He’ll have the edge on the sidelines if Norm Roberts continues to take on Self’s duties. We’ve witnessed that in the last two NCAA tournaments, as the Hogs have manufactured consecutive Elite Eight appearances. But considering how well Arkansas prevents dribble penetration and protects the rim (17th-highest block rate in D-I), their length should should allow them to control the paint.ĭon’t forget, Eric Musselman is one of college basketball’s premier coaches on short prep. Overall, it generates the 48th-highest 2-point scoring rate in the process. Couple that with Kansas’ reliance on ball-screen sets, which Arkansas already defends at a top-15 efficiency. Moreover, the Razorbacks own a significant size advantage. Although the Jayhawks’ half-court defense is crisp, they struggle most while aiming to slow down an opponent’s fast-break opportunities. It was on full display against Illinois on Thursday, forcing 16 turnovers while its transition offense reaped the benefits. Similar to Kansas, Arkansas possesses a top-15 AdjD rating. Self missed the entire Big 12 tournament because of it. Granted, having Bill Self on your side in late-game situations doesn’t hurt, but he’ll miss this game after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. 1 seed in a second-round matchup since 1996.įor context, Arkansas slots in at No. They’re even the shortest favorite for a No. Therefore, they’ve received a bit of positive variance, which has inflated their market rating. Keep in mind, 11 of their wins have come by two possessions or less. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound wing posted 18 points, 11 boards, 5 assists, and 3 steals in Kansas’ blowout win over Howard in the Round of 64.īut more importantly, the Jayhawks rank No. They also showcase Jalen Wilson, one of the premier players across D-I, and five-star freshman Grady Dick, a 3-point marksman and undervalued ballhawk in his own right. Sure, the defending national champs boast the seventh-rated adjusted defensive efficiency (AdjD).
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