Nov 9, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Jalen Celestine (32) drives to the basket towards Arkansas Razorbacks ahead Zvonimir Ivisic (44) in the course of the first half at American Airways Heart. Necessary Credit score: Chris Jones-Imagn Photographs Coach John Calipari pledged to show Arkansas “the way to win and the way to end video games” after the No. 18 Razorbacks pulled away from Troy on Wednesday night time.
As Arkansas prepares for a go to from Pacific on Monday night time in Fayetteville, Ark., ahead Zvonimir Ivisic already can recite the highest of the lesson plan.
“If you play good protection after which if you begin working, you get, you realize, you begin to elevate. Enjoying higher,” Ivisic stated. “You make one transition, then you definitely play good protection once more.”
Arkansas (2-1) created distance from Troy when aggressive protection lastly started paying dividends on offense within the Razorbacks’ 65-49 victory.
The Razorbacks shot 29.4 p.c from the sphere within the first half in contrast with 63.6 p.c within the second half and picked up 11 of their 14 assists after the break.
There additionally had been shortcomings, specifically a minus-seven margin in rebounding, however Calipari stated he sees promise as non-conference play continues.
“This can be a good group. I am having fun with teaching them,” he stated. “I am holding them to a excessive commonplace. I am telling them that. I do not again up. That is what it’s. How do you end a recreation? How do you therapeutic massage the ball? How do you get open late? You possibly can’t simply jog round.”
Ivisic exhibited that urgency with 19 factors — on 6-for-7 taking pictures from 3-point vary — plus 5 blocks, each profession bests.
Adou Thiero, who’s averaging a team-high 17 factors a recreation for the Razorbacks this seaon, additionally had 19 factors together with seven rebounds towards Troy, whereas teammate Boogie Fland contributed 12 factors and 7 assists.
Arkansas hopes to get a scoring spark from D.J. Wagner within the backcourt. Whereas he had a strong flooring recreation towards Troy with 5 assists, 4 steals and two rebounds, Wagner went scoreless on 0-for-4 taking pictures over 37 minutes.
“He is one of many biggest children that I’ve ever coached. He’s a participant who performs to win,” Calipari stated. “However we want him to attain baskets, too. I informed him one of the best shot he has is a floater. … Simply kaboom, let it go.”
Pacific (3-2) is coming off a 60-57 house loss to Northern Arizona on Thursday.
Regardless of struggling to a 39.2 p.c taking pictures night time and committing 17 turnovers, the Tigers chipped away at a 15-point deficit earlier than falling quick down the stretch. An Elijah Fisher 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining introduced the Tigers to the ultimate margin.
Elias Ralph paced Pacific with a double-double — 23 factors and 11 rebounds — and added a career-best 5 assists. He surpassed the 20-point mark for the second time this season.
Ralph and Fisher, who chipped in 13 factors and eight rebounds towards Northern Arizona, have scored in double figures in every of Pacific’s 5 video games.
One other fixed for the Tigers: robust perimeter protection. Pacific has restricted foes to sub-30 p.c taking pictures from 3-point land in every recreation, together with holding Northern Arizona to a 5-for-30 effort.
Arkansas figures to problem that stoutness. Led by Ivisic’s sizzling hand, the Razorbacks completed 10-for-23 from past the arc towards Troy, together with a 2-for-3 effort from Fland.
–Area Degree Media
