Preview - No. 25 Arkansas vs. No. 1 South Carolina

Mario Bravante February 5, 2020

INFO
Date: Thursday, Feb. 6
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Opponent: No. 1 South Carolina
Location: Bud Walton Arena
TV: SEC Network
Tickets: In advance: $5 Adults | $3 Youth (12 & under) / At the door: All tickets $5 | Ticket Stub from MBB vs. Auburn in FREE
Promotions: Pregame Chalk Talk | Postgame Autographs

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LAST TIME OUT

No. 25 Arkansas overcame a 13-point deficit with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter to beat Mizzou on Sunday at Mizzou Arena, winning in overtime, 85-81.
The comeback was the largest for the Hogs since last year’s epic win over Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament, and it gave the Razorbacks their first win in Columbia since 2014.
Senior guard Alexis Tolefree went supernova against the Tigers, pouring in a career-high 35 points in the win.
The senior did it all on Sunday, shooting 12 of 23 from the field, five of 11 from deep, and six of 10 at the stripe. Tolefree was elite when it mattered most, scoring 14 of the Hogs’ 23 points in the fourth quarter to get the game to overtime.
Redshirt junior guard Amber Ramirez was also excellent for Head Coach Mike Neighbors on Sunday afternoon, going for 24 points, her second straight game eclipsing 20 points.
Tolefree’s 35-point showing was one of just 14 35+ point games ever by a Razorback.
Tolefree’s 35 points were the most in her career. It was also her first 30+ point performance as a Razorback, and the second most points scored by a Hog this season.
Tolefree’s 35 points were the most ever by a Razorback on the road in a regular season SEC game.
Her 12 makes in the game set a new career-high, while her six free throws made matched her career-best.
Ramirez became the first Hog since Chelsea Dungee last season to score 22 or more in consecutive SEC games.
The sharpshooter also went wire-to-wire against Mizzou, playing all 45 minutes, a new-career-high.
Thomas led the Hogs on the glass, pulling down nine rebounds.

STORYLINES

No. 25 Arkansas is rolling midway through the conference schedule, as the Hogs have won three straight games, including going a perfect 2-0 on the road this week.
The Hogs went to Alabama and won, 66-48, followed by a thrilling overtime win in Columbia, as the Hogs came back from 13 down to beat Missouri, 85-81. \
Arkansas’ offense has been simply dominant so far this season, pouring in 84.1 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the NCAA.
An improving defense, and several blowout wins during the conference season, has helped Arkansas produce the eighth-best scoring differential (+21.2) in the NCAA.
Through nine games in the SEC, Arkansas leads the league in three-pointers made per game (9.8), and is second in scoring offense (80.0) and three-point field goal percentage (.378).
Mizzou had all of the momentum, and appeared to be on the verge of an upset, midway through the fourth quarter in Sunday’s game, as the Tigers led the Hogs by 13 points with 5:35 to play. That 13-point advantage, one that saw the Razorbacks down 69-56, was the biggest for Missouri all game.
The Hogs responded with authority, though, clawing all the way back to tie it up at 74 by going on an 18-5 run the rest of the way. Neighbors’ squad rose up defensively in the period, forcing Mizzou into six turnovers in the fourth.
The comeback was the largest for the Razorbacks since last season’s epic comeback win vs. Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA

No. 1 South Carolina enters Thursday night at 21-1. They are undefeated through nine games in the SEC so far in 2020.
The Gamecocks are an absolute force on both ends of the floor, as they are ranked fifth in scoring offense (83.3) and 25th in scoring defense (56.0) in the NCAA.
South Carolina is one of seven teams in the NCAA with a better point differential than the Razorbacks (+27.3).
Carolina has arguably been better during conference play, as they lead the league in scoring offense (86.6), scoring margin (+25.9), field goal percentage (.480), and rebounds per game (46.3).
This Gamecock team is among the most balanced in program history in terms of scoring and defending. Carolina’s current 83.3 points per game is the best scoring average in program history by 3.1 ppg (1988-89, 80.2 ppg).
This season’s defense allowing just 56.0 points per game would be sixth in program history (all coming in the Staley era). The mark bests last year’s 66.8 scoring defense by a wide margin and edges out the 2016-17 National Championship team’s 56.9 pace.
The Gamecocks have been busy in the paint on the defensive end as well, blocking 8.3 shots per game to lead the nation. Tennessee is second at 7.5.
South Carolina opened the season by tying the school record for blocked shots in a game (16 vs. Alabama State, Nov. 5) then broke that record three games later with 17 against Appalachian State (Nov. 17). They have blocked at
least 10 shots four other times.
The Gamecocks’ top shot blocker, Aliyah Boston, is 17th in the country with 2.6 blocks per game. She has blocked three or more shots 10 times this season, including three SEC games.
Sophomore Destanni Henderson has been a dominant force in the last three games, pouring in 11.7 points per game on 57.1 percent field goal shooting while handing out 3.7 assists per game.
With 20 points against Tennessee on Sunday, Zia Cooke joined A’ja Wilson with a Gamecock freshman-record three 20-point SEC games.

MORE INFORMATION

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