Even this late in the season you just don’t know what to expect from this Arkansas basketball team on a game-to-game basis.
This week was a perfect example.
The Razorbacks opened the week with a stunning home loss to Vanderbilt, a club that entered Bud Walton Arena at 7-20 overall and 2-12 inside the SEC. A good argument can be made it was the worst defeat of the Eric Musselman era.
Understandably so, many fans who were previously still tuned-in with the team checked out. Based on Tuesday’s effort, a beatdown at No. 16 Kentucky felt imminent.
But the Razorbacks (14-15, 5-11 SEC) didn’t roll over in Rupp Arena.
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Instead, they fought, scrapped and largely went blow-for-blow with the Wildcats – considered a contender to cut down the nets in Phoenix in a few short weeks – in an entertaining 111-102 loss. And they may have reeled a few fans back in, even if for only a couple of hours.
The very group that found itself down 16 points on Nolan Richardson Court with 6:07 to play against the Commodores led at Kentucky by 9 with 8:42 to go Saturday. No, it doesn’t make a lot of, if any, sense.
Musselman often says every game takes on its own identity. His fifth Arkansas team seemingly takes on a different identity each game.
Wildcats coach John Calipari, whose team has struggled to defend for much of the season, was apparently among the select few who knew the Razorbacks would bring it.
“[Arkansas] came in with a great game plan,” he said. “I knew Muss would have them ready. I was really worried about this game. I had [the team] stay at the hotel last night. I haven’t done that for a year.
“I knew this was going to be this way. [The team] didn’t, but I knew this was going to be a really hard game. You know why? They’ve got a really good coach and they’ve got really talented players that can break you down and go get baskets.
“What did they do? They broke us down and went and got baskets.”
The explanation from Tramon Mark, who finished with 23 points in the game, on the up-and-down nature of the week was that the Razorbacks “just came ready to play” on Saturday. They didn’t a few days prior.
The why is a complete mystery.
“Everybody that stepped on that floor was ready to play,” Mark added. “We all seen it. We had great energy in the locker room, great energy in our huddles. We just couldn’t get it done today.”
After this week, what can be expected of Arkansas in the final two games – vs. LSU on Wednesday, at Alabama next Saturday – of the regular season and at the SEC Tournament?
The best bet is lackluster defense and perhaps another big-time scoring outing from Khalif Battle, who is averaging 29 points in the last five games.
Other than that, it’s truly anyone’s guess.