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FAYETTEVILLE — Eric Musselman always values taking care of the ball, but it will be even more important Wednesday night.
When it visits Bud Walton Arena for an 8 p.m. tip on the SEC Network, UT-Arlington will do so as one of the nation’s most prolific teams in terms of steals through the first week of the 2020-21 season.
In losses to Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech and a win over Northwestern State, the Mavericks are averaging 10.3 steals, which ranks 29th nationally. They are doing so while also taking care of the ball, leading to a plus-6.7 turnover margin that ranks 33rd in Division I.
Arkansas has done a solid job of avoiding turnovers so far, but it is still one of Musselman’s points of emphasis going into the third game of the season.
“They rely on changing defenses to try to create steals, so we’re going to have to be alert for any changing defenses,” Musselman said. “Which I think our zone package offensively, as well as our man package, I think we have enough different looks that we can give them offensively.”
Speaking to the local media Monday afternoon, Musselman reiterated that he’d rather his team take a bad shot than turn the ball over.
Combine UT-Arlington’s propensity to go for steals with the fact that it plays with a “much, much faster pace of play” than what the Razorbacks saw Saturday against North Texas and not allowing live ball turnovers will be critical to limit what the Mavericks want to do in transition.
Through Monday’s games, UT-Arlington is 46th in KenPom’s adjusted tempo rating, compared to North Texas being ranked 317th. (Mississippi Valley State is first in that category.) However, that could be something Arkansas tries to exploit Wednesday.
“Certainly against UTA, taking care of the ball is important to us,” Musselman said. “Teams that get out and gamble, it's our job to try to make them pay as well by doing different wrinkles and things.”
The Mavericks are led by a trio of guards in Shahada Wells (18.0 ppg), David Azore (14.7 ppg) and Nicolas Elame (10.3 ppg). In addition to all three averaging double figures in scoring, each of them also averages at least five rebounds.
“Their point guard does a great job getting into the teeth of the defense and then their two wings can really, really score the ball,” Musselman said. “And they’re great rebounders - all three guards do a great job rebounding.”
Musselman added that those three players have also shown an ability to get to the free throw line by attacking the rim and getting out in transition. They are averaging a combined 10.7 free throw attempts, but shooting just 68.8 percent from the charity stripe.
A name Arkansas fans will likely recognize when looking over UT-Arlington’s roster is Jordan Phillips. The junior forward actually signed with the Razorbacks as the No. 141 overall prospect in the Class of 2018, but spent just one semester in Fayetteville before transferring back closer to home.
Although he hasn’t started a game for the Mavericks this season, Phillips is fourth on the team in minutes and averaging 5.0 points on 33.3 percent shooting and 3.7 rebounds.
As for the Razorbacks, Musselman is still feeling his way through his new-look roster that features 10 scholarship players who are playing in an Arkansas uniform for the first time.
Everyone played against Mississippi Valley State, but the second-year coach reduced his rotation against North Texas. Freshmen Jaylin Williams and Davonte Davis didn’t play, while graduate transfer Vance Jackson Jr. - who started the opener - played just eight minutes off the bench.
For Williams and Jackson, their minutes likely took a hit because of how much Connor Vanover was on the floor, as he played 34 minutes against the Mean Green. Playing a different style of team in UT-Arlington, that could change Wednesday night.
“Our philosophy has been to change game by game and try to come up with different themes,” Musselman said. “The way we played pick and roll in Game 1 was different than we did in Game 2 and it’ll be different against Arlington. So, to me, the game dictates certain matchups.”
Regardless of who’s on the floor though, Musselman said he is looking for his players to continue showcasing good shot selection from beyond the arc - where the Razorbacks are shooting 41.9 percent - while improving their efficiency with layups.
“The most important area that we’ve got to get better at is finishing around the rim,” Musselman said. “We have left way, way too many layups on the board. I don’t think I’ve ever, through a two-game sample size, seen a team miss so many shots at the rim.”
