World News – USA – Vanover dominates despite low scores

FAYETTEVILLE – Connor Vanovers 20 was equivalent to 30 for the University of Arkansas basketball team on Wednesday night.

The Razorbacks beat Southern by 30 points in the 20 minutes. Vanover was in the Walton Arena square when Arkansas dominated early on, defeating the Jaguars 79-44.

Vanover, a 7-3 sophomore from Little Rock, scored 3 points on a 4-1 shoot but also had 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocked shots. He altered countless other shots of the jaguars.

In the crucial first half, when the Razorbacks left between 42 and 20, they were a plus-29 with Vanover on the field and a minus-7 without him.

« I wish I had played Connor more because he deserved the way he played, » said Arkansas coach Eric Musselman. “He was phenomenal.

« I can’t say enough good things about Connor and his attitude. In a closer game Connor would have played more, I can promise you that. A lot more. But I tried to get a few minutes for other people. I wanted some of the younger guys to get some experience. ”

Davonte Davis, a newcomer from Jacksonville, was one of the young razorbacks who benefited from extended minutes.

The 6-3 Davis led Arkansas off the bench with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 18 minutes. He hit 5 out of 8 shots, including his only three-point attempt, and was 3 out of 3 on free throws.

The Razorbacks (5-0) each received 12 points from Senior Guard Jalen Tate and Junior Guard JD Notae.

Senior striker Justin Smith and junior guard Desi Sills each scored 11 points for Arkansas. Sills also had five templates with no sales.

« I just feel like every single one of these guys, they move the ball, » Sills said. « We have a lot of selfless people ready to fit in.

« I think we had 257 passes. This is the best we’ve ever had. We keep moving the ball and I have a feeling we’ll be fine on the track. ”

« Absolutely, » he said. « Me, me and I know I have it. I just want everyone else to trust me. ”

Arkansas, which improved to 48-0 against SWAC teams, was quick to plan for Southern after the Razorbacks game scheduled for Tuesday in Tulsa was postponed due to a positive Covid-19 test for the Golden Hurricane and subsequent quarantine.

« I think the most important thing is our young players. In a game like this, they had an opportunity to go outside and keep getting some experience, « Musselman said. « Look, we know when the SEC is coming, there are so many close games every minute on the floor and that’s why we have to find out who our rotation is and in a game like this we have to have a lot of people playing. « .

« The coaches will return and we will evaluate [the playing tape]. « . Ethan Henderson went into the game, played four minutes and had two rebounds. Is he playing in front of someone else? I dont know. These are some of the things we, as employees, want to find out.

“With this game we were able to rate several players. So I thought it was good. I thought it served its purpose tonight. ”

Musselman credited Vanover with playing the « goalkeeper » position in the lane for the Razorbacks, which allowed other players to put pressure on the perimeter.

South Guard Ahsante Shivers, a 6-4 year old who came into the game at an average of 16. 5 points, saved goalless when he shot 0 of 9 from the field and did not attempt a free throw.

The jaguars shot 28. 5% out of the field (18 out of 63), including 1 out of 13 on three pointers.

At one point in the first half, Southern was on a 2-on-1 break and Vanover intercepted a pass intended as praise for a dunk.

According to KenPom. com – a college basketball analysis website – including Wednesday night’s game, Vanover blocked 17. 9% of the opponent’s two-point attempts to shoot while lying on the ground and 35% of the available defensive rebounds.

« Connor is so important to us, » said Musselman. “His size changes the game and he plays right. He’s very, very capable offensively of being the type of guy who can lag, hit a three, throw and chase, and dribble handoff.

« Man, Connor is very selfless and ready to pass the ball, even though he’s a damn good shooter, » said Sills. « Connor brings so much to the table. It’s not about points. He defends, he blocks shots.

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Bob Holt is a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. A graduate of the University of Missouri, he is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and a voter for the Heisman Trophy and the AP Top 25 Basketball Poll. Holt has been named Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year three times.

Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball, Southern Jaguars Men’s Basketball, Eric Musselman, Bud Walton Arena, Southeastern Conference