Arkansas-Montana Preview

Who: Montana Grizzlies

What: Game 1 of Collegiate Hoops Roadshow presented by AtmosAir

When: Saturday – Nov. 16, 2019 – 4:00 pm

Where: Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, Ark.

How (to follow):

– TV: SEC Network Plus (Benjamin Kelly and Manuale Watkins)

– CLICK HERE to Watch ESPN/SEC+ Online

– Radio: Learfield IMG College Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)

– Sirius/XM: streaming online, channel 986

– Live Stats: www.Arkansas.StatBroadcast.com

– In Person: CLICK HERE to purchase tickets

– Arkansas Game Notes: CLICK HERE

– Montana Game Notes: CLICK HERE

– Fan Game Day Information: CLICK HERE

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas will host Montana on Saturday (Nov. 16) in game one of the Razorback Regional in the Collegiate Hoops Roadshow, presented by AtmosAir. Tip-off at Bud Walton Arena is set for 4 pm.

The Roadshow includes 11 schools from coast-to-coast, anchored by Arkansas and Pacific with each hosting four

games. Teams in the Razorback Regional include Arkansas, Montana, Texas Southern, South Dakota, Northern Kentucky and Coppin State. The Tiger Regional includes host Pacific, Longwood, Northern Illinois, UC Riverside and SIU Edwardsville.

Versus Montana

This will be the first meeting between Arkansas and Montana.

Eric Musselman is 1-0 versus the Grizzlies as a head coach. In Musselman’s first year at Nevada, the Wolf Pack faced Montana in the first round of the CBI en route to winning the championship. After trailing by as much as 13(12 in the second half), Nevada found a way to pull out a 79-75 win.

Montana won the Big Sky Conference last season and has finished first or second in the league eight of the last 10 years.

Record Lows

The temperatures in Northwest Arkansas are not the only thing experiencing record lows of late.

Arkansas has held each of its first two opponents to just 43 points.

^ The last time Arkansas held opponents to under 50 points in back-to-back games was 14 years ago (2004-05 season) when the Razorbacks defeated UL Monroe 85-43 on Dec. 31, 2004 and defeated Ole Miss 69-46 on Jan. 5, 2005.

^ The last time Arkansas held opponents to as few as 86 points on back-to-back games was 69 years ago (1950-51 season) when the Razorbacks defeated Tulsa (53-44) and Alabama (46-34) on back-to-back nights (Dec. 27 and 28, 1950) at the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City.

^ Since 1959-60 season (60 years ago), Arkansas’ defense has allowed 43 points or less 27 times — including twice in two games this season — just 14 times since the 3-point line was added (1986-87).

Since 1959-60 season (60 years ago), Arkansas’ defense has allowed 43 points or less 27 times — including twice in two games this season — just 14 times since the 3-point line was added (1986-87).

^ Also over the last 60 years, Arkansas has allowed 43 points or less twice in a season five times: 1976-77, 1977-78, 1980-81, 1983-84 and 2019-20.

Strong Defense

Arkansas’ defense has been impressive in the season-opening wins over Rice and North Texas, especially the Razorbacks’ 3-point defense.

NOTE: before reading the following notes, Sacramento State leads the nation in most defensive categories as they beat non-DI Simpson, 76-27, in its lone game of 2019-20. Sac State plays UC Riverside on Friday (Nov. 15).

Arkansas held Rice (2-of-25) and North Texas (2-of-17) to a combined 4-of-42 from 3-point range.

^ Arkansas’ 9.5% 3-point defense ranks 2nd in the NCAA.

Arkansas held both Rice and North Texas to 43 points.

^ Arkansas’ 43.0 ppg scoring defense ranks 3rd in the NCAA.

Arkansas held Rice to 28.6% shooting overall and North Texas, which missed its first 11 shots, to 33.3% shooting.

^ Arkansas’ 30.8% FG pct defense ranks 9th in the NCAA.

Arkansas gathered 14 steals versus Rice and 11 versus North Texas.

^ Arkansas’ 12.5 steals per game ranks 11th in the NCAA.

Arkansas forced Rice into 27 turnovers and North Texas into 18.

^ The 22.5 turnovers forced ranks 13th in the NCAA.

Arkansas Receives Votes in AP Poll

After a convincing win over Rice to start the season Arkansas received 11 votes in the first AP poll (release Monday – Nov. 11), which would equate to #36 ranking.

Arkansas has not been ranked since Jan. 2018 (22nd), starting 11-2. However, the Razorbacks dropped out after losses to Mississippi State (1/2/18) and Auburn (1/6/18).

Arkansas, which started 6-1, received votes on three consecutive weeks by the AP last season, including one vote on Nov. 19, six votes on Nov. 26 and three votes on Dec. 3.

Isaiah Joe on Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List

Arkansas sophomore Isaiah Joe was named to the 2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.

FANS CAN VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE PLAYER AT: http://www.hoophallawards.com/men/vote.php

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.