Arkansas basketball hosts Pacific in a non-conference matchup at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville (Ark.) on Monday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on SEC Network+. Here is everything you need to know before the Razorbacks and Tigers hit the hardwood:
A Few Specifics on Pacific
The Tigers are coming off a dreadful 2023-24 campaign where they finished 6-26 overall and went winless in West Coast Conference play, but a new season offers new hope as first-year head coach Dave Smart takes over with a revamped roster.
Pacific is off to a 3-2 start, but the only Division 1 on the books is an 80-67 victory against San Jose State on Nov. 8. The Tigers will enter Monday’s game on the heels of back-to-back losses to Hawaii and Northern Arizona.
According to KenPom, Pacific ranks No. 268 overall and currently sits sub-200 in every shooting metric. It is worth noting the Tigers are only allowing opponents to shoot 16.7% from three, which ranks 3rd nationally.
Pacific has not notched a win over an AP Top 25 opponent since defeating No. 21 Providence in the NCAA Tournament in 2004.
Projected Lineups
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
- 2 Boogie Fland (6-2, 175, Fr) – 15.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 17 assists, 5 turnovers, 5 steals
- 21 DJ Wagner (6-4, 195, So) – 5.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 8 assists, 7 turnovers, 6 steals
- 1 Johnell Davis (6-4, 210, Sr) – 10 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal
- 3 Adou Thiero (6-8, 220, Jr) – 17 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4 assists, 5 turnovers, 5 steals
- 44 Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2, 240, So) – 11 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6 turnovers, 9 blocks, 5 steals
PACIFIC TIGERS
- 0 Jefferson Koulibaly (6-3, 190, Jr) – 8.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 14 assists, 10 turnovers
- 1 Lamar Washington (6-4, 200, Jr) – 7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 41 assists, 13 turnovers
- 22 Elijah Fisher (6-6, 200, Jr) – 16.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5 assists, 11 turnovers
- 2 Elias Ralph (6-7, 212, Sr) – 18.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 7 assists, 10 turnovers
- 10 Jazz Gardner (7-0, 230, So) – 6.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6 assists, 5 blocks
What To Do With Adou
Adou Thiero is Arkansas’ most versatile defensive player, which makes Monday fascinating from a matchup perspective for him.
Thiero spends most of his time playing the 3-4, and Pacific’s two best players — Elijah Fisher and Elias Ralph — man those spots. Will Thiero spend a bulk of his time on one, and who will he start on?
The other factor to consider is if Arkansas is shorthanded in the frontcourt, and Thiero is forced to play as a small-ball center, who will step up and handle the matchups defensively?
How Healthy Are The Hogs?
This is currently the million-dollar question for an Arkansas team that has not been at full strength to this point in the season after constructing a roster that was already short on depth.
Transfer center Jonas Aidoo is a massive piece to the puzzle for Arkansas, but despite appearing in the first three games of the season, it is clear he is not at full strength. Will that change in a handful of days, or does John Calipari opt to sit him out until he is closer to 100 percent?
Trevon Brazile left Wednesday’s game against Troy after sustaining an ankle injury midway through the first half, and his status is questionable for Monday night.
5 Quick Keys
- Feature Johnell Davis more frequently in the offense
- More offense out of DJ Wagner and Karter Knox
- Stack games with improved three-point shooting
- Balance defending without fouling with remaining aggressive and disruptive
- More rebounding from the guards if front court remains thin
U of A Game Notes:
• This will be the first meeting between Arkansas and Pacific.
• This will also be the first time head coach John Calipari has faced Pacific.
• Zvonimir Ivisic made NCAA history in the win over Troy when he became the first player in recorded history to make six 3-pointers, have five blocked shots and have three steals in a single game – according to Jonathan Wesserman of NBADraft.net. Ivisic tied for the team lead with a career-high 19 points (going a career-high 6-of-7 from 3-point range) while adding career highs in both blocked shots (5) and steals (3).
• The Arkansas defense has been impressive in the early going. The Razorbacks rank 7th in the nation in defensive efficiency (KenPom).
• Arkansas is blocking 7.3 shots per game, but, in the early season, that is good for 8th nationally and first in the SEC.
^ Arkansas blocked 11 shots versus Lipscomb.
^ While it didn’t count toward NCAA stats, Arkansas blocked 10 shots in the exhibition vs TCU.
^ By comparison, 6.8 blocks/gm led the NCAA in 2023-34 and Arkansas ranked 6th nationally / 3rd SEC with 6.1 blocked shots/gm.
• Arkansas is coming away with 10.7 steals per game, but, in the early season, that is good for just 33rd nationally and fifth in the SEC.
^ Arkansas had 11 steals versus Lipscomb and 16 versus Troy
^ By comparison, getting 10.7 steals/gm would have ranked 2nd in the final 2023-24 NCAA stats.
• Arkansas is forcing 17 turnovers per game, but, in the early season, that is good for just 46th nationally and fourth in the SEC.
^ Arkansas forced 19 turnovers vs Lipscomb and 24 vs Troy.
^ By comparison, forcing 17.0 turnovers/gm would have ranked 5th in the final 2023-24 NCAA stats.
• Teams are shooting just 27.1% from 3-point range, but, in the early season, that is good for just 69th nationally and fifth in the SEC.
^ Lipscomb shot 33.3% from deep – 9-of-27.
^ Baylor shot 29.2% from deep – 7-of-24.
^ Troy shot 15.8% from deep – 3-of-19.
^ By comparison, holding teams to 27.1% from 3PT would have led NCAA last year.
• What’s more impressive is that Arkansas is playing such good defense without fouling. Arkansas ranks 24th in the NCAA / 1st SEC in fewest fouls/gm (13.7). Teams are averaging just 7.3 FT makes and 11 FT attempts.
• Did you know, that if you take the last 11 3-point attempts versus Baylor and add the Troy game, Arkansas is 15-of-33 (45.5%) from 3-point range over the span.