Arkansas basketball faces challenges after close game against Baylor, but coach Calipari is optimistic – footboom1.com
DALLAS – In a close game played at American Airlines Center, the Arkansas State and Baylor men’s basketball teams started the season 1-1, but both teams earned second place in the AP Top 100 announced Monday. It is expected to remain in the top 25 rankings.
No. 8 Baylor suffered a 101-63 loss to No. 6 Gonzaga last Monday, but bounced back to defeat the No. 16 Razor Bucks 72-67 on Saturday night. I did.
Arkansas coach John Calipari insists the loss to Baylor on a neutral field shouldn’t affect his team’s national reputation. “It’s November, after all,” Calipari said. “Baylor is a top-10 team and we had a chance to win. Our players worked hard to win.”
Gonzaga returns six of the top seven members from last year’s Sweet 16 and also brings in high-profile transfer Kalief Battle from Arkansas, further strengthening a strong roster. Baylor coach Scott Drew commented on the potential for both Gonzaga and Arkansas to be Final Four contenders. “It’s important to identify our strengths and weaknesses at the beginning of the season,” Drew said, emphasizing the need for freshmen to learn the rigors of college play.
Arkansas’ only remaining player from last season’s returning scholarship is junior forward Trevon Brazil, which points to a young team with the addition of high-profile transfers and freshmen. This is similar to Baylor’s approach.
Reflecting on the similarities between the two teams, Drew said, “Arkansas and we are one in the same. We have talented players, but this is a learning process, similar to how Olympic teams suffer for the first time when they come together quickly.” “Both teams will get better as the season progresses, especially in February.”
Calipari is intentionally building tough non-conference matchups against teams like Baylor, Illinois and Michigan to prepare the Razorbacks for the rigors of SEC play. “When you win by 50 points against a weaker team, you don’t learn much. The real test comes against teams like Baylor and Kansas,” Calipari explained.
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The crowd filled American Airlines Center with just over 10,207 people, evenly spaced between Arkansas and Baylor supporters. Calipari thanked the fans, saying, “They were great. Half the room was filled with our supporters. It’s very disappointing that we didn’t get the win, but the Razors were great. “I want them to know that they fought bravely. We have a long way to go, but we have a great foundation.”
Throughout the game, Arkansas never took the lead, but cut a 61-50 deficit to 70-67 on freshman guard Boogie Frando’s clutch three with 22.8 seconds left. But fellow freshman guard VJ Edgecombe, expected to be a future top-10 pick, sealed the victory for Baylor with a crucial free throw.
Arkansas junior forward Adu Tierro had a great performance, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting, along with six rebounds and two assists. “I admire players who play with intensity and heart,” Drew said of Tierro.
Frand was also active, recording 17 points, seven assists, and five rebounds, with no turnovers in 39 minutes of play. Senior guard Jayden Nunn also emphasized Frand’s maturity, saying, “He’s calm and has a great pace in the game. His potential is tremendous.”
Edgecomb also had 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, showing he can play a key role in his overall game going forward.
Although Arkansas struggled against Baylor’s zone defense, their shooting accuracy improved in the second half, ultimately finishing the game at 46.4%. On the other hand, the first half was a disappointing 37.7%. Calipari noted that preparation for the zone defense was limited due to preseason injuries that affected player availability.
Despite going 0-9 from the 3-point line, the Razorbacks made some important 3-point shots in the final minutes of the game, making 5 of 20 in the end. . However, his overall 3-point shooting in the first two games of the season has shown some serious limitations and needs to be improved going forward.
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“They’re definitely going to find their shooting rhythm. They’re capable of scoring,” Drew said. Experience is a key factor early in the season. After seeing poor 3-point shooting in the Gonzaga and Arkansas games, Drew is optimistic about his freshman performance and thinks he can expect improvement as he adjusts.
Despite the current challenges, Calipari recognizes the group’s potential and has a bright outlook. “We have a lot of work left to do, but I really believe in this team,” he concluded.