Razorbacks’ Ricky Council Picks Moving into Leadership Role

After big games against San Jose State, Troy he picks up SEC top player honors

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Dec 5, 2022 6:45 PM EST

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

Who: No. 9-8 Arkansas Razorbacks (7-1, 0-0 SEC) vs UNC-Greensboro Spartans (4-5, 0-0 SoCon)

What: This will be the second all-time meeting between Arkansas and UNC-Greensboro.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m.

Where: Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.

Watch: SEC Network (Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw)

Listen Online: HitThatLine.com

Listen: ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home

Ricky Council-San Jose State — Arkansas Razorbacks Ricky Council has a big dunk in a 99-58 win over San Jose State on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. (Gunnar Rathbun / Arkansas Communications)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ricky Council IV might be exceeding a lot of expectations at Arkansas.

"He's had a phenomenal start to the season, without a question," Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said at his press conference previewing Tuesday's night matchup with North Carolina-Greensboro.

Council's backboard-shaking dunks get a lot of the attention, but he's also knocking down three-pointers. He's averaged over 20 points a game against Troy and San Jose State.

On Monday he was named the top player of the week in the SEC.

"He's done a great job of attacking both in the half-court and in transition," Musselman said. "He has the ability to make three-point shots."

Plus he's playing defense and has improved other aspects of his game.

"He's further ahead maybe than what we thought at this juncture of the season of being really good in ball screens and handling in pick-and-rolls," Musselman said. "A couple of the games in Maui, one of them he was used as a ball handler in pick-and-roll and another game we tried to (isolate) him on the elbow."

Council and the Hogs may have lots of chances against UNC-Greensboro on Tuesday night. They aren't very good and he grew up about an hour away.

120322-Anthony Black-San Jose State-nelson-2

Game Notes

• This will be the second time Arkansas and UNC Greensboro have met. Arkansas won the first meeting, 89-74, on Dec. 10, 2001, in what was Nolan Richardson’s 500th career win.

• Council grew up an hour from Greensboro and his sister, Rhianna, played two seasons of basketball at St. Bonaventure before playing her final two seasons (2019-21) at UNCG.

• Council was named the SEC Player of the Week after averaging 22.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting 70 percent from the field in wins over Troy and San Jose State. He is the SEC leader in scoring (19.8 points per game) and minutes played (35:41 avg.).

• Anthony Black is the only point guard to rank among the SEC top 20. Additionally, he is just 1 of 2 guards to make the list (with Mizzou’s Kobe Brown). Black Is the only player in the SEC to rank among the league’s top 20 in assists (9); steals (10); scoring (17); rebounding (18)

• Arkansas’ next two games will be away from Bud Walton Arena but the Razorbacks will be considered the home team. First, on Dec. 10: Arkansas will play in the second annual Crimson and Cardinal Classic versus Oklahoma at Tulsa’s BOK Center. Second, on Dec. 17, Arkansas will make its annual trip to North Little Rock to host Bradley.