MBB Preview: Arkansas vs. Tennessee

Mike Cawood February 25, 2020

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (17-10, 5-9 SEC) vs Tennessee Volunteers (15-12, 7-7 SEC)
What: Razorbacks have won five straight versus Tennessee in Bud Walton Arena.
When: Wednesday – Feb. 26 – 7:30 pm
Where: Fayetteville, Ark. – Bud Walton Arena / Nolan Richardson Court
How (to follow):
– TV: SEC Network (Mike Morgan and Jon Sunvold)
^ 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 374, Streaming Online on channel 374
– Live Stats: www.Arkansas.Statbroadcast.com
– In Person: PURCHASE TICKETS

– Arkansas Game Notes: CLICK HERE
– Tennessee Game Notes: CLICK HERE
– Fan Game Day Information: CLICK HERE

Versus Tennessee

This will be the 44th meeting between Arkansas and Tennessee with all but four coming since the Razorbacks joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season.
Tennessee has won three straight to take a 22-20 advantage in the series. However, Arkansas is 10-4 versus the Volunteers in Fayetteville, including a streak of five straight wins.

EARLIER THIS YEAR IN KNOXVILLE:

Tennessee had five players score double-digits, including a game-high 20 points and eight assists from Santiago Vescovi, to lead the Volunteers to an 82-61 victory over Arkansas at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Jimmy Whitt Jr., led Arkansas with 19 points, making a career-high 11-of-16 at the free throw line, and added three steals.
Arkansas had its lowest point total of the year and shot a season-low 30.6% to fall by double figures for the first time all season.
Both teams struggled out of the gate with the score being 10-6 nine minutes into the contest. Tennessee led by seven, 18-11 with eight minutes left in the first half. From that point, the Vols went on a 21-9 run to lead by 19 (39-20) with 1:33 left and never looked back.
Desi Sills scored 11 points for the Razorbacks and Reggie Chaney added 10 points and six rebounds. Ethan Henderson had an SEC career-high four rebounds and he played an SEC career-high 16 minutes. Jamario Bell saw his most action (5:21) and blocked two shots.

Joe Returns; Scores 21

Isaiah Joe returned to the Razorback lineup versus Missouri after missing five games due to knee surgery. The Razorbacks were 0-5 with Joe out of the lineup including two overtime losses (vs Auburn and at Missouri) and a loss at the buzzer versus Mississippi State.
Joe finished with a game-high 21 points in his return (5-of-10 from 3PT) with three rebounds, three assists, one steal and one charge taken.
Joe started and played 38 minutes. He made his first field goal – a 3-pointer – with 6:05 in the first half to cut an eight-point deficit to five. He hit his second triple at 1:22 before halftime to give Arkansas its first lead – one it would not relinquish.
In the second half and Arkansas up two with 8:06 to play, Joe got a steal that led to a Desi Sills 3-pointer. With Arkansas up two with 2:14 to play, Joe drained a 3-pointer. A minute later with Arkansas up three, Joe hit a triple from the top of the key.

Other Reflections from Missouri Game

Arkansas had five players score in double figures versus Missouri. Isaiah Joe 21, Desi Sills 17, Jimmy Whit Jr. 14, Mason Jones 12 and Adrio Bailey 10. The only other time Arkansas had five players score in double digits in a game was …. an overtime loss at Missouri.
Arkansas held Missouri to 18.8% from 3PT range in Columbia and 19.0% in Fayetteville. However, Arkansas made two key improvements:
^ Mizzou won in OT as it was 34-44 FT and out-rebounded ARK 52-35.
^ Mizzou lost as it was 16-20 FT and only out-rebounded ARK 36-23.

Jones’ Record Watch

Jones is five points shy of 1,000 for his career. He will be the 44th Razorback to reach 1,000 career points and just the 8th to do it in two years as a Razorback, joining Tod Day, Scotty Thurman, Dusty Hannahs, Bobby Portis, Jaylen Barford, Daryl Macon and Martin Terry.
Jones has made 186 free throws this season and ranks 6th on the school’s single-season list.
Jones has made 109 free throws versus SEC competition this season to tie Corliss Williamson (1994-95) for the school record.
Jones has scored 295 points versus SEC competition this season to rank 6th on the school’s single-season list. Todd Day owns the record with 368 in 1991-92.
Jones is averaging 20.5 ppg for the season, which currently ranks 8th on the school’s single-season list. Only nine Razorbacks have finished the season averaging at least 20 ppg.
Jones is averaging 21.1 ppg in SEC play, which currently ranks third. Only three Razorbacks have finished the season averaging at least 20 points in SEC play.

Jones and Joe Up for National Awards

Mason Jones was one of 30 players named to the midseason list for the 2020 Citizen Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
^ Also making the 30-player list from the SEC were Anthony Edwards (UGA) and Nick Richards (UK).
Isaiah Joe was named 1 of 10 finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
^ Also making the 10-player list were fellow SEC players — Anthony Edwards (Georgia), Tyrese Maxey (Kentucky) and Skylar Mays (LSU).

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