MBB Preview: Arkansas at Missouri

Mike Cawood February 7, 2020

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (16-6. 4-5 SEC) at Missouri (10-12, 2-7 SEC)
What: Razorbacks set to play first of back-to-back road games
When: Saturday – Feb. 8 – 2:30 pm
Where: Columbia, Mo. – Mizzou Arena
How (to follow):
– TV: SEC Network (Richard Cross and Barry Booker)
^ CLICK HERE to Watch ESPN/SEC Network Online
– Radio: Learfield IMG College Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
^ Listen to Razorback Sports Network Online: CLICK HERE
– Sirius/XM: XM Channel 386, Streaming Online on channel 976

– Live Stats: Missouri Live Stats

– Arkansas Game Notes: CLICK HERE
– Missouri Game Notes: CLICK HERE

Versus Missouri

This will be the 52nd meeting between Arkansas and Missouri. The Razorbacks own a 27-24 advantage in the series, including an 8-6 cushion in games since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012-13.
Arkansas has won seven of the last 10 in the series, although the teams each won three of the last six on their home court.

LAST YEAR AT ARKANSAS:

Isaiah Joe made seven 3-pointers and scored a game-high 23 points while Daniel Gafford recorded his eighth double-double of the season to lead Arkansas to a 72-60 win over Missouri.
The Razorbacks, down 17-4 to start the game, trailed at halftime but took an early lead in the second half off a Mason Jones 3-pointer. The Razorbacks would not surrender that lead over the final 17:41 of the game. However, the game remained tight until a 10-0 run by the Hogs inside the final five minutes to put the game away.
Gafford finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Jalen Harris added 10 points and six assists with zero turnovers. Chaney finished with six points, six rebounds and four assists.

LAST YEAR AT MISSOURI:

Missouri locked down Arkansas on the final defensive possession and squeaked by the Razorbacks 79-78.
The Tigers were up three points with 11 seconds remaining when Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford threw down an alley-oop dunk from Jalen Harris. On the ensuing inbound play, Missouri’s Xavier Pinson committed a push-off foul to give Arkansas the ball back and a chance to win with 10 ticks remaining.
Missouri’s Jeremiah Tilmon did not allow Harris to get a quality shot off as time expired.
Tilmon led Missouri with 21 points. Senior Jordan Geist contributed 18. Arkansas was led by Gafford (26 pts), Isaiah Joe (17 pts) and Mason Jones (12 pts).

Jones Making Case for SEC Player of the Year

Mason Jones is THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE SEC to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
Mason Jones is THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE SEC to rank among the top 20 in scoring (1st, 20.7 ppg) and rebounding (17th, 6.2 rpg) that also ranks among the SEC top 11 in steals (5th, 1.8) and assists (10th, 3.5).
Mason Jones is THE ONLY PLAYER IN SEC GAMES to rank among the top 20 in scoring (3rd, 22.0 ppg) and rebounding (17th, 6.3 rpg) that also ranks among the top 10 in steals (4th, 1.9) and assists (5th, 4.4).
Mason Jones is ONE OF TWO PLAYERS IN THE NCAA to average at least 15.0 ppg – 6.0 rpg – 3.0 assist/gm – 1.5 steal/gm:
1. Mason Jones (Arkansas) 20.7 ppg – 6.2 rpg – 3.5 apg – 1.8 spg
2. Desmond Bane (TCU) 16.3 ppg – 6.1 rpg – 3.4 apg – 1.6 spg
Mason Jones is ONE OF THREE SEC PLAYERS IN THE LAST 30 YEARS to have multiple 40-point games. Jodie Meeks (UK •3), Mason Jones (ARK • 2) and Shaquille O’Neal (LSU • 2)
Mason Jones not only leads the SEC and ranks 15th in the NCAA in scoring, AMONG PLAYERS FROM THE NCAA TOP-6 RPI CONFERENCES, Jones ranks 4th in scoring.

Sills Fills Void

In the two games Isaiah Joe has missed, Desi Sills has taken ownership of the “Next Man Up” mantra.
^ 20 gms w/ Isaiah — Sills: 9.1 ppg – 66-166 FG (.398) – 17-82 3P TFG (.207) – 30.2 min/gm – 1.1 steals/gm
^ 2 gms w/o Isaiah — Sills: 16.0 ppg – 11-18 FG (.611) – 7-9 3P TFG (.778) – 37.0 min/gm – 3.0 steals/gm
– Sills scored 18 vs TCU 7-8 FG • 3-3 3PT with 2 steals
– Sills scored 14 vs Auburn 4-10 FG • 4-6 3PT with career-high four steals
Despite shooting 26.4% from 3-pt for the season, Sills is shooting a team-best 43.5% from deep over the last 7 gms.

Free Mason; Nearing School FT Top 10

Mason Jones ranks 2nd in the NCAA in free throws made with 137 despite some recent struggles at the line.
^ Of Jones’ 30 FT misses this year, 18 have come in the last four games including 6-of-13 vs TCU and 10-of-15 vs Auburn.
^ NCAA scoring leader Markus Howard (Marquette) also leads the NCAA in FT made with 179.
Jones ranks 4th in the NCAA in free throws ATT with 167.
Jones only needs to make 16 more free throws to enter the school’s single-season top 10 (Daryl Macon made 154 in 2018). Sidney Moncrief holds the school record with 212 made in a season.

Master of the Midrange

Jimmy Whitt Jr., did not score versus Auburn but still ranks 2nd in the SEC in field goals made (135) while ranking 4th in the SEC in FG% (.513).
Whitt ranks 10th in the NCAA among guards in FG% (.513).
(@HogStats) In the 3-point era, Razorback guards have scored 20-plus points in a game without making a 3-pointer nine times. Whitt has accomplished the feat seven times while Corey Beck and Robert Shepherd each did it once.

Chaney’s Efficiency

Reggie Chaney is shooting an incredible 72.9% from the field for the season and 81.8% in league play. While he does not have enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA/SEC leaders, Chaney would rank second the nation behind of Kansas’ Udoka Azubuike’ (76.3% • 119-of-165).
Chaney has made 24 of his last 31 shots (77.4%) including a streak of 13 consecutive field goals made to start the span.
Chaney was 0-of-3 in the first half versus TCU, but was 3-of-3 in the second half, scoring six straight points for the Hogs to push a 3-point lead into a 9-point lead. He was an SEC career-best 4-of-5 at the free throw line at Alabama.

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