The Arkansas Razorbacks (15-11, 4-9 SEC) faced a formidable opponent as they traveled to play the No. 1 Auburn Tigers (24-2, 12-1 SEC). As 15.5-point underdogs, Arkansas wasn’t expected to pull off an upset. However, they’ve shown they can defy the odds before.
In the first half, the Razorbacks held their own against the Tigers, but missed three-pointers and costly turnovers hurt their chances. Auburn went into halftime with a 33-27 lead. The second half saw Arkansas improve its play, forcing Auburn to fight until the final moments.
Despite a stronger effort, Arkansas couldn’t capitalize on crucial opportunities. ESPN reported that the Razorbacks hit only 50% of their free throws and just 15.8% of their three-point attempts. With 11 turnovers and poor shooting, Arkansas couldn’t overcome Auburn, who secured a 67-60 victory in The Jungle.
Social media reactions were mixed, with some fans and analysts pointing out Arkansas’ improvements, while others expressed frustration over missed opportunities. Jackson Collier, an Arkansas basketball journalist at Hawg Beat, mentioned that the Razorbacks’ performance boosted their KenPom ranking. Jacob Davis from Sports Illustrated was disappointed with the team’s free-throw struggles. Curtis Wilkerson, Managing Editor at Inside Arkansas, criticized the team for “multiple casual turnovers.
On X/Twitter, passionate fans like Hogtrough were disappointed with the lack of basketball IQ late in the game. Pinto, another fan, praised Karter Knox and Billy Richmond but voiced concern over Johnell Davis and Jonas Aidoo’s performances.
Bryan criticized Adou Thiero, while former player Alandise Harris acknowledged the team’s efforts but admitted they “came up short.” Fans like WarMachine2013 and Dr. Antonio Daniels had their own grievances, with some criticizing individual performances such as Trevon Brazile’s recent slump. Josh Teeter, an Arkansas fan, even went as far as suggesting Brazile may need to be investigated for “point shaving.”
Despite the loss, Arkansas continues to show fight, but the road ahead remains challenging.
Leave a Reply