come to win,’ ” Anderson said. “I think that settles it.”

Anderson said the Razorbacks will go with different combinations tonight that may include four guards or junior Moses Kingsley and senior Willy Kouassi, both 6- 10, playing together.

“The bottom line is, we’re still going to play to win,” Anderson said. “That’s got to be in your DNA, that’s got to be your mindset, that whenever you hit that floor, you’re playing to win.

“I think winning is big in anything. It creates more confidence in what you’re doing.”

Anderson said he’s looking for Arkansas to show improvement in all areas tonight compared to the Southwestern Oklahoma State game, but he said he especially wants to see the Razorbacks shoot free throws better and foul less.

Arkansas hit 16 of 29 free throws ( 55.2 percent), including 7 of 18 in the second half, in its exhibition opener. Senior forward Keaton Miles made 2 of 7.

“We’re an attacking team, so we’re going to get to the free- throw line,” Anderson said. “We’ve got to be able to cash in on it.”

The Razorbacks were called for 26 fouls against Southwestern Oklahoma State, which hit 16 of 23 free throws to match Arkansas’ scoring from the line.

Arkansas freshman guard Jimmy Whitt scored 19 points, hitting 5 of 7 shots, but he fouled out while playing 23 minutes.

Anderson said Whitt was playing “high school defense” and reaching with his hands rather than moving his feet.

“He’s got to understand to keep people in front of you and play the game from angles,” Anderson said. “He’ll get better.”

Kouassi, a graduate transfer from Kennesaw State, had 10 rebounds, but fouled out in 17 minutes. Kingsley, who is being counted on to be Arkansas’ top inside player, had four fouls in 21 minutes. Two of his fouls came on the offensive end when he extended his arms setting screens.

Anderson said the foul problems can be fixed in practice with better positioning that he hopes to see tonight.