Ole Miss’ guards, size concerns for Neighbors

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Mike Neighbors is very familiar with Ole Miss.

The first-year Razorbacks women’s coach has watched the Rebels more than any other SEC team this season. Today, he will attempt to put his review to good use as the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville opens SEC play against Ole Miss at 2 p.m. in Walton Arena.

Neighbors has known Ole Miss Coach Matt Insell for years and is aware of the challenges the Rebels (103) present, beginning with guard play. Junior Madinah Muhammad averages nearly 18 points per game and Alissa Alston scores 15.8.

The Rebels also feature 6-5 Promise Taylor and 6-3 Shelby Gibson along the front line. Taylor averages 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per night to go with a teamhigh 39 blocks.

“It’s a challenge for us,” Neighbors said. “So it presents some problems for us just in sheer matchup size. They’re in a situation where they’re a little further along in understanding their culture and their style of play. I have watched them an awful lot.”

After falling by 46 points at Arizona State on Dec. 21, Arkansas (9-4) closed out the nonconference schedule with a 79-62 victory against Grambling State on Thursday.

“We flushed that thing pretty fast,” Neighbors said of the loss to the Sun Devils. “The only clips we showed them were a couple where we didn’t huddle up after some good things happened to us. We’re looking at it as a culmination of the nonconference schedule, but it did feel good to move on past that.”

The Razorbacks turned in their fourth game with 10 or more three-pointers Thursday, highlighted by Devin Cosper’s four. Neighbors said this is typically the time of year when his teams get their legs under them and shot quality improves.

Malica Monk found teammates for good looks regularly against Grambling to finish with 10 assists.

“I want a kid that will attack it and push the pace,” Neighbors said. “She really had to work her tail off. She adapted and changed how she was playing. I thought we got some finishes on the back end of that, and that’s good for Malica.”