Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Guard-heavy lineup works for Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE — Seldom can Eric Musselman recall relying so much simultaneously for so long from four guards.
For his Razorbacks’ 78-75 SEC victory over Georgia last Saturday evening at Walton Arena, Musselman employed Arkansas point guards El Ellis and Keyon Menifield for 37 and 31 minutes, combo guard Davonte “Devo” Davis for 35 minutes and shooting guard/occasional point guard Tramon Mark for 39 minutes. They comprised a four-guard lineup for the bulk of the game.
A four-point guards lineup, Musselman said.
“Playing three, four point guards at a time is a little unique for us,” Musselman told the Razorback Sports Network on Saturday’s postgame radio. “But we’re still searching trying to find a winning formula based on our opponent on any given night.”
The formula worked for his Hogs (12-11, 3-7 SEC) while concluding their home and home with Georgia, salvaging a split. The Bulldogs prevailed 76-66 on Jan. 10 in Athens, Ga.
Ellis, often guarding power forwards Saturday and starting despite not used the previous two games, and Menifield off the bench shared Arkansas scoring honors with 15 points each. Mark scored 14.
Davis, also guarding power forwards some last Saturday, off the bench shared three assists team high honors with Ellis, made two steals and drilled his lone threepoint attempt his first game back after “stepping away from the program” the previous three games.
Their combined three-point defense excelled.
“That’s the best three-point defense [UGA hit 4 of 18 compared to 9 of 27 in Athens],” Musselman said. “That’s as good as we’ve done against a quality team guarding the three without question.”
The offense flowed.
“I thought the ball really, really moved.” Eric Musselman said. “I think Michael [Musselman, an assistant coach] said we had like 119 passes in the first half. The ball had energy.”
The four guards’ productive night would have gone for naught without alternating big men Makhi Mitchell, 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and permanent goahead in the paint basket breaking a 72-72 tie with 54 seconds left, and Jalen Graham. Graham had 10 of his 11 points to lead Arkansas’ 34-29 first half.
“I thought Jalen Graham in the first half did a really good job,” Musselman told postgame radio. “He got us 11 points in 14 minutes. ’Khi Mitchell did really good drawing free throws and converting 6 of 8.”
Ellis on radio was asked about Mitchell and Graham scoring inside complementing the guards.
“It’s helped us out a lot,” Ellis said. “Those two can really score the ball inside, and they can really pass the ball as well. I know ’Khi got me a couple of pull-ups. Just having them two scoring at a high level, rebounding, protecting the rim, it’s opening everything up for everyone else.”
The Hogs need another big night from Mitchell and Graham and possibly Chandler Lawson, too, with the eighth-ranked Tennessee Vols and 6-11, 240 Jonas Aidoo (11.3 points/7.3 rebounds) coming Wednesday to Walton.