Arkansas Basketball: Tip-Off Tour Takeaways

Inside Arkansas was in the house for the Arkansas Basketball Tip-Off Tour in Pine Bluff on Sunday. Here are several notes, observations and takeaways from the event:

Several Hogs Held Out For Precaution

John Calipari announced earlier in the week as well as prior to the event that a number of players would be held out of live activities during the Tip-Off Tour, but he reiterated he expects Arkansas to be full strength for its exhibition against Kansas on Oct. 25 in Fayetteville.

Johnell Davis, Jonas Aidoo, and Adou Thiero were the most notable Razorbacks who sat out most of the live action. Freshman guard Casmir Chavis and transfer Melo Sanchez were also out as well as returning walk-on Lawson Blake, who will miss the season with a torn Achilles.

What Stood Out In Drills and 5-on-5?

• This was not a traditional Red-White Game so much as an exhibition event for the community — which is a fantastic gesture — followed by a controlled practice. So, it was fascinating for a basketball nerd like myself, but maybe not so much for the casual fan hoping to see a game-like scrimmage and a bunch of highlight-reel plays.
• A Calipari practice is nowhere near as intense and frenetic as an Eric Musselman practice, but there seems to be more actual coaching and attention to detail. He really doesn’t let much slide at all and did a nice job of grabbing the mic and explaining coaching points throughout.
• Really impressed with Brad Calipari. He spent 20 minutes with Karter Knox in warmups really hammering home details on his shooting form and footwork. Extremely detail-oriented and technical.
• Calipari stopped the team during 3-man, full-court work and made them run sprints for not securing passes with both hands.
• 5-on-0 teams: Fland, Wagner, Knox, Richmond, Brazile | Watkins, Karuletwa, Thiero, Ivisic, Aidoo
• With a limited number of healthy bodies cleared for full-contact live action, Arkansas’ top rotation guys mixed it up against Karuletwa, Kelley, Watkins and the graduate assistants.
• The best lineup combination by far was Boogie, DJ, Knox, Brazile and Big Z. Calipari was placing a heavy emphasis on paint touches before shots, and this group embodied it best. The front court combo of Brazile/Z provides a ton of spacing and opens driving lanes for the backcourt as well as cutting opportunities on the wing, which Knox took advantage of a number of times.
• Calipari has practiced patience. I concur. Honestly, the Razorbacks were pretty sloppy at times today, but that is going to be the case sometimes in preseason practices. This team needs to get healthy because the dynamic is COMPLETELY different with Davis, Thiero and Aidoo on the floor.

First Impressions

• BOOGIE FLAND – The first thing that stood out was Boogie is quite a bit bigger than I thought, both height and size. He is by no means small. Real electricity to his game. At the moment, it is hard to see a world where he doesn’t start. Really tough shot-maker when things break down offensively. Made a couple high-difficulty threes in 5-on-5.
• DJ WAGNER – Watched him shoot threes for several minutes in warmups, and he certainly looked like better than a 29% shooter in that sample size, but short-armed it some during live. Bulky brace on left ankle. So tough when he’s north-south off the bounce. Can confirm he dunked a basketball. Wagner looked his best in 5-on-5. Good decision-maker, under control, right spot at all times.
• KARTER KNOX – Looks the part. Every bit of the listed 6-6 with an SEC-ready frame. Source told Inside Arkansas prior to the event that Knox’s confidence has grown tremendously since getting to campus. First on the floor getting shots up and going through shooting-form coaching with Brad Calipari. The one guy who was taking it to Richmond in 1-on-1. Had some moments 5-on-5 crashing from wing. Stepped into a three. He’s automatic in drills, just needs to repeat the process live.
• BILLY RICHMOND – Long lefty. His athleticism is really off the charts. Very explosive. Jumper is inconsistent and has the tendency to be flat, but he did catch a heater late in the practice. Vibes coordinator in warmups. Richmond really covers a lot of ground in a hurry off the bounce. Definition of downhill. Looked good in 1-on-1. Nice transition windmill to get the crowd going in full-court drills. He’s a problem in the open floor. Really like him as a basket-cutter from the corner in half-court offense.
• TREVON BRAZILE – Brazile has added good weight to his frame in the offseason, most noticeable in the shoulders. I know he has been emphasizing other things this summer, but he is really shooting it well from three. He looks like one of the most comfortable players on the floor. Nasty windmill in traffic during 5-on-5.
• ZVONIMIR IVISIC – Not much, if any, shorter than Connor Vanover, but carries his weight and moves better in every way. Big personality. One of the better shooting centers Arkansas has had ina long time. Love him as a passer. Did some of his best work sharing frontcourt with Braziile working DHO and setting up shop in dunker spot. Finally got a post-up opportunity late in practice and went to work with some strong footwork and showed touch with the jump-hook.
• JONAS AIDOO – Limited participant on Sunday. Source told Inside Arkansas prior to the event he has been limited most of the summer, but would have been cleared to play if the Razorbacks had a game today. For what it’s worth, watched him make 13 of 20 right corner threes in warmups. He participated in some 5-on-0 and it was pretty clear he hasn’t been practicing much. The sooner he is back in rhythm, the better.
• ADOU THIERO – Thiero was limited throughout practice but participated in most of warmups and a few full-court drills. Very strong frame. Carved out of granite. Watched him shoot for a long time. Motion starts very low, about waist high. That’s a lot of room for inconsistent mechanics. He gets on hot streaks where he is lights out, and he immediately follows with a rough stretch. So, the more repeatable he can make the stroke, the better for him. Had a couple moments in 5-on-0 where he showed off the springs. Elite athlete.
• JADEN KARULETWA – Jaden has one skill that jumps off the page: He can really, really shoot it. Made some tough 1-on-1 shots over the likes of DJ and Boogie. High energy guy. Works defensively. Great for his role.