COLUMN: Balance essential for Hogs’ postseason
Arkansas will look to end the regular season on a high note today on the road at Missouri and continue the development of a supporting cast crucial to the team’s success in the postseason.
Senior guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon and freshman Daniel Gafford put on a clinic Tuesday at home in a 91-82 victory over No. 14 Auburn (24-6,
12-5 Southeastern Conference). The trio combined for 57 points, but the team’s less touted pieces were just as important in surviving a 31-for-34 performance from the Tigers at the free throw line.
Coach Mike Anderson highlighted the performances Arkansas (21-9, 10-7) received from its bench players, such as sophomore C.J. Jones, eight points, and senior forward Arlando Cook, seven points.
“Now, we are starting to defend, we are starting to rebound the basketball and we always know we are capable of scoring,” Anderson said. “I like the direction we are going. You’ve got guys who have experience.”
Barford ranks second in the SEC in scoring with 18.1 points per game and Macon ranks fourth at 17.3 to form the highest-scoring duo in the league. Gafford averages 11.9 per game and senior guard Anton Beard averages 9.5.
Anderson described the four Tuesday as the team’s leaders, who Arkansas knows will most likely produce each game, but they only combine for 56.8 points per game.
The Razorbacks rank second-to-last in the SEC in scoring defense, giving up 75.7 points per game, 263rd out of 351 Division I teams. Only Ole Miss ranks lower at 77.8.
Macon said Tuesday defensive stops in second halves have been crucial to Arkansas’ current stretch of six wins in seven games. Also important were performances by role players.
Jones had eight points against Auburn, but also scored 13 points in each of Arkansas’ wins over Texas A&M (19-11, 8-9), 94-75, and Alabama (17-13, 8-9), 76-73. Senior forward Dustin Thomas only scored two against Auburn, but had seven against A&M and 11 against Alabama.
“If C.J. keeps shooting like he is shooting, we are going to be all right,” Barford said. “D.T. and Cook, they have been great for us to knock down the mid-range. They just do the little things like rebound and get extra possessions and play defense. Their toughness is great for us.
“Our bench, just alone, has been playing great the last few games. I think they have their confidence and we have confidence in them. We’ve got to keep that going and keep trusting each other.”
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl noted the depth of Arkansas’ bench and praised the team for its unselfish play.
“They all complement each other so well,” Pearl said. “They can all score in multiple ways. They play together. It is good, and Mike does a great job moving the pieces around.”
Arkansas was 11-2 in non-conference play this season against competition which included No. 9 North Carolina (22-8, 11-6 ACC), No. 25 Houston (23-6, 13-4 American Athletic Conference) Fresno State (21-9, 11-6 Mountain West), Bucknell (23-9, 16-2 Patriot League), Oklahoma State (17-13,
7-10 Big 12) and Oklahoma (17-12,
7-10 Big 12). The Razorbacks were tested, but still stumbled to 1-3 in conference play and were 4-6 after a second disappointing loss to LSU (16-13, 7-10), 94-86, on Feb. 3.
“Although, we got off to a slow start in conference play,” Anderson said. “I think we learned. We learned a lot of lessons. And, not only that, now your young guys get a chance to get acclimated. “
Arkansas knows Barford, Macon and Gafford will likely make some crucial plays in some games to come, but the Razorbacks’ fate in the postseason will likely hinge on how much support they receive from the rest of the team.