Florida basketball has started off the Southeastern Conference schedule on a weak foot, dropping their home opener to the Kentucky Wildcats by a mere two points before getting blasted in Oxford by the Ole Miss Rebels on Wednesday night. Now 0-2 in SEC play, the Gators return home to host the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Hogs have not fared well either early on also carrying a 0-2 record into the O’Connell Center this Saturday. Once again saddled with high expectations, Eric Musselman’s team had an up-and-down non-conference schedule before losing their first two conference matchups, leaving them with a 9-6 mark.
Ahead of the third game of the SEC schedule for both Florida and Arkansas, Gators Wire caught up with Derek Oxford of Arkansas Wire to get the lowdown on this season’s Hogs team. Take a look below at our Q&A.
Arkansas’s men’s basketball program has been a bit of a disappointment. How are fans feeling this year?
Last year was a disappointment until March Madness, and then it was euphoria after beating Kansas. Losing to UConn didn’t hurt especially because most people realized they were likely going to win it all.
This year, fans are definitely disappointed because expectations were high and they haven’t met them whatsoever. They need a shot in the arm.
Much like Florida, Arky is 0-2 in the SEC. How important is that game against the Gators for the Hogs?
It’s important, much more so now after losing to Georgia on Wednesday night (which was a winnable game). You don’t want to be 0-3 going home and having to deal with Texas A&M and South Carolina and then going to Ole Miss.
They could be staring 1-5 or even 0-6 in the face to start.
The win over Duke appears to be the high water mark so far. How did the Hogs accomplish that feat?
Simple answer, 20,000 rabid Hog fans. They had that for Purdue as well. Then Auburn happened last Saturday and the Hogs suffered their worst defeat in the history of their home arena even with a capacity crowd.
Contrast that with the loss against UNC Greensboro. What went wrong?
That game was a combination of Arkansas taking bad shots and then not guarding the perimeter. Also not crashing the offensive boards. The issues are known by Eric Musselman, but have yet to be corrected.
Arkansas is 2-4 away from home and just 0-1 in true road games. How concerned about you about the O’Dome’s hostile crowd?
Very concerned. This team doesn’t play well away from home, and the O’Dome is way more hostile than Stegeman Coliseum was on Wednesday.
Who will be Arky’s X-factor against Florida?
I’m going to go with Devo Davis. He’s a senior and been through the wars but has played poorly much of this season. If he starts playing like he’s capable, this team might get the ship corrected.
Prediction?
Florida 78, Arkansas 70
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