Hogs Can’t Get Caught Up in Nick Smith’s Status for Bulldogs

Mississippi State is riding the crest of a hot streak that Razorbacks can't ignore.

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Feb 11, 2023 4:09 PM EST
Original:
Feb 10, 2023

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — You might want to get to Bud Walton Arena a little early Saturday.

Before Arkansas' game with Mississippi State at 5 p.m., this is one of the most anticipated pregame warmups in a long, long time.

Everybody wants to know if it's the return of Nick Smith in a uniform on the court.

The Razorbacks can't get caught up in all of that. Coach Eric Musselman's statement didn't say a thing about that Wednesday.

"We’re optimistic and hopeful that Nick will be able to play some time here in the near future," Musselman said.

That's called giving yourself some wiggle room in what has probably become a situation that has driven Musselman crazy. None of the Hogs' coaches can go into much detail on any injuries, which sends the rumor mill spinning like a jet engine for takeoff.

It's just a distraction from facing a Bulldogs' team that is rolling into town riding a little bit of a hot streak. They've won four in a row and won their game in that Big 12 challenge thing, downing TCU.

Don't be expecting a blowout.

"You’ve got to be prepared for physicality," Musselman said. "This is a team that loves to create steals. They average 10 steals a game. It’s a high-gamble team defensively. They jump in passing lanes."

His scouting report on the Bulldogs makes them sound like a Top 10 team and this is probably another one of his Super Bowl-type games.

But State is on a roll and he doesn't want a letdown after big road win at Kentucky on Tuesday night.

"The pace of play, they try to control the pace of play," he said. "It’s a paint game. You’ve got to be able to defensively defend the paint, starting with Tolu Smith inside, who’s averaging 15 points a game on the year and 13 in conference play."

Guess he'll get to meet the Mitchell Twins.

Who will probably be more important in this one than a player who hasn't been on the floor this year.