Oh, So This Was More What Razorback Fans Expected

Nick Smith Jr. pours in 26 points as Hogs get dominating 97-65 win over Georgia

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Feb 22, 2023 10:49 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Razorbacks' dominating 97-65 win over Georgia on Tuesday night was a welcome relief.

Don't get carried away with this Arkansas win (the Bulldogs aren't very good), but this is a little more what fans expected all year.

Nick Smith, Jr. is finally starting to look a little bit more like what everyone had been looking for all season long.

It also explains how much he brings, especially on offense.

"Obviously getting Nick Smith back getting into the flow it really, really changes us," Hogs coach Eric Musselman said. "I give our guys a ton of credit playing the way they have without Nick, without (Trevon Brazile). Getting Nick back at this time of year is so huge for us."

Smith scored a season-high 26 points, making five 3-pointers, and Ricky Council IV pumped in 21, making three 3-pointers.

Throw in another big game by freshman point guard Anthony Black (10 points, 8 assists) and an offense that finally looks like they are playing together (26 assists) and nobody may want to play them right now.

"We’re getting better," Musselman said, noting they have won seven of their last nine SEC games. "And two games that were certainly winnable that we didn’t win so I think we’re playing really good basketball at the right time of the year."

Arkansas Razorbacks assistant coach Keith Smart with Eric Musselman on the sidelines against the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena. — (Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images)

Whatever's going on at Alabama won't have much to do with the way the Hogs get ready for Saturday's matchup in Tuscaloosa. That's for them to sort out.

The Hogs are hot right now, rolling over Florida and the Bulldogs.

Smith and Ricky Council IV (22 points) got the points, but it was Black who directed it all with his playmaking.

Black found Council on a baseline cut for an alley-oop finish and another jump-hook from Jalen Graham sent Arkansas into the final media break of the half with a 38-18 lead and 3:52 on the clock.

From there, it was just a matter of the final score. The Bulldogs hadn't given anyone any expectation of a big comeback.

The Hogs set a program record for the best shooting percentage in an SEC game (63.8%), shot 55.5% from 3-point range (11-of-20) and dished out a season-high 26 assists.

By the Numbers

• The 26 assists ties for the fifth-most by the Hogs in an SEC game.

• Overall, Arkansas has 266 passes for the game, the most by any Eric Musselman, college team.

• The 32-point win was the biggest margin of victory by Arkansas in the Georgia series and the ninth-largest margin of victory in an SEC game.

• Arkansas made a season-high 11 3-pointers (20 attempts)

• Arkansas committed a season-low five turnovers. It was just the third time Arkansas had single-digit turnovers this year, committing nine each versus Creighton and Oklahoma.

In addition to Smith and Council, Arkansas was led by Anthony Black, Jordan Walsh and Davonte Davis.

Black scored 10 points and, for the third time this season, dished out a career-high eight assists. It was the first time this season he did not commit a turnover. Walsh scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds with two steals. Davis only scored four points (going 2-of-2 from the field) and only grabbed one rebound. However, he was a team-best +30 for the game and he held UGA’s leading scorer Terry Roberts to 2-of-9 shooting and just four points.

Game Notes

• After a 1-5 start to SEC play, Arkansas has won seven of its last nine SEC games.

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Nick Smith Jr. – Davonte Davis – Jordan Walsh – Makhi Mitchell for the second time.

• Arkansas won the tip.

• Davonte Davis scored the first points, a layup at 19:43.

• Ricky Council IV was the first Razorback sub.

• Arkansas is 13-3 all-time versus the Bulldogs in games played in Fayetteville.

• This was the second time this season Smith and Council each scored 20-plus points in a game. The other time was when Council scored 26 and Smith 21 in the win over Oklahoma, which was the last game the duo played both halves of a game.

• Ricky Council IV is the only Razorback to come off the bench and have at least 22 points, four assists and zero turnovers (HogStats.com).

• The five turnovers tie for the fewest by Arkansas in the Musselman era, the fifth-fewest by an Arkansas team in an SEC game and the fewest since having four in a win over Georgia in 2019.

• Arkansas, the SEC leader in field goal percentage, shot 62.8% - its best in an SEC game. Earlier this season, Arkansas shot a then program record in an SEC game by making 62.7% of its shots at Kentucky. Arkansas has shot at least 44% from the field in 12 straight games and has shot at least 50% from the field in four of the last eight games.

• This was the third-straight time and fifth time in the last eight games Arkansas has held its opponent below 40% from the field.

• Makhi Mitchell tied a season-high four assists, which is his high in an SEC game. He was second on the team with a +25.

• Arkansas “only” had four blocked shots, snapping a streak of eight-straight games with at least five rejections.

Game numbers and notes provided by Arkansas Communications are included in this story.