Battle Can't Keep Players Out of His Home

Arkansas Razorbacks guard down about Auburn loss, but says it's definitely not because Hogs don't get along

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jan 10, 2024 10:41 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorbacks' guard Khalif Battle had.a message to get out to Hog fans Tuesday morning when he appeared on 103.7 "The Buzz":
1. The players are embarrassed by the historic 83-51 loss to Auburn in Bud Walton Arena Saturday.
2. Despite how it looks on the court at times, this is actually a tight-knit group of players.

"You can kinda explain a loss if it's by 10 or 15, but 30 is just a lack of everything," Battle said. It was embarrassing and honestly the fans didn't deserve that at all. The people who really know what Arkansas basketball is and spend their hard earned money on it, they don't deserve that. It was extremely embarrassing for me. I haven't ever lost like that before in college, so it was definitely tough."

Battle made clear he is aware of the impression created by the Razorbacks' lack of chemistry on the court, but he swears there's been a bond since before the transfers even made it to Fayetteville that has done nothing but grow since.

"I knew a lot of the transfers because we played in the same conference," Battle said. "Before we even got to Arkansas we had a group chat with each other. When I first came here, I couldn't get Jeremiah Davenport, Layden Blocker and El Ellis to even leave my crib."

His teammates came around so much that he got tired of getting up to let them in. Instead, he just started leaving the door unlocked so they could just "barge in" and start playing video games. As time went on, the guest list grew. Players like Davonte Davis, Trevon Brazile, Makhi Mitchell and Cade Arbogast joined in watching sports, going out to eat and trying their hands at the video game of the day.

"Like, I know maybe from the outside looking in, it looks like, I don't know, we don't like each other," Battle said. "I love the guys. I love the group."

But with that bond has come a learning curve for several Razorbacks. As Battle put it, caring means sacrifice, which isn't exactly something a lot of the new players are used to doing, but they try.

"Sometimes there might be games where I get, you know, you play 20 minutes, and you get 10 shots, and then some games will be like, you played less tonight, you get only a couple of shots," Battle said. "You got to learn how to always be ready. It's kind of like a kind of like a pro mindset for like a rookie or new team or whatever the case may be usually. We got to be prepared. One night it might be my night. One night it's somebody else's night, and one night it's somebody else's night. We have a lot of talented players so, you know, I think sometimes everybody struggle with that."

Battle said he hasn't felt like himself in a while and has been putting in a lot of work, but not seeing the results he wants on the court. Still, if this is something he has to face, this is where he wants to do it.

"I don't want to be anywhere else but Arkansas," Battle said. "It's a great experience. They've been nothing but been great to us."

Arkansas faces Georgia tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPNU and fuboTV before staying on the road to take on Florida Saturday.

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