No. 25 Arkansas Ready For High-Scoring Iona

AT A GLANCE
Less than 40 hours removed from a hard-fought win over North Texas, No. 25 Arkansas will look to finished the month of November unbeaten when it welcomes Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) favorite Iona to Bud Walton Arena. Two of the top scoring teams in the nation with up-tempo styles of play, both Arkansas and Iona enter averaging at least 88 points per game to lead each of their respective conferences. The game will feature eight players – four from each team – averaging double figure points, while the two teams have a combined 107 three-pointers. A win would give the Razorbacks their first 6-0 start since 1997-98.

RAZORBACKS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
For the first time since November of 2007, Arkansas found itself inside the top 25 when the Associated Press poll was released on Monday. With its two wins this week, Arkansas now stands at 380-101 all-time as a ranked team, including 69-6 at Bud Walton Arena.

GAMEDAY #RAZORFACTS

GAME

Arkansas (5-0) vs Iona (4-1)

DATE | TIME

Sunday, November 30, 2014 | 2:30 P.M. CT

SITE | ARENA

Fayetteville, Ark. | Bud Walton Arena (19,200)

TV | VIDEO

SEC Network

TALENT

Doug Bell (P-B-P) & Darrin Horn (Analyst)

AUDIO

Razorback/IMG Sports Network

TALENT

Scott Inman (P-B-P) & Scotty Thurman (Analyst)

LIVE STATS

www.ArkansasRazorbacks.com

SOCIAL

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

HASHTAGS

#Fastest40 | #WeHogs

STREAK

W5

AT BUD WALTON UNDER COACH A

55-6

VS IONA

First Meeting

VS MEAC

5-1

NEXT UP

vs. No. 13 Iowa State (Dec. 4)

#RAZORSTAT
Arkansas is one of just four teams in the country to score 78 or more points in every game this season.

@RAZORBACKMBB FAST BREAK FACTS
•Off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 2006-07.
•First 5-0 start with a true road win since 1993-94.
•Looking for first 6-0 start since 1997-98.
•Own an 18-game home non-conference win streak.
•One of three unbeaten teams in the SEC.
•Trailed in the second half for a total of 2:39 on the year and haven’t faced a two-possession deficit.
•Ranked for the first time since November of 2007, snapping a streak of 225 games played as an unranked team.
•Own a 380-101 record all-time as a ranked team.

OFFENSE
•Only team in the SEC and one four teams in the country that hasn’t been held below 78 points.
•First time since 1993-94 Arkansas has scored 78+ points in each of the first five games.
•Hold the early lead in the SEC in scoring (89.2), three-pointers per game (8.4), three-point percentage (.461) and assists (21.2).
•Eight different players have reached double figures, while no one has led the team in scoring back-to-back games.
•Three different players have scored 20 points in a game with someone reaching 20 points in four of five games.
•Held below 40 points in a half just three times.
•First time since 2000-01 that Arkansas has 20+ assists in three of the first five games.
•Own a 3-0 record when passing out 20+ assists while coach Anderson is 84-1 all-time when his teams accomplish the feat.
•Out-scored each opponent in bench points and 156-107 for the year.
•Led at the half in all five games and nine straight at home.
•Held below 70 points just once over the last 24 games at BWA.
•Averaging 89.2 points over 18-game home non-conference win streak.

THE #FASTEST40
•Forced its opponents into double-digit turnovers in five halves.
•Hold the early lead the SEC in steals (9.8), turnover margin (+7.4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.8).
•Out-scoring opponents 119-56 in points off turnovers.
•Finished with a positive assist/turnover ratio in each game while only one opponent has accomplished the feat.
•Won the turnover battle each game and 88 of 103 under coach Anderson.
•Forced opponents into 20 turnovers 23 times (22-1) under Anderson, including three times this season.

COACHING MATCHUP
@RazorbackMBB
Head Coach: Mike Anderson (Tulsa ‘82)
Record at Arkansas: 64-39 (4th Season)
Overall Record: 264-137 (13th Season)
Vs. Iona: First Meeting

Iona
Head Coach: Tim Cluess (Hofstra ‘83)
Record at Iona: 96-46 (5th Season)
Overall Record: 481-157 (24th Season)
Vs. Arkansas: First Meeting

BUCKLE UP
Sunday’s showdown features two of the top 12 teams in the nation in scoring offense, as Arkansas leads the SEC at 89.2 points per game while Iona in tops in the MAAC at a 88.0 clip. Neither team has been held below 70 points on the year, while a total of 12 players in the game are averaging over six points. The Razorback offense has seen eight different players reach double figures on the year and is fueled by a nation’s-best 21.2 assists per game. On the flipside, Iona has had two players reach 30 points is the top three-point shooting team in the country with 65 makes and an average of 13.0 triples per game.

SHARE THE ROCK 
After leading the SEC in assists last season, Arkansas is back at it again this year. Through their first five games, the Razorbacks are averaging a nation-best 21.2 assists, highlighted by three games of 20+ assists. It marks the first time since 2000-01 that Arkansas has passed out 20+ assists in three of the first five games, led by senior RASHAD MADDEN who is third in the SEC in helpers per game (5.8). Madden has 20 assists over the last three games, while eight different players have passed out three or more assists in a game. Arkansas has assisted on 106 of its 154 made field goals, good for a staggering 69 percent clip.

ALL-ENERGY TEAM
Sophomore MANUALE WATKINS and junior JACOREY WILLIAMS were the talk of coach Anderson’s summer and preseason press conferences. Anderson bragged about Watkins’ major improvement while indicating Williams was the most in-shape player on the team. Anderson’s statements have proved to be right as the duo are the major contributors to Arkansas’ 156-107 scoring margin in bench points through the first five games. Watkins’ impact has been felt most on the defensive end, as he ranks fourth in the SEC in steals per game (2.4) and has already surpassed his season totals from a year ago in every statistical category. Williams snapped a streak of 41 straight games without reaching double figures in the second game of the season and is averaging 8.8 points off the pine in 19.4 minutes. Watkins and Williams both hold a plus/minus rating of at least +50 off the bench.