From @DanielFair
With just five games left in the regular season, the Arkansas Razorbacks (15-11, 4-9 SEC), need every win they can get, and they'll have another chance for a resume-booster Saturday evening against the No. 15 Missouri Tigers (20-6, 9-4 SEC) at Bud Walton Arena.
The Tigers have been hot as of late, as they thrashed No. 4 Alabama on Wednesday, 110-98. Arkansas, on the other hand, lost its last game out on the road at No. 1 Auburn, 67-60.
This is the second time this season Arkansas has played Missouri. Their first meeting came in Columbia, a game Arkansas lost, 83-65. The Hogs scored first, but the Tigers jumped out to a quick 18-2 lead and never looked back.
Saturday's game will be even tougher, as the Tigers have won three games in a row, all by double digits. Arkansas associate head coach Chin Coleman said the Hogs' opponent is playing with a lot of confidence.
"They’re aggressive, they’re playing, they’re hooping," Coleman said Friday. "So, that’ll be the only difference in terms of how they play from a confidence standpoint and that’s a very deadly weapon when you have a team of guys that they play almost 12 guys a game, and they’re all playing with extreme confidence, they’re all in it together and it’s the power of their team, the power of the friendship and the love of their team."
Arkansas has lost three of its last four games, but all of the defeats have been by close margins. A four-point loss to Alabama, an eight-point loss to Texas A&M and a seven-point loss to Auburn all show the Razorbacks are capable, they just need to make plays when it counts.
"What we’ve talked about and what some of the things that we’re going to emphasize and focus on is that we finish the process," Coleman said. "We got to make big plays in big-play moments when the game is in the balance, when the game is right there to take. We got to make those plays whether it’s big free throws, whether it’s a big rebound after we play really good defense, whether it’s a good stop, a 50-50 ball, a big time shot when you get an open look, we have to make those plays in order to change the outcome and our energy in terms of got to be right to have that result changed."
Where the Razorbacks will need to get more production from is their frontcourt. The trio of Zvonimir Ivisic, Jonas Aidoo and Trevon Brazile combined for zero points, including an 0-for-10 mark for Ivisic, against Auburn. It's going to take an all-hands-on-deck effort to pull off the upset over the Tigers.
"There’s not one player on our team that can go into the phone booth, put on a cape, come out and be Superman and win the game for us," Coleman said. "We need contributions from everybody. This is a tough league, probably the best league in the history of college basketball, and for us to succeed, we need bits and pieces from everybody. So we’re trying to get (Brazile) to play at this level for us, Jonas, and Z.
Below are details on how to watch, BetSaracen betting lines, links to stream and links to all of our coverage leading up to the game...
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How to Watch/Listen
Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (15-11, 4-9 SEC) vs. No. 15 Missouri Tigers (20-6, 9-4 SEC)When: Saturday, February 22 at 7 p.m. CT
Where: Bud Walton Arena — Fayetteville, Arkansas
TV/Stream: ESPN / WatchESPN (John Schriffen and Richard Hendrix)
Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network(Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
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BetSaracen Odds
Below are details on the betting odds for the game and Double R Prop bets. To get in on the action, visit BetSaracen.com and click on the Arkansas Specials tab.(Lines and odds are subject to change at any point after the publishing of this story. HawgBeat does not guarantee any bet as a winner or loser. You must be at least 21 years of age to use BetSaracen. If you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net)
*All odds accurate as of the publishing of this story. They are subject to change.*
Moneyline/Spread
- Arkansas: +105, +1.5 (-105)
- Missouri: -125, -1.5 (-115)
- O/U: 149.5 (-110)
Double R Props (More available in the BetSaracen app)
- Trevon Brazile OVER 0.5 blocks and OVER 3.5 FG's attempted (+125)
- Billy Richmond OVER 5.5 points and OVER 3.5 rebounds (+275)
- Zvonimir Ivisic OVER 13.5 points and OVER 7.5 rebounds (+275)
- Johnell Davis OVER 5.5 3PT FG's attempted and OVER 2.5 3PT FG's made (+135)
- D.J. Wagner OVER 11.5 points and OVER 3.5 rebounds (+250)
Catch Up On HawgBeat's Arkansas Basketball Coverage
- VIDEO: Chin Coleman previews Arkansas vs. Missouri- Arkansas signee Acuff, 5-star target Ament named Naismith Trophy finalists
- Calipari not deterred by loss at Auburn: 'I want to write our own story'
- Takeaways from Arkansas' loss to No. 1 Auburn
- VIDEO: John Calipari postgame - Auburn 67, Arkansas 60
