Preview – Wright State

GAME ONE INFO
Date: Monday, March 22
Time: 1 p.m.
Opponent: Wright State
Location: Frank Erwin Center
TV: ESPN

STORYLINES

• No. 15 Arkansas is dancing once again, securing a four seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
• It’s the Hogs first trip to the Big Dance since 2015.
• Their seeding is also the best since 1991, when Arkansas earned a three seed.
• Arkansas drew 13 Seed Wright State in Round One.
• Arkansas finished the season at 15 in the AP Poll, the best finish for the Hogs since 1995.
• The Hogs closed their season strong, winning 8 of their last 10 games.
• In a year where games played is at a premium, Arkansas has played the second most in the NCAA, playing in 27 games so far this season.
• Only one of those games came in the Hogs’ conference tournament.
• Of those 27 games, 10 of them have been played against teams currently in the AP Top 25.
• They have also played six of the teams in the top-10, going 2-5 in those seven games.
• The Hogs started the SEC season 2-5, but finished 7-1 over their last eight SEC games.
• Though it doesn’t count toward their SEC win total, Arkansas replaced their lost Vanderbilt game with UConn, the No. 1 team in the country, and beat them.
• Coach Neighbors’ 2020-21 Hogs have been an offensive juggernaut so far this season, averaging 83.1 points per game, fourth in the NCAA.
• Arkansas gets a lot of its offense from beyond the arc, where the Hogs are once again ranked among the elite. They have made 260 threes so far this season, which is the third best mark in the NCAA.
• They are hitting 9.6 of them a game, which is currently eighth in the NCAA.
• The Hogs aren’t just a volume three-point shooting team though – they are hitting 39.2 percent of their long balls this year, fourth in the NCAA.
• Neighbors’ bunch has been elite at getting to the free throw line and converting its chances – Arkansas is ranked second in the NCAA in free throws made (447) and third in free throws attempted (608).
• Chelsea Dungee currently leads the nation in free throws made (163) and is third in free throws attempted (206).
• The Hogs also play an efficient style of basketball, only turning the ball over 10.6 times a game on average, which is currently good for third in the NCAA and first in the Power Five. Their +6.59 turnover margin is 11th best in the NCAA.

LAST TIME OUT

• Arkansas dropped its first round game in the SEC Tournament, as Ole Miss, the 11th seed, upset the Hogs, who were seeded sixth, 69-60.
• It was the first time since 2017 the Hogs haven’t won at least one game in Greenville.
• Chelsea Dungee led the Hogs on the scoresheet once again, going for 22 points in the loss.
• Destiny Slocum and Amber Ramirez also both got into double-figures, going for 13 and 10 points, respectively.
• Shakira Austin of Ole Miss stole the show in this one, though, as she scored 29 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
• Ole Miss jumped out to a lead in this one, as the Rebels led the Hogs 17-7 at the end of one.
• Arkansas couldn’t throw a rock in the ocean in the first, going 2-17 from the floor as a team. The second and third quarters were a different story though, as the Hogs trailed Ole Miss by just one after Slocum splashed a deep three to end the third period.
• The Hogs struggled again in the fourth, though, shooting 3-17 from the field and making only two of their 11 shots from beyond the arc. Austin scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in the final frame to help ice the game away.
• Dungee went for 20+ yet again, her 17th time this season getting over the 20-point mark.
• Dungee also had a team-high three steals.
• Slocum played a well-rounded game – she dished four assists and pulled down five rebounds.
• Erynn Barnum led the Hogs on the glass, grabbing seven boards.

SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE

• Making its second NCAA appearance in three seasons, and third appearance overall, Wright State is no stranger to postseason play, having seen its name in either the NCAA tournament field or WNIT field five of the last six seasons.
• The Raiders made three consecutive WNIT appearances in 2016, 2017, and 2018, earning a first round victory in the 2017 tournament. Over the past six seasons, Wright State is a combined 136-57 record with a pair of Horizon League regular season and tournament titles.
• Wright State enters the 2021 NCAA Tournament ranked No. 22 nationally in opponent field goal percentage (35.7 percent) but in three Horizon League Tournament games, the Raiders turned up their defense, holding opponents to just 29.4 percent shooting.
• This extended to the three-point line as well, where the Raiders are No. 23 nationally in Opponent Three-Point Percentage (26.5 percent) but in three Horizon League Tournament games held opponents to just 13.8 percent shooting from deep.
• In the Championship game, Wright State held IUPUI without a three-point basket (0-for-15) after IUPUI entered the game ranked inside the top 25 in three-point field goal percentage nationally.
• Wright State enters the 2021 NCAA Tournament having not allowed a three-point basket in nearly 65 minutes dating back to the Horizon League semifinal contest against Cleveland State. The Raiders have seen opponents go 0-for their last-22 three-point attempts.
• Arkansas will have to contend with guard Angel Baker, who averaged 17.1 points per game in the regular season – in three Horizon League Tournament games she averaged 25 points/game, including 29 points in the semifinals against Cleveland State.
• She was also efficient – shooting 55.9 percent from the floor in the tournament after connecting at a 40.5 percent rate in the regular season.
• As a team, Wright State is currently ranked No. 9 in the country for total rebounds with 1,088 so far this season.
• Offensively, the Raiders are ranked No. 6 in the country, averaging 16.6 rebounds per game which also leads the Horizon League.
• The Raiders currently sit nationally ranked at No. 6 (1st in HL) in the rebound margin, outrebounding opponents by 12.3 rebounds per game.
• Wright State is averaging 43.52 rebounds per game, which currently ranks them No. 14 nationally and first in the Horizon League.