Arkansas Razorbacks
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #77
Conference Rank: #11 SEC
Arkansas has made consecutive NCAA Tournaments under Mike Anderson, but a third straight trip to the big dance will be difficult to achieve. Senior leaders Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon have graduated after each averaged between 16 and 18 points last season. The Razorbacks will sport an almost entirely knew roster in 2018-19, with only three players returning and only one who scored more than five points per game. Daniel Gafford is that one and he is an NBA prospect who should dominate as a sophomore. However, the rest of the Razorbacks’ roster is one big question mark.
2017-18 Record: 23-12, 10-8
2017-18 Postseason: NCAA Tournament
Coach: Mike Anderson
Coach Record: 151-86 at Arkansas, 351-184 overall
Key Departed Players:
Jaylen Barford, Guard, 17.9 ppg
Jaylen Barford, Guard, 17.9 ppg
Daryl Macon, Guard, 16.8 ppg
Anton Beard, Guard, 9.5 ppg
C.J. Jones, Guard, 6.3 ppg
Darious Hall, Forward, 5.1 ppg
Dustin Thomas, Forward, 5.0 ppg
Trey Thompson, Center, 3.3 ppg
Arlando Cook, Forward, 1.8 ppg
Anton Beard, Guard, 9.5 ppg
C.J. Jones, Guard, 6.3 ppg
Darious Hall, Forward, 5.1 ppg
Dustin Thomas, Forward, 5.0 ppg
Trey Thompson, Center, 3.3 ppg
Arlando Cook, Forward, 1.8 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Daniel Gafford, Sophomore, Center, 11.8 ppg
Adrio Bailey, Junior, Forward, 4.1 ppg
Gabe Osabuohien, Sophomore, Forward, 1.1 ppg
Adrio Bailey, Junior, Forward, 4.1 ppg
Gabe Osabuohien, Sophomore, Forward, 1.1 ppg
Key New Players:
Ibrahim Ali, Freshman, Center – 2 star
Reggie Chaney, Freshman, Forward – 3 star
Keyshawn Embery, Freshman, Guard – 3 star
Khalil Garland, Freshman, Guard – red shirt 3 star
Jalen Harris, Junior, Guard, Transfer from New Mexico
Ibrahim Ali, Freshman, Center – 2 star
Reggie Chaney, Freshman, Forward – 3 star
Keyshawn Embery, Freshman, Guard – 3 star
Khalil Garland, Freshman, Guard – red shirt 3 star
Jalen Harris, Junior, Guard, Transfer from New Mexico
Ethan Henderson, Freshman, Forward – 3 star
Isaiah Joe, Freshman, Guard – 3 star
Mason Jones, Sophomore, Guard, Junior College Transfer
Jordan Phillips, Freshman, Forward – 3 star
Isaiah Joe, Freshman, Guard – 3 star
Mason Jones, Sophomore, Guard, Junior College Transfer
Jordan Phillips, Freshman, Forward – 3 star
Desi Sills, Freshman, Guard – 3 star
Projection:
Daniel Gafford will have a lot of heavy lifting to do as the only returning player to average more than five points per game. Gafford had a strong freshman season, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Gafford’s decision to return to Arkansas was surprising to NBA scouts, but was very much welcomed by the Razorbacks. The only other returning players are Adrio Bailey and Gabe Osabuohien. Bailey started 16 games last year and averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds. Osabuohien only played 6.8 minutes per game in 20 appearances. Arkansas will have 10 new players on the roster that could all contribute right away. Jalen Harris is a transfer from New Mexico who averaged 4.5 points as a freshman. Mason Jones is a junior college transfer who averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in one year in JUCO. Khalil Garland redshirted a year ago and will see playing time this season. Additionally, Mike Anderson has seven true freshmen joining the roster, all of which are three-star prospects, with the exception of Ibrahim Ali, who was unranked. This will almost certainly be a transition year for the Razorbacks, who will need immediate production from a lot of new faces to compete in the SEC.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 80.5 (38th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 75.6 (263, 13)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.4 (42, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.0 (115, 11)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (169, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 39.6 (19, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.1 (291, 12)
Rebound Margin: -1.6 (261, 13)
Assists Per Game: 14.3 (116, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 10.9 (24, 2)
Madness 2019 NBA Draft Rankings:
#8 Daniel Gafford
Madness 2018 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#129 Keyshawn Embery
#142 Isaiah Joe
#143 Ethan Henderson
#159 Jordan Phillips
