SEC Men’s Tournament clash: 3 keys to an Arkansas victory vs South Carolina

In the previous regular season contest between the South Carolina Gamecocks (12-19; 2-16 SEC) and the Arkansas Razorbacks (19-12; 8-10 SEC) in Columbia, the Razorbacks delivered a pathetic performance and had one of their worst shooting performances in the first half in the team’s history. The Gamecocks hammered the Razorbacks 72-53 in Columbia.

However, Arkansas has played well against far superior competition than South Carolina throughout the season. Therefore, one can reasonably believe the Hogs’ performance was simply an embarrassing anomaly. John Calipari believed it was an anomaly: “It was a dud. Move on.” The Razorbacks heeded their head coach’s call: They traveled to Nashville and upset Vanderbilt 90-77. Arkansas is 4-1 in its last five games, only losing the “dud” on the road at South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 2-3 in their last five games. Therefore, the Hogs have more momentum than the Gamecocks entering today’s first SEC Tournament game.

According to ESPN BET Sportsbook, the Gamecocks are 4.5-point underdogs against the Razorbacks in today’s game. Also, according to ESPN Analytics, South Carolina has only a 32.0% chance of defeating the Razorbacks in the first game of the SEC Tournament. However, when the postseason begins, a new season is born. Therefore, both teams, including the Gamecocks, have a clean slate. The game’s outcome will depend on which team embraces the opportunity more. If Arkansas meets the challenges of three keys to victory against South Carolina, the Razorbacks will advance to face Ole Miss tomorrow.

3 keys to an Arkansas basketball victory against South Carolina

Move the ball fluidly

When Arkansas has the ball, it must move fluidly. The Hogs are difficult to beat when their offensive features significant motion. Therefore, as the ball is constantly in motion, Arkansas’s players must also be in motion. Such movement is critical to Arkansas taking quality shots. Poor shot selection leads to scoring droughts. The Razorbacks cannot afford scoring droughts against any SEC team, including the Gamecocks.

D.J. Wagner must show leadership today and ensure the ball moves fluidly. He must also direct traffic and compel his teammates to move constantly without the ball. Such movement pressures South Carolina’s defense to stop the Hogs’ athleticism. The Razorbacks have the edge in athleticism.

Play aggressive defense without fouling

Given that the current “SEC Student-Athlete Availability Report” indicates that Adou Thiero, the Razorbacks’ leader in points and rebounds per game, and Boogie Fland, the team’s star freshman point guard, both are out for this game, Arkansas will probably have to operate with a 7-man rotation again. Therefore, the Hogs cannot afford to make silly fouls that further limit their roster.

Arkansas’s big men must contain Colin Murray-Boyles. In the previous regular season game between the two teams, Murray-Boyles dominated the Razorbacks. Calipari did not have an answer for him. The Razorbacks’ big men must harass and defend him aggressively without fouling. The Hogs must exercise smart aggression against him.

Play with competitive fire

From the opening second of the game, the Arkansas Razorbacks must play like they are the better team. The Hogs must expose why South Carolina is 2-16 in conference play. Even if Thiero and Fland do not play, Arkansas is better than South Carolina. However, the Razorbacks must believe they are the superior team.

Such a belief in being the superior team must manifest in frustrating the Gamecocks by denying what they desire to do offensively and defensively. The Gamecocks believe they can dominate Arkansas by being more physical. Therefore, the Hogs must meet or exceed the Gamecocks’ physicality.