4-Point Play: Hogs need to go out with a bang at Bud

Arkansas plays in Bud Walton Arena for the final time in the regular season Wednesday against LSU. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network.

After an 0-2 week against Vanderbilt and Kentucky, the Razorbacks enter the last week of the schedule at 14-15 overall and 5-11 in league games. They are looking to avoid their seventh home loss of the season.

LSU is 16-13 overall and 8-8 in SEC play in head coach Matt McMahon’s second season. The Tigers have won 4 of their last 5 games, including at South Carolina and vs. Kentucky.

Here are a handful of things to watch for when Arkansas hosts LSU. This is the 4-Point Play:

• Do the Hogs have an answer for Will Baker?

The Tigers’ 7-foot forward looked like an All-SEC first-team selection in the teams’ first meeting in Baton Rouge.

Baker finished with 25 points on 9 of 11 from the field, including 4 of 5 beyond the arc. He got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

Baker is the kind of big man — mobile, capable perimeter shooter — who gives this Razorbacks team fits. Who draws the defensive assignment for Arkansas?

Since torching the Razorbacks, Baker has averaged 12.1 points on 48.1% shooting and 4.8 rebounds in 8 games. If Arkansas limits him to those numbers, it stands a decent chance to get back to .500 on the season.

Statistically, Baker has been less effective in road games in 2023-24, putting up 9.1 points on 42.5% from the field and 4.8 rebounds. It would be ideal if the Razorbacks could continue that trend.

• What’s next for Khalif Battle?

Battle is on a different plane of existence from a scoring standpoint. In the last 5 outings, he is averaging 29 points on 50% shooting and 35.5% from deep.

Battle is the first Arkansas player since Mason Jones in 2019-20 to pour in 30-plus points in back-to-back-to-back games. Will he do it again?

You can’t rule it out. However, Eric Musselman said on his radio show Monday night that the guard is a bit banged up and did not practice to begin the week.

I expect Battle to play and play well.

He’s been terrific of late getting downhill in the half court and in transition, adding six fast-break points per game in the last five contests. Battle has averaged 13 free throw attempts in that span as well.

On top of that, he’s 8 of his last 20 from three-point range above the break, 7 of 9 on twos beyond the lane, and 8 of 15 on non-rim attempts in the paint.

Battle played nine minutes and didn’t score at LSU last month. The Tigers may have their hands full with him this time around.

• Trevon Brazile’s involvement

After missing seven straight games with knee soreness, Musselman has slowly worked Brazile back into the rotation. And he’s played fairly well in his run.

Against Vanderbilt and Kentucky last week, Brazile averaged 7.5 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block. He appeared far more comfortable offensively in Rupp Arena, finishing 4 of 5 shots, including all 4 inside the arc.

And, unofficially, the Wildcats were 1 of 5 on shots defended by Brazile.

Can he build on last Saturday’s effort? And can he stay out of foul trouble? Brazile fouled out of both games last week despite playing a combined 32 minutes.

LSU is coming off one of its best offensive rebounding games of the conference season against the Commodores. Brazile, with his length and athleticism, can be a major plus on the defensive glass, and Arkansas needs him to be Wednesday.

The Tigers are averaging 10.7 second-chance points per game inside the league.

• Arkansas’ three-point defense 

LSU knocked down an SEC-high 12 threes on 23 attempts in its home win over the Razorbacks. A lack of urgency getting out to shooters and identifying threats was their downfall in the 21-point road loss.

The Tigers are second in SEC play at 37.1% from deep. They were 19 of 49 (38.8%) in wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt last week.

Arkansas had been better defending the three prior to Kentucky hitting 9 of 20 looks last weekend. SEC opponents have shot 35.5% against the Razorbacks.

LSU’s top shooters inside the league are Baker (37.5% on 40 attempts), Tyrell Ward (46.7% on 60 attempts) and Mike Williams (40% on 60 attempts). Jordan Wright, a do-it-all transfer from Vanderbilt, is also plenty capable at 34.4% for the season.