Inside Game Has to Show Up Again for Razorbacks Saturday

Stopping Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe second time might be tall order for Hogs.

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Mar 3, 2023 6:11 AM EST
Original:
Mar 2, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For a team in Arkansas' position right now, getting Kentucky for the season finale may be a big challenge.

Nobody said it would be easy.

Especially after the Razorbacks held reigning player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe in check on Feb. 7 in a relatively easy way.

"Whatever happened last game, whether a player has a great game or a player struggles, it’s kind of out the door," Hogs coach Eric Musselman said Thursday. "You look at Tshiebwe’s average and can you hold him under his average? That’s the goal with anyone we play who we deem a star player.

"We’ll take a look at Oscar’s numbers — field goal percentage, number of free throws attempted that he has, the offensive rebounds that he averages, his point total, his efficiency numbers — and we’ll try to shrink those numbers to the best of our ability. Just under his average will be our goal with him in particular, as well as what we deem their other star players as well."

He's averaging over 16 points per game this season and he's over 20 points a game in the six games since they lost to the Hogs, who held him in check the first time.

The players know it's going to be a tall order.

Against Tennessee last week, they sold out to stop the outside shooting and most of the inside guys seemed at times to take the day off. It worked out badly in a blowout loss.

Makhi and Makhel Mitchell stepped up big against the Wildcats in the first meeting and that type of game is going to be need again Saturday.

"There really weren't any secrets, it was just the twins," senior Kamani Johnson said. He will be playing his final regular-season game for the Hogs. "They did a great job on him. They're big, physical. So I think they just match up really, really well with him. I have confidence that they're going to duplicate it Saturday."

The guards are going to have to be involved, too.

"We’ve got to kind of paint the picture like we’re clogging the lane, like he doesn’t have a lot of space to just move around," point guard Anthony Black said Thursday. "We’re going to try and make him play in crowds. He’s a really good player, so we’ve got to help our bigs out."

Saying it all is one thing.

Saturday, they'll have to do it on the court.