Basketball (M)

Arkansas Travels To Western Kentucky

December 6, 2019
Live Stats

Who: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
What: Razorbacks Second Road Game of 2019-20
When: Saturday – Dec. 7, 2019 – 6:30 pm
Where: Bowling Green, Ky. – E.A. Diddle Arena
How (to follow):
– TV: CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden and Michael O’Donnell)
– CLICK HERE to Watch CBS Sports Online
– Radio: Learfield IMG College Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
^ Listen to Razorback Sports Network Online: CLICK HERE
– Sirius/XM: streaming online, channel 984
– Live Stats: https://wkusports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

– Arkansas Game Notes: CLICK HERE
– Western Kentucky Game Notes: CLICK HERE

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas Hits the road for the second time this season as the Razorbacks travel to Western Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 6:30 pm and the game will be telecast on the CBS Sports Network.

This will be the eighth meeting between Arkansas (8-0) and Western Kentucky (6-3) – the second in as many years. The series dates back to March 1936 when the teams played two games as part of the US Olympic Playoffs in Little Rock.

The Razorbacks won the first four meetings — all on neutral courts — while the Hilltoppers have won each of the last three, including a 78-77 decision in Fayetteville last season. Arkansas is 0-1 when facing WKU in Bowling Green (Dec. 7, 1974).

No NET, But #11 RPI

  • The first official NCAA NET rankings come out Dec. 16.
  • Arkansas has an RPI of 11, up three after beating Austin Peay.

Razorbacks Best in 3D

  • Despite Northern Kentucky making eight 3-pointers and Austin Peay sinking six, Arkansas still leads the NCAA in 3-point defense, holding opponents to 19.9 percent (27-of-136) from long range.
  • Five teams have only made two 3’s in a game and one team — the NCAA 3-PT% leader at the time South Dakota — made three (3-of-12).
  • The first six teams combined to make just 13 treys before Northern Kentucky (8) and Austin Peay (6) combined for 14 the last two games.

Razorbacks in the NCAA Stats

  • Arkansas’ defense has been impressive to start 8-0, especially the Razorbacks’ 3-point defense. Did you know only two teams have dished out double-digit assists with a high of 11 (8.5 avg.)?
  • Only three teams have made more than two 3-pointers in a game this year and opponents are a combined 27-of-136 from long range.
    ^ Arkansas’ 19.9% 3-point defense ranks 1st in the NCAA.
  • Arkansas held its five opponents to 56 points or less, including three teams in the 40’s, and no team has scored more than 61 points.
    ^ Arkansas’ 52.6 ppg scoring defense ranks 5th in the NCAA/1st SEC.
  • Arkansas forced Rice into 27 turnovers, Montana into 23, Texas Southern into 24, Georgia Tech into 24 and Austin Peay into 21.
    ^ The 20.25 turnovers forced ranks 6th in the NCAA/1st SEC.
  • Arkansas has double-digit steals five times — 14 vs Rice, 13 vs Texas Southern, 11 each versus North Texas and Montana, and 15 at Georgia Tech — the most by the Hogs since getting 15 vs Auburn Feb. 17, 2016.
    ^ Arkansas’ 10.8 steals per game ranks 9th in the NCAA/1st SEC.
  • No team has shot better than 41.5% from the field and Arkansas held Rice to a season-low 28.6. Arkansas forced North Texas to miss its first 11 shots against the Hogs.
    ^ Arkansas’ 36.3% FG pct defense ranks 16th in the NCAA/2nd SEC.
  • Arkansas committed 21 turnovers in the season opener and 20 last time out versus Austin Peay. However, in between, Arkansas committed 14 or less.
    ^ Arkansas’ +6.8 turnover margin ranks 11th in the NCAA/1st SEC.
  • Arkansas is scoring 72.1 points per game, which ranks 181st in the NCAA and 9th in the SEC However, the Hogs only allow 52.6 ppg.
    ^ Arkansas’ +19.5 scoring margin ranks 9th in the NCAA/1st SEC.
  • Arkansas has shot above 75 percent six times to rank 12th the NCAA / 1st in the SEC in FT% (.789).
  • 12th is really good but it is spectacular when you consider that last year, the Hogs were 306th (of 351 teams) in free throw percentage (.668).

8-0

  • Arkansas is off to an 8-0 start for the first time since 1997-98.
  • Of the 344 NCAA Division I programs (through games played on Dec. 4) Arkansas is one of 16 teams still undefeated.
  • This is the 12th time Arkansas has started at least 8-0.
    ^  8-0: 1925-26 / 1976-77 / 1981-82 / 1992-93 / 1997-98 / 2019-20
    ^ 10-0: 1942-43 / 1993-94
    ^ 12-0: 1926-27
    ^ 14-0: 1977-78 / 1982-83
    ^ 15-0: 1928-29 

Front Runners

  • Arkansas has scored first in 6-of-8 games — winning the tip five times.
  • No team has had better than an 8-0 run. Arkansas has gone on five double-digit runs.
  • Arkansas has led at the half in all eight games.
  • Arkansas has not trailed once in the second half.
  • Arkansas trailed once — for 20 seconds — in overtime at Georgia Tech.­

Isaiah Joe on Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List

  • Arkansas sophomore Isaiah Joe was named to the 2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.
  • FANS CAN VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE PLAYER AT: http://www.hoophallawards.com/men/vote.php

 

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.

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