Gameday Preview: At Arkansas (1–0)
Where: Bud Walton Arena
When: Sunday, November 18, 4PM
Arkansas Athletic Site: www.ArkansasRazorbacks.com
TV: Video via Arkansas Site
Lancers Blog GameThread
Longwood sets out this weekend on a challenging four game road trip which ends in Las Vegas. Before the Lancers can get to Vegas they’ll have to take on SEC opponent Arkansas (1–0) today in Bud Walton Arena, which holds 19,200 fans. The first thing most people think about when they think of Arkansas basketball is Nolan Richardson’’s “Forty Minutes of Hell” style of play. Mike Anderson, a disciple of Richardson, has certainly emulated that style, which is now named the “Fastest Forty Minutes in Basketball”.
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Expect the Lancers to be pressed all day, which will be good preparation for their match up with VCU later in the year. The problem is that Longwood has struggled against the press in past years and did so again Thursday night against Norfolk State. Nik Brown and Lucas Woodhouse will be the key to beating the press. On Thursday they struggled as usually the only player back to help was the player who in-bounded, usually Jeff Havenstein and Michael Kessens. For the Lancers to get across court against the Razorbacks then they’ll need help from the whole team.
Arkansas is looked at as a borderline tournament team in many analysts eyes. Most have picked them to finish fifth in the challenging SEC. One thing the Lancers have going for them is that the Razorbacks have not played a game in over a week when they beat Sam Houston State 73–68. The biggest thing that stood out from that match up was the Bearkats ability to out rebound and shoot more efficiently than the Razorbacks.
Arkansas’ primary scorer is Newport News native Marshawn Powell, who averaged 19.5 points per game a year ago. They also had a strong debut by JUCO transfer Coty Clarke who put up 20 points against Sam Houston State. BJ Young, who was suspended two games by Mike Anderson, will be back for the Razorbacks. Young averaged 15 points points per game a year ago and was picked to be an SEC First-Teamer this year.
Playing teams like this is always a positive for Longwood and should be a good learning experience as they roll into Las Vegas to face some more comparable opponents.
