Note to Our Readers: The following story was sourced in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Mike Cawood.
FAYETTEVILLE – The #10 Arkansas Razorbacks will make its annual trip to North Little Rock to host the Bradley Braves on Saturday (Dec. 17). Tipoff is set for 3 pm at Simmons Bank Arena and the game will not be televised.
• This will be the first meeting between Arkansas and Bradley.
• However, Coach Musselman is 1-0 versus the Braves. While at Nevada, the Wolf Pack defeated Bradley, 91-69, in Peoria.
• Did you know, this was possibly the first of two meetings between Arkansas and Bradley this year? According to an ever-changing Bracketology prediction earlier this week, Arkansas (a #3 seed) was matched up with Bradley (a #14 seed) in the NCAA first round. However, Bradley has been elevated to a #13 seed. As is stands now (Dec. 14); ESPN Bracketology has #3 seed Arkansas facing Furman while #13 seed Bradley plays UCLA.
• Arkansas is 16-10 all-time in North Little Rock and 12-10 Simmons Bank Arena.
• The arena in North Little Rock opened for the 1999-00 season but Arkansas did play in the city four times in the early history of the program, including the sixth game ever on Dec 31, 1923, versus North Little Rock HS.
• #1 in the nation at finishing at the rim, making 75% of its shots thanks to 47 dunks this season. Arkansas is averaging 4.7 dunks per game this season compared to 2.8 (103 in 37 games) last season. Arkansas has scored 50-plus points in the paint in 2-of-the-last-3 games and three times this season.
• While Arkansas is 26th in the NCAA in free throw attempts, the Razorbacks are 10th in the nation in free throw rate. 15% of Arkansas possessions this year end in free throws
• Arkansas is among the nation’s top five in transition defense.
