Hog basketball

 I had a chance to see the Red and White game.  The biggest problem Arkansas has had is the lack of size and inside presence (rebounding and block shots).  There is no question Arkansas has shooter....allot of them.  But, when shooters are not hitting their shots what do you do?  You post up and force teams to the middle to open the outside up.  Who on Arkansas is going to help this year?  Well, let's look at the potential list of inside men.


1.   Abayomi Iyiola 6'9'' F.  What you like about him:  Has long arms.  Concerns:  He needs work.  Not very fast going down the court.  Not great at posting up.  Could develop into a shot blocker but that will take some time.  Very weak with the ball and bring it down low too much making it easy for smaller guys to steal the ball.

2.  Emeka Obukwelu 6'8'' F.  What you like about him:  Very strong young man with great work ethic.  Loves to go get the ball.  Plays decent with his back to the ball. Great vision and passer from the top of the key and is a good mid range shooter.  Concerns:  Just ok athletically, he is not going to outjump most on the team.  Needs to develop more post of moves.  In my opinion is this may be Arkansas best option.  At 6'8'' he will be undersized.

3.  Ethan Henderson 6'8'' F.  What you like about him:  Just an over all great kid with a great attitude.  Can block shots.  Always plays 100%  Concerns:  He is a project.  There is so much he needs to work on in his game.  He is not athletic.  Play weak.  Needs footwork and develop a hook shot and post up moves.  

4.  Connor Vanover  7'3'' F.  What you like about him:  Good outside shooter.  Very smart in school.  Concerns:  Not athletic at all.  Doesn't like to play with his back to the basket.  Loves to pull up from the 3 point line.  At his height he should be a shot blocker Arkansas can depend on.  He is not.  He provides height in the middle but will get posted up by smaller guys rather easily. He likes to step out and shoot the 3.  We have enough guys who can do that.  Would be nice for him to be more inside minded but he just can't fix his mind to do that.  

5.  Jaylin Williams 6'10''.  What you like about him:  This kid plays with some dog in him.  He wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line.  Concerns:  He can handle the rock and shoot from the outside.  It would be nice for him to develop his post up game.  He wants to handle the ball like a guard.  Needs to watch his turnovers.  I really like this kids game with the exception of his inside game and that's what Arkansas needs most right now.  They have him listed at 6'10'', he is close to 6'8''.  He is just a freshman.


That's really it.  I hear allot of people talk about V. Jackson and J. Smith.  But, they are parameter guys. It looks to be another year of a bunch of shooters and no big inside presence.  I will be rooting for them.  But, I feel they will have the same struggles they did last year against teams that have an athletic big guy.  Like Perry.  Perry killed Arkansas last year at Miss. St. Where do you think we are going to be post up guys for Arkansas??


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jets need Brandon Allen at QB: Why the Broncos turned to Brandon Allen as backup quarterback Allen, a 2016 sixth-round NFL draft pick from Arkansas, was picked up on waivers from the Rams

Image
I have watched this game tonight between Browns and Jets and I am convinced that the Jets who have gone through 2 QBs do not have legit QB on the team. Brandon Allen, Dak Prescott and Chad Kelly all have equivalent stats in SEC and got drafted same time.  I think if Brandon was with NY Jets he may be viewed as a star. It is 3rd qtr and no Jet QB has completed any pass beyond the line of scrimmage. Kyle Fredrickson, The Denver Post  Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen speaks to reporters on Monday, Sept. 2, after being released by the Rams and picked up by Denver. Allen will be starter Joe Flacco’s backup on Week 1 at the Raiders. By  KYLE FREDRICKSON  |  kfredrickson@denverpost.com  | The Denver Post September 3, 2019 at 6:00 am Brandon Allen described his previous 48 hours as a “whirlwind,” because he’s still spinning from a Sunday morning phone call. Allen, a fourth-year NFL quarterback released from the Los Angeles Rams on roster cut-down d
Read more

Gabe Osabuohien dismissed from Razorbacks

Razorback forward  Gabe Osabuohien  was dismissed from the basketball team on Thursday. Osabuohien, 6-8, 221, played 15.1 minutes per game during the 2018-19 season. He started in the last eight games for the Hogs, and the Little Rock Southwestern Christian product by way of Canada averaged 3.1 points per contest and brought down 3.2 rebounds. As a freshman, he played in 20 games and averaged 1.1 points per game for the Razorbacks.  Here is the official release from the UA:  FAYETTEVILLE  – University of Arkansas head men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman announced today that forward Gabe Osabuohien has been dismissed from the program.   “We have set a level of expectations for our student-athletes on and off the court,” Musselman said. “After discussions with Gabe, it was decided that it would be best to part ways. We thank him for his time at Arkansas and wish him well.”   Osabuohien played in 54 games with eight starts in his two seasons with Arkansas. He scored 128 p
Read more

Does well-traveled Eric Musselman have the right formula at Arkansas?

Image
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- "The Twins won again?" It's just past 6 a.m. on an offseason Tuesday. There are only two other people in the basketball weight room, but new  Arkansas Razorbacks  coach Eric Musselman -- speaking from the treadmill in one corner of the room -- is already in midday form. ADVERTISEMENT He's shuffling through newspapers and printed-out pages during his workout, tossing them on the floor when he's finished reading. On this morning, Musselman is intrigued by a story about first-year Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli has the Twins atop the American League Central -- and he's doing it in a unique way. He gives his players more off-days. There was a "nap room" added to Target Field. He makes batting practice optional. Musselman is riveted, and he isn't even a Twins fan. EDITOR'S PICKS Chasing Ghosts - Can Arkansas turn page on Nolan Richardson era? Projecting the Eric Musselman era at Arkansas
Read more

THE REAL PROBLEM WITH HOGS BASKETBALL

 I posted another article about the basketball program and after 6 games I am still not impressed.  The 6-0 start and top 5 recruiting class has made Arkansas fans delusional.  But, that's how fans are.  Some fans believe if you are not bragging about the program or always thinking positive you can't be a fan.  Newsflash, it's okay to tell it like it is and still be a fan.   The real problem with the Hogs??  The inside game or rather the lack of is going to be a big problem for them.  Yes, folks that's the same problem they had last year.  Did anyone watch them play against UCA?  They got out rebounded by a team that won't come close to winning their own conference.  You heard me right.  Out rebounded by a Southland Conference team. The biggest problem last year was lack of size.  And once again it's the same problem again this year.   There are many fans that are so excited and actually believe that Muss is doing a great job.  My question is how?  There argumen
Read more

Now or never for Razorback senior Jamario Bell

https://247sports.com/college/arkansas/Article/Jamario-Bell-Arkansas-Razorbacks-production--134243362/ Jamario Bell  has finally settled into a position at defensive end for Arkansas, and he has one more opportunity to leave his mark as a senior in 2019. Bell, 6-5, 265, played in 11 of 12 games for the Hogs in 2018, racking up 20 total tackles and 11 solo stops. Athletic for his size, the Junction City (Ark.) product showed out in a 37-33 loss to Ole Miss at War Memorial Stadium, making a tackle for a 5-yard loss, forcing a fumble and hurrying the quarterback. The big end showed flashes of greatness, but he needs to put it all together in his final season of eligibility. “Jamario, same way, now it's time,” Arkansas head coach  Chad Morris  said. “It's time. You've been here, been in the program, you're from Arkansas it's time now to really take it over the top. Really come in here and really make a difference in your position room. We've challenged him, C
Read more