Preview - SEC Tournament

Mario Bravante March 4, 2020

INFO
Date: Thursday, March 5 – Sunday March 8
Game One: vs. Auburn, Approx. 1:30 p.m. CT
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena
TV: SEC Network

LAST TIME OUT

Arkansas bounced back in a big way in the regular season finale, beating LSU, 75-71, on senior day.
Fittingly, Arkansas was led by its senior duo, as Alexis Tolefree went for a game-high 17 points, while Kiara Williams went for nine points and four rebounds, all of which came on the offensive glass.
Junior forward Taylah Thomas nearly double-doubled, going for 10 points and eight boards, while guards Chelsea Dungee and A’Tyanna Gaulden both reached double figures, going for 10 and 11 points, respectively.
Tolefree went for 15+ for the fifth time over the last six games.
Dungee had two big blocked shots in this game.
Williams’ four offensive boards matched her season high.
Gaulden got into double-figures for the second straight game, and for the ninth time this season.
The Hogs and Tigers traded blows all day, as no team ever led by more than eight points. LSU made it close late in the fourth, pulling to within two on several occasions.
After two Tolefree free throws, LSU would hit two freebies of its own to bring it back to two, as the Hogs led 73-71 with 24 seconds to play. After a near turnover due to LSU’s full court press, Dungee stepped to the line and calmly knocked down the decisive free throws.

STORYLINES

No. 25 Arkansas split its final two SEC games in the regular season, falling to No. 10 Mississippi State before rebounding with a Senior Day win over LSU.
The Razorbacks reentered the AP Poll this week after dropping out, coming in at No. 25. The Hogs are still on the outside looking in in the Coaches Poll.
Arkansas’ offense has been simply dominant so far this season, pouring in 84.4 points per game, the third-best mark in the NCAA, trailing only Oregon and DePaul.
With their win against LSU, the 2019-20 Hogs matched the program record for most SEC wins in a single season, with 10. The only other team to do so was the 2011-12 Arkansas team.
It was only the third time ever Arkansas finished with a winning conference record since entering the SEC, joining the 2011-12 team (10-6) and the 1994-95 team (7-4).
Arkansas’ 22 regular season wins in 2019-20 is the most for the program since 2012.
The Razorbacks were well represented on the All-SEC teams this season, as Alexis Tolefree was named to the First Team, while Chelsea Dungee was named to the Second Team.
For Tolefree, it was her first SEC honor, and the first First Team selection for Arkansas since 2016.
For Dungee, it was her second straight season garnering Second Team honors.
The last time Mike Neighbors and the Razorbacks rolled into Greenville, they made history.
Seeded 10th in last season’s SEC Tournament, the Razorbacks advanced all the way to the Championship Game.
They became the first team in program history to advance to the final, while also becoming the first 10 seed to ever make a run to the championship.
Chelsea Dungee went supernova in the tournament, breaking the SEC Tournament record for most points, scoring 103 over the Hogs’ four game run (25.8 PPG).
On their way to the final, the Hogs upset No. 12 South Carolina in the quarterfinals, before using a 17-0 run to erase a 16-point deficit vs. No. 15 Texas A&M in the semifinals.

SCOUTING AUBURN

After their win against Vanderbilt in the first round of the SEC Tournament, Auburn will face Arkansas in round two.
Auburn finished at 4-12 in SEC play, and at 10-17 overall.
The Hogs took the first and only meeting between the two teams this season, beating Auburn on the Plains, 86-70.
Amber Ramirez played one of her best games of the season against the Tigers, going for 25 points. She also made seven threes in the game, a season-high.
Chelsea Dungee was also productive against Auburn, going for 19 points on six of 10 shooting.
Arkansas defense was also good in the game, holding All-SEC First Teamer Unique Thompson to just six points.
Thompson was a force on the block during SEC play, averaging a double-double, pouring in 14.3 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Daisa Alexander was also good for the Tigers during the conference schedule, averaging 4.1 assists per game.
It will be a test of styles on Thursday, as the Hogs rarely turn it over, while the Tigers are excellent in forcing them.
Auburn led the league in steals during conference play, nabbing 11.4 of them per game. Arkansas only turned the ball over 11.8 times per contest, though, the second best rate in the league.

MORE INFORMATION

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