The Arkansas Razorbacks will play host to No. 1 Auburn on Tuesday. This game marks the first time in over 30 years that the nation’s top team will travel to Fayetteville. Both squads are coming off of Saturday victories, and Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman spoke on the challenge of playing Auburn on a short week.
On the game-plan for Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith:
“If you got any suggestions, let us know. Obviously, Kessler has such an impact defensively with his rim protection, blocking shots. Offensively, he does such a great rob in rim-rolling. They get him a lot of lobs in transition, a lot of lobs for him out of pick-and-roll play. This is the number one ranked team in the country for a reason. It’s an overly talented basketball team with incredible size up front. Any time you are playing a team that has got a center that is as defensively active as Kessler, and somebody as talented as talented as Jabari Smith, they present a lot of problems.”
On Wendell Green Jr.
“… Green presents a lot of problems at the point guard position.”
On Auburn’s depth:
“I am concerned zero with Arkansas’ stamina. We are not going to change our rotation based on how another team subs. But certainly, Auburn’s depth is a concern. [Jaylin] Williams was a big factor for them last year, [Allen] Flanigan and [Devan] Cambridge — those guys were playing starter minutes. When you go down the depth chart of who you are preparing for, there are a lot of really good players on this team with great, great talent. Their depth is a concern, as far as how we understand personnel tendencies. They have six, seven guys that could have 20 points on a given night.”
On potential excitement of hosting the No. 1 team:
“Well, when you look at their roster, I don’t really know if you get excited. You know how talented they are, they are really well coached. They are really, really good. It is great for our fans and a great opportunity for our players.”
On Allen Flannigan:
“He has great size and great versatility. They will put him in some pick-and-roll actions as a ball handler. Now, he is playing with a lot of really good players so his roll has changed based on the dynamics of the roster. His numbers have changed based on their roster and coming back from an injury, but I think he is a great talent because he can do so many different things. His versatility has really impressed every time we play Auburn.”
On what Auburn does well:
“When you look at their team, when somebody like Jabari Smith is on your roster, you have a freshman who is a potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, someone who can shoot, defend, block shots and rebound it is not a surprise what they have done. Kessler is a guy who has played much, much better this year than he did last year. I thought last year that the competitive nature of [K.D.] Johnson when he played at Georgia, he is a competitor. A guy that plays with great emotion. Both guards, [Zep] Jasper and Green, those guys are both having really, really good years. Maybe those were the two guys that played a little bit better than the average fan would have thought. They are both fearless guards. You got a great team, which is what they have.”
On Auburn’s rim protection:
“We understand and have an incredible respect for their rim protection and their ability to block shots. They are going to do a great job blocking shots against us and in rim protection because that is who they are. There are some things we have go to work on in how we approach shot blockers.”
On Auburn’s matchup issues:
“I could start with the 6-10 power forward who is going to be one of the top two picks in the NBA Draft. So, you don’t play against that type of player every night. Jabari Smith, when he is the first pick, he should be. That matchup is hard for Arkansas and everybody else. K.D. Johnson is certainly a hard matchup, because of his ability to get downhill in transition, and he can make three balls and he is competitive. We talked about the matchups of Kessler. And Green is a guy who obviously has the green light and is really confident. A lot of problems that that team can present. There are obviously other matchup problems outside of just those guys.”
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Henry Zimmer is from Jacksonville, Florida, and is currently in his fifth year with The Plainsman. He is currently the Assistant Sports Editor and can be followed on Twitter here: @henryzimmer
