Arkansas Basketball vs. Georgia Game Preview
Arkansas Basketball (11-8, 2-4) hosts Georgia (10-9, 1-5) Tuesday evening. The Razorbacks look to bounce back after falling to Texas Tech on Jan. 26.
When: January 29, 2019
TV: ESPNU
VENUE: Bud Walton Arena
Series History
Arkansas currently holds a 22-15 lead in the overall record. The Hogs also have a 10-3 record when the game is in Fayetteville.
The last meeting between these two teams came on January 23, 2018, where Arkansas won in double overtime, 80-77.
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Georgia is 1-4 on the road this season and look to add its second win on the road. However, the Hogs will look for their third SEC win and ninth at home.
Georgia Nuggets
The Bulldog snapped a three-game losing streak after they defeated Texas at home 98-88. According to Georgia’s game notes, the Bulldogs posted the fourth-best single-game field goal percentage in school history.
Georgia shot 66.7 percent from the floor. The Bulldogs also shot their third-highest 3-point percent ever in the win, shooting an impressive 70.6 percent from the arch.
Rayshaun Hammonds leads the Bulldogs with 13.2 points a game. Nicolas Claxton scores 12.8 points a game and leads the SEC in both rebounding and blocks.
He averages 9.4 rebounds a game and 2.9 blocks. Claxton paces the Bulldogs in assists with 2.2 and steals with 1.4 a game. He leads the SEC and ranks No. 6 nationally in blocked shots.
Georgia as a whole average 5.6 blocks a game which ranks No. 7 nationally.
Claxton does it all for the Bulldogs, literally it all. In two games this season, he led Georgia in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
Related Story. Georgia Basketball: Nicolas Claxton Proves he can Do it All. light
Another Georgia player to keep out for is Tyree Crump, who continues for the Bulldogs off the bench. He scored a game-high 21 points against the Longhorns and is the third Bulldog to average double-digit points at 10.4 a game.
The Bulldogs bench is just as powerful as the starting lineup. Georgia’s bench has outscored its counterparts in 14 games with 11 of those being by 10-plus points.
Arkansas Nuggets
Arkansas fell to Texas Tech 67-64 and looks to avoid dropping two games in a row.
According to Arkansas’ game notes, Daniel Gafford leads the Razorbacks in scoring with 16.2 points a game and ranks second in the SEC in rebounding at 9.2 per game. He is one of three players averaging double-digits a game.
The other two are Isaiah Joe who averages 14.4 points and Mason Jones who averages 13.8 points a game.
Arkansas averages 78.1 points a game. The Razorbacks complete 44.7 percent of their field goals and bring down 36.7 rebounds a game. They give up on average 72.7 points a game.
In the Razorbacks last two games, their pressure defense has played well down the stretch. Against Missouri, on the Tigers’ final seven possessions, the Razorbacks defense forced three turnovers, two missed field goals and two trips to the free throw line.
Then against Texas Tech, Arkansas forced on the Raiders last 13 possessions, four turnovers, four missed field goals and five trips to the free throw line. The Raiders made 7-of-9 free throws down the stretch which ultimately gave Texas Tech the win.
SL’s Game Prediction
The Razorbacks will face a confident Georgia team. After the Bulldogs beat Texas, the win had to give them a boost of confidence. Arkansas needs a win after losing the last two games to give the Razorbacks some of their own confidence.
If Arkansas wants to win, they must force turnovers. The Bulldogs average 16.9 turnovers a game and only force 11.6. If the Razorbacks can hold onto the ball and get Georgia rattled, they will be able to put up points.
Gafford needs to avoid foul trouble and make his shots. He will go up against the best rebounder in the conference and Claxton doesn’t want to lose his spot.
Look for these two to go head-to-head against each other all game. Whoever has more rebounds for their team will likely end up the winner.
Arkansas completes 33.1 percent from the arch while Georgia completes 33.8 percent. Both teams average seven shots a game from the three-point line and expect this game to be no different.
Georgia head coach Tom Crean wants his team to shoot from the arch, and it seems to be beginning to pay off after the Texas game.
For the Bulldogs to win this game, making smart shots and avoiding turnovers, are the two keys of the game. Claxton and Hammonds need to keep doing what they’re doing on the court.
However, for the Bulldogs to be able to clinch an SEC on the road, they must avoid turnovers at all cost. Against Texas, they coughed up the ball 26 times. Against a team like Arkansas, that would be an L in the win/loss column all day.
Georgia wins with 15 or fewer turnovers and making 70 percent or better from the free throw line. Arkansas makes just 68 percent from the line while the Bulldogs make 71.7 percent.
This game will be a close, physical one against two scrappy SEC teams.
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Up Next for Arkansas Basketball
Arkansas heads to Baton Rouge to take on a tough LSU opponent for the first Saturday game of February. The Razorbacks will be looking to upset the Tigers on their home court. Tip-off is at 5:00 p.m. and will air on the SEC Network.