FAYETTEVILLE -- Correcting mistakes that cost them from beating the favored Texas Longhorns in last Friday night's ESPN Armed Forces game that Arkansas lost, 73-71 in overtime at the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas becomes a major objective for the Razorbacks in their official home opener tonight against the University of California-Davis Aggies.
Do that and the 0-1 Razorbacks presumably beat the 0-2 Aggies in a 7 p.m. game at Walton Area on internet video via SEC + and on the Razorbacks Radio Network.
In 76-42 and 76-57 losses to San Francisco and San Diego, UC-Davis Coach Jim Les' Aggies have not played to the potential of last season's Aggies that went 22-11 and won the Big West Conference.
However, cautions Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson, " We are playing a Cal-Davis that returns a lot of players from last year."
" It's a team that's played a couple of games and of course that's going to be to their advantage," Anderson said Sunday. "They lost those games but coming to Arkansas, I'm sure they are looking forward to it."
T.J. Shorts, the 5-9 guard and one of five UC-Davis seniors, leads the Aggies as both the returning Big West Player of the Year last season's Big West Newcomer of the Year as a junior college transfer. Shorts scored 17 Friday against San Diego.
Senior UC-Davis forward A.J. John grabbed nine rebounds without scoring against San Diego.
Matt Neufeld, a 6-11 junior center, and 6-2 junior guard Stefan Gonzalez return as key players for last season's Big West champions.
Texas returning four starters and Arkansas returning only 6-11 Preseason All-SEC sophomore center/power forward Daniel Gafford of El Dorado as a mainstay starter from last season with junior forward Adrio Bailey starting 16 games for those 23-12 Hogs, and playing at a site technically neutral but still in Texas, it seemed hard to bet against the Longhorns.
Yet Arkansas dominated regulation and was one second away from a 63-60 victory. Texas' Kerwin Roach hit a buzzer beating three for the 63-63 overtime extender. The Razorbacks led 71-70 with 1:12 left in overtime but got surpassed by Courtney Ramey's deuce and with 47 seconds left and Elijah Mitrou-Long's free throw with 12 seconds left while the Hogs missed their last several shots.
" I want to see us build on what took place in that Texas game," Anderson said. "It was a game that we were in position to win but just had some things that broke down. We didn't execute." I love the fight in them. But now we also have to talk about the execution part of it."
The Razorbacks couldn't have come close to topping Texas without Gafford's 20 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots.
But turned out they couldn't win with his 4 of 9 free throws and committing six of Arkansas' 18 turnovers.
Texas constantly double-teamed Gafford .
Others couldn't last season because of Arkansas proven since graduated senior guards Jaylen Barford, Daryl Macon and Anton Beard and graduated soft-handed big man Trey Thompson.
"You're No. 1 on the scouting report now," Anderson said. "You've got to be able to handle that. Sometimes simple is better. I think he kind of over-thought the situation, He was trying to split traps. Just doing stuff that he normally doesn't do. Daniel's a really good passer. That's why it surprised me, him having the many turnovers. So he's got be better."
Missed Arkansas free throws, Gafford's 4 of 9 contributed to Arkansas sinking 13 of 24 free throws, totaled telling tale for Texas to triumph.
"Daniel is going to have to go to the free throw line and knock some free throws down," Anderson said.
His young bench played well defensively, Anderson said, but offensively was outscored 25-4 by the Texas bench.
"We didn't get any production off our bench," Anderson said, "Whether that was just the first game or they weren't in sync, I just know we didn't execute. But we've got to learn from it.'
Beyond Gafford and freshman guard Isaiah Joe, 17 points, does Anderson fret if the Hogs can score enough compensating for graduated 2017--2018 guards Macon and Barford taking their points with them?
"I think we're capable of scoring," Anderson said. "We didn't make shots. We didn't make free throws. If we make your free throws, you're going to score in the 80s. You don't turn the ball over, you're going to score in the 90s. So I think we're going to be able to score. And I thought our defense kept us in the game.
Win or lose, the Fort Bliss was bound to be worthwhile for the players spending time with soldiers and touring the base.
"Having an opportunity to spend time with our servicemen, hang out with the troops, that's kind of breathtaking for our guys," Anderson said. "It gave us a greater appreciation of what they do - the sacrifices they make to make our country a better place. To make the wold a better place."
ARKANSAS (0-1)
F-Adrio Bailey (6-6), Jr.
C-Daniel Gafford (6-11), So.
G-Jalen Harris (6-2), So.
G-Mason Jones (6-5), So.
G-Isaiah Joe (6-5), Jr.
UC-DAVIS (0-2)
F-A.J. John (6-8), Jr.
C-Matt Neufeld (6-11), Jr.
G-T.J. Shorts (5-9), Sr.
G-Stefan Gonzalez (6-2), Jr.
G-Siler Schneider (6-3), Sr.
Sports on 11/12/2018