FAYETTEVILLE -- For those staying away from Walton Arena because the Arkansas Razorbacks have just played opponents there deemed mid-majors, here is some major news.
The Houston Cougars return tonight to Fayetteville for the first time since Arkansas and Houston were in the Southwest Conference. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at Walton Arena with live coverage on the SEC Network (Resort Channel 79).
Now representing the American Athletic Conference and coached by Kelvin Sampson, the former coach at Washington State, Oklahoma and Indiana, Houston brings a 6-1 record, same as Arkansas of the Southeastern Conference.
Both teams' lone loss came in their lone road game, Houston 84-65 to LSU and Arkansas 85-71 to Minnesota.
"Minnesota was a very good basketball team," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said Monday. "But I think this team is just as good or maybe even better. So our guys are really going to have to be on the same page defensively. They take care of the basketball."
And will take the basketball from you if you don't take care.
"Because they get in the lanes they create turnovers," Anderson said.
They also hit three-pointers like nobody else, leading the nation at 45 percent (59 of 129). Cougars most apt to nail sprees of threes are starting guards Rob Gray, 14 of 31 and a team-leading 19.4 scoring average, and Damyean Dotson, 20 of 37 averaging 13.9 points, and reserves Wes Vanbeck, 11 of 19, and Armani Brooks, 9 of 16.
"It's one of those games we are really going to have to be playing some outstanding defense against a perimeter-shooting team and a team that can attack off the dribble," Anderson said. "They love to get to the free-throw line. They rebound well and Kelvin's teams are always going to be hard-nosed defensively."
Dotson, 6-5, averages 6.0 rebounds while 6-7 forward Devin Davis inside averages 12.7 points and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds.
Anderson turned the tables on Houston by shooting lights out three-pointers in Baton Rouge.
Tonight marks the Cougars' first venture out of Houston since LSU lit them up in Baton Rouge.
"I think any time you go on the road, you want to play better the next time you go out," Anderson said. "You find out a little bit more about yourself. It's much like when we went to Minnesota. We found out a little bit more about ourselves. We found out we were not as good as we thought we were. So we had a chance to go home and address some things. I'm sure Kelvin did the same thing with his team."
Arkansas played perhaps its most complete game routing Austin Peay 99-62 Saturday but junior-college transfer guard Daryl Macon sprained an ankle landing on the ball after a dunk.
"He's doing better," Anderson said Monday. "He didn't practice yesterday (Sunday). He went through some limited stuff. But I expect him to be on the floor."
Arkansas freshmen Adrio Bailey, the forward with 14 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes, and C.J. Jones, the guard scoring 11 points and blocking three shots in 15 minutes, were sensational in long off-the-bench stints against Austin Peay.
However might Anderson be reticent to use them as much against a veteran Houston team starting two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore letterman?
"I think those guys are ready to play," Anderson said. "They've earned the time. Those guys have done some positive things. Adrio had a career-high against Austin Peay. C.J., ever since the injury (a sprained knee early in the season), you can see he's really starting to come on. They'll be put out there early and see what they bring to the table. I think it really strengthens our bench, which we always know is going to be a big component of what we do."
Arkansas (6-1)
Player Pts Reb.
F-Dustin Thomas 6-8 Jr. 7.7 3.6
C-Moses Kingsley 6-10 Sr. 10.4 7.9
G-Jaylen Barford 6-3 Jr. 11.6 3.6
G-Dusty Hannahs 6-3 Sr. 16.1 1.1
G-Manuale Watkins 6-3 Sr. 6.4 3.9
Houston (6-1)
Player Pts Reb.
F-Devin Davis 6-7 Jr. 12.7 7.4
C-Kyle Meyer 6-10 Sr. 3.4 2.6
G-Galen Robinson 6-1 So. 4.6 3.0
G-Rob Gray 6-2 Jr. 19.4 3.0
G-Damyean Dotson 6-5 Sr. 13.9 6.0
Sports on 12/06/2016