Shot Selection, Ball Movement to Help Hogs Defensively

Mired at 6-4, Razorbacks have an opportunity for fresh start in North Little Rock.

Author:
Jacob Davis
Publish date:
Dec 15, 2023 12:57 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas plays a second straight neutral site game Saturday, hosting Lispcomb at 5 p.m. inside Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Ark. The Razorbacks are looking to hit the reset button on a non-conference schedule that's seen a few ups but plenty of downs through ten games. Struggles on defense, lack of offensive rebounding from guards and shot selection have been key issues Eric Musselman has identified as reasons for inconsistent play.

Musselman has made it abundantly clear that his standard for defense has fallen short with this team. Losing track of guards on dribble drives to either dish out a dunk or lay in a basket has the fifth year coach questioning what he's taught all along. However, don't expect him to back down now because it sounds like his team will learn the hard way.

"Obviously defensively, not up to standards of what we’ve had the last nine years," Musselman said. "Something’s got to give there. We’ve had some great games of ball movement and played really well in those, and we’ve had some other games of not-good ball movement. So something’s got to give there."

Mention of great ball movement was in reference to games like Duke inside Bud Walton Arena when the Razorbacks played to their high preseason expectations with an 80-75 victory. The Hogs dished 17 assists on 26 made baskets and recorded 40 rebounds on the night. Crashing the offensive boards hasn't always been that easy for the Razorbacks this season as they trail opponents 104-92 in the category. Much of that is guards not creating enough chance to follow missed shots or attack the rim. One surprising statistic is Tramon Mark has played 267 minutes, third on the team, but has yet to pull in an offensive board.

Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman against Furman on Monday night

"Shot selection would be the number one thing that affects a team's defense," Musselman said. "That's the number one spot you start with, and then the second spot you start with when you ask about offense affecting defense is your lack of positive offensive rebounding. We've got some guys who haven't gotten an offensive rebound."

The Hogs are currently blocking seven shots a game, ranking No. 2 nationally. Having great rim protectors is great but Musselman considers their block numbers are inflated due to guards not staying in front of their man on defense.

"We're doing a better job blocking shots, but we're also getting an opportunity as a big to block shots because our guards are giving up so much dribble penetration," Musselman said. "We've got to do a way better job from the guard standpoint of guarding the man and keeping him in front of us."

When it comes to how long it will take to see this Razorback team turn the corner is unknown, according to Musselman.

"Some guys get it the last game," Musselman said. "Some guys get it after they leave here. Some guys never get it. I would love to tell you, ‘Oh yeah, it happens after 12 games.’ Chuck Daly used to say you get to know your team 50 games into an NBA 82-game season."