Razorbacks' Battle Knows Who He Is ... a Scorer, Plans to Continue

Grandmother told him to "know what you do" and he's fully aware of what he is

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Feb 25, 2024 10:00 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' Khalif Battle is going to keep putting up shots. After his 42-point outing against Missouri on Saturday, the transfer guard finally got an effort like he's been looking for all year. Since he apparently has never seen a shot he doesn't like, it's kind of a moot point to even bring that up.

"[Eric Musselman] earlier this year said if I got a red light, I’m still going to make it green," Battle said after his big output. "Anybody could tell me ... the President of the United States can tell me to stop shooting the ball, I’m still going to shoot the ball, I’m going to be honest. That’s just who I am, that’s what I do. My grandma always says, ‘when you know who you are, you know what you do.’ I know who I am, and I know what I do ... I’m a scorer."

Musselman just kind of grinned later when told of Battle's comments. "That’s about as great an offensive performance as a player could have," he said. "When you look at the efficiency of only 15 field goals and to get 42 points, that’s insane. He’s done a great job all year of drawing free throws and went 14-of-14 from the foul line. The six defensive rebounds, that’s probably as good a night as he’s had from a defensive rebounding standpoint."

It was just finally a performance like he's been expecting. His 42-point outburst Saturday is something he hasn't done with the Razorbacks, but it was something he got accustomed to doing years ago.

"In high school I used to be killing like this all the time," Battle said. "I averaged about 25 in high school so I had games like this. There’s nothing better than being on the big stage and doing it. I was close to getting the [school] SEC record. Kinda mad about that, I should have drawn one more foul or something, but regardless I’m still in the history books and that feels amazing. I got to do that in front of the Hog fans. These are the best fans in the world and even better we got a win so it feels good."

His 42 points was the most in the SEC this year, topping Texas A&M's Wade Taylor's season high in the SEC of 41 points. Taylor did that against Arkansas on Jan. 16 in a 78-77 Arkansas win (yes, the two biggest scoring nights in the league have been in Bud Walton Arena). Battle is only the third Razorback player ever to top 40 in an SEC game, joining Todd Day and Mason Jones. It is the seventh-most points ever produced by a Razorback player.

Razorbacks' Khalif Battle puts up shot against Missouri — Arkansas Razorbacks guard Khalif Battle puts up a shot against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark.
Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports

In a season filled with challenges, the Hogs seem to be playing better the last three games that include a loss against Mississippi State that probably should have been a win (don't ask Musselman about that game) and now two straight wins, Battle was just glad to have a game like that.

"This is the hardest basketball year I’ve ever had ... ever," Battle said. "Even this summer I broke my foot, so I was out for the whole summer. Then I got cleared like a week before, then I’m playing Purdue, the No. 1 team in the country. We get that win, I’m out of shape, I’m ready to throw up all the time and now we’re going to the Bahamas and it’s three games in three days. My body wasn’t ready for it.

"Sometimes you’re not playing, sometimes you are playing. Just always head up, it’s not going to be everybody’s night all the time.This year for me was an NBA rookie year, it’s not going to be your team, it’s not going to be your way, but you got to find a way to earn your minutes and you got to be the first one in the gym, work hard in practice. Pay attention in the film room, This is the hardest year I’ve had playing basketball, so to have these results means the world to me."

Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman against Missouri

Musselman probably agreed with that, but he's not ready to go out on that limb just yet. He doesn't usually spend a lot of time talking about what's in the rearview mirror. Musselman just looks through the front windshield as long as there are games that can still possibly be played.

"The season’s not over so I don’t know how I’ll look back on it," he said. "This is a basketball team that has really, really improved. We’re playing— it’s not I think, it’s a fact we’re playing our best basketball of the year right now. I don’t know how I’ll feel because we’ve still got basketball to play. You know, so we’ll see where we end up."

He's probably already put the 88-75 win over Missouri out of his mind by the end of the press conference. He's got the Musselman house to himself this weekend (even the dogs are somewhere else), so preparations are already under way on the Vanderbilt game. That one will be at Bud Walton on Tuesday night. You can watch the game on the SEC Network and fuboTV at 8 p.m.