The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Lipscomb 69-66 in a neutral site game in North Little Rock. Given that this game was delayed for 15 minutes before it started due to lighting issues in Simmons Bank Arena, this game had the makings of something weird happening to the Razorbacks, even though they were favored by 14.5 points.
This Arkansas team defeated the then #7-ranked Duke Blue Devils 80-75 in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the nation’s most challenging place to play. In an exhibition game, the Hogs beat the then #2/#3-ranked Purdue Boilermakers, led by Zach Edey, last season’s National Player of the Year, 81-77 in overtime in Bud Walton Arena. Although that exhibition game doesn’t officially count, it was a classic and meant much to everyone involved.
The Razorbacks’ victory over Purdue engendered high expectations for the team, including winning this season’s national championship. Unfortunately, the Hogs have been woefully inconsistent. This Razorbacks team that defeated Purdue and Duke is the same one that was upset at home by the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) 78-72.
After the UNCG loss, some authentic humility entered Razorback Nation.
Arkansas Razorbacks Defeated Lipscomb
The UNCG loss is why Razorbacks fans had some trepidation coming into a game against a team, the Lipscomb Bisons, that the Hogs should demolish. Also, Arkansas was coming off a 79-70 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners in the third-annual Crimson & Cardinal Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
During the Lipscomb game, the Hogs gave its fans more reasons to be concerned.
While the team played decently in the first half, it left much to be desired. The Razorbacks took a 41-33 lead into halftime. After halftime, the Hogs increased the lead to 20 points.
The Bisons, however, mounted an impressive comeback, going on a 21-2 run, including a 17-0 spurt, to reduce the lead to one point (63-62) with 4:29 left in the game. Lipscomb kept the game close to the final seconds but couldn’t convert on three key opportunities.
In the end, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Lipscomb 69-66. For many, though, this doesn’t feel like a win; it feels like a loss, an embarrassing one. No matter how anyone feels, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Lipscomb.
Tramon Mark led the Razorbacks with 17 points, Makhi Mitchell scored 12, and Jalen Graham added 11. Will Pruitt led the Lipscomb Bisons with 15 points.
A Bad Win?
While this win helps Arkansas improve to 7-4, the fallout from such an embarrassing performance will likely be felt in such metrics as the NET rankings. The Hogs have too deep and talented a team to escape with a win against a team like Lipscomb. By now, Arkansas recognizes it cannot overlook any team.
Even though it has been proven each season that Arkansas head basketball coach Eric Musselman will have his team ready in March, evidenced by making the Sweet 16 for the past three seasons and the Elite Eight in the two seasons before last, those Arkansas teams didn’t have as many serious problems as this one.
Hog Nation Reactions
Many Arkansas fans found this win to be less than satisfying, to say the least.
We’ll wait and see the analytics tomorrow, but an inefficient three-point victory over Lipscomb is not a recipe to rise in the ranks.
Pretty bad collapse. Fortunate to win.
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) December 17, 2023
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A win is a win but the story is Hogs blowing a 20 point lead once Lipscomb went zone.
— Jacob Davis (@JacobScottDavis) December 17, 2023
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Welp. The Hogs won. But not sure how happy anyone can be after that meltdown. That was rough
— John Nabors (@BuzzJohnNabors) December 17, 2023
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This team isn’t a March team at all right now
— Hogtrough (@Hogtrough) December 17, 2023
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While the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Lipscomb, the above reactions to the win are representative of the general sentiments among Razorback fans about the win.
Parting Thoughts
Yes, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Lipscomb, but how they won is more revealing than the technical fact that they won. If the Hogs wish to dance in March, they must ameliorate their perimeter defense, play defense without fouling, avoid careless turnovers, stop experiencing extensive scoring droughts, and move the ball more fluidly.
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