2018–19 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

2018–19 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
NIT, Second Round
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record18–16 (8–10 SEC)
Head coach
Associate head coachMelvin Watkins
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBud Walton Arena
Seasons
2018–19 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 15 LSU 16 – 2   .889 28 – 7   .800
No. 10 Tennessee 15 – 3   .833 31 – 6   .838
No. 7 Kentucky 15 – 3   .833 30 – 7   .811
No. 5 Auburn† 11 – 7   .611 30 – 10   .750
South Carolina 11 – 7   .611 16 – 16   .500
Mississippi State 10 – 8   .556 23 – 11   .676
Ole Miss 10 – 8   .556 20 – 13   .606
Florida 9 – 9   .500 20 – 16   .556
Alabama 8 – 10   .444 18 – 16   .529
Arkansas 8 – 10   .444 18 – 16   .529
Texas A&M 6 – 12   .333 14 – 18   .438
Missouri 5 – 13   .278 15 – 17   .469
Georgia 2 – 16   .111 11 – 21   .344
Vanderbilt 0 – 18   .000 9 – 23   .281
† 2019 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018–19 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by eighth-year head coach Mike Anderson, and played their home games at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 18–16, 8–10 in SEC Play to finish a tie for 9th place. They lost in the Second Round of the SEC tournament to Florida. They received an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Providence in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Indiana.

On March 26, 2019, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek fired Anderson.

Previous season

Arkansas finished the season 23–12, 10–8 in SEC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place. As the No. 6 seed in the SEC tournament, the Razorbacks defeated South Carolina[1] and Florida[2] before losing in the semifinals to Tennessee.[3] They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Butler.[4]

Senior guard Jaylen Barford was named first team All-SEC, while senior guard Daryl Macon was a second team All-SEC selection. Freshman center Daniel Gafford was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.[5] On March 26, 2018, Gafford announced he would forgo the 2018 NBA draft, and would be returning to Arkansas for his sophomore season.[6]

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Jaylen Barford 0 G 6'3" 205 Senior Jackson, Tennessee Graduated
Trey Thompson 1 F 6'9" 265 Senior Forrest City, Arkansas Graduated
Daryl Macon 4 G 6'3" 185 Senior Little Rock, Arkansas Graduated
Arlando Cook 5 F 6'8" 215 Senior St. Louis, Missouri Graduated
Dustin Thomas 13 F 6'7" 220 Senior Texarkana, Texas Graduated
Darious Hall 20 SF 6'6" 210 Freshman Little Rock, Arkansas Transferred to DePaul
C.J. Jones 23 SG 6'5" 180 Sophomore Birmingham, Alabama Transferred to Middle Tennessee
Anton Beard 31 G 6'0" 190 Senior North Little Rock, Arkansas Graduated

2018 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Isaiah Joe
SG 		Fort Smith, AR Northside High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Aug 2, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Desi Sills
PG 		Jonesboro, AR Jonesboro High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Aug 19, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Ethan Henderson
PF 		Little Rock, AR Parkview Magnet High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 5, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Keyshawn Embery
PG 		Oklahoma City, OK IMG Academy, FL. 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Sep 16, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Jordan Phillips
SF 		Cedar Hill, TX Cedar Hill High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Oct 8, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN: N/A
Reggie Chaney
PF 		Frisco, TX Findlay Prep, Las Vegas, NV. 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 222 lb (101 kg) Oct 28, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Mason Jones
SG 		Warner, OK Connors State Jr. College 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) Apr 7, 2018 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Ibrahim Ali
C 		Nigeria Southwest Christian Academy, Little Rock, AR. 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 244 lb (111 kg) May 14, 2018 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2018 Arkansas Commits". Rivals.com.
  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Roster

2018–19 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team
Players Coaches

Connors State College
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
C 23 Ibrahim Ali 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 244 lb (111 kg) Fr Maumelle Maumelle, Arkansas
SF 2 Adrio Bailey 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 222 lb (101 kg) Jr Lakeview HS Campti, LA
PF 35 Reggie Chaney 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 222 lb (101 kg) Fr Findlay Prep Tulsa, Oklahoma
PG 11 Keyshawn Embery 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Fr Midwest City HS Midwest City, OK
SG 3 Khalil Garland 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 198 lb (90 kg) RS Fr Parkview Arts & Science HS Little Rock, AR
PF 10 Daniel Gafford 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 233 lb (106 kg) So El Dorado HS El Dorado, AR
SG 5 Jalen Harris 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS So Word of God Christian Academy
New Mexico 		Raleigh, NC
PF 24 Ethan Henderson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Parkview Arts & Science HS Little Rock, AR
SG 1 Isaiah Joe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Northside HS Fort Smith, AR
SG 13 Mason Jones 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) So Triple A Academy DeSoto, Texas
SF 22 Gabe Osabuohien 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 221 lb (100 kg) So Southwest Christian Academy Toronto, ON
SG 25 Jordan Phillips 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Fr Cedar Hill Fort Worth, Texas
PG 0 Desi Sills 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Fr Jonesboro HS Jonesboro, AR
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: 2018-04-21

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 26, 2018*
7:00 pm 		Tusculum W 96–47  –
  18 – Joe   10 – Chaney   7 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (13,376)
Fayetteville, AR
November 2, 2018*
7:00 pm 		Southwest Baptist W 100–63  –
  19 – Joe   12 – Gafford   5 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (13,283)
Fayetteville, AR
Regular season
November 9, 2018*
6:00 pm, ESPN 		vs. Texas
Armed Forces Classic 		L 71–73 OT 0–1
  20 – Gafford   12 – Gafford   4 – Harris  Fort Bliss (1,400)
El Paso, TX
November 12, 2018*
7:00 pm, SECN+ 		UC Davis
Hardwood Showcase 		W 81–58  1–1
  21 – Jones   8 – Jones   4 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (13,444)
Fayetteville, AR
November 18, 2018*
2:30 pm, ESPN 		Indiana
Hardwood Showcase 		W 73–72  2–1
  27 – Gafford   12 – Gafford   7 – Jones  Bud Walton Arena (17,456)
Fayetteville, AR
November 21, 2018*
7:00 pm, SECN+ 		Montana State
Hardwood Showcase 		W 90–68  3–1
  18 – Jones   7 – Gafford   11 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (13,698)
Fayetteville, AR
November 23, 2018*
7:00 pm, SECN+ 		Texas–Arlington
Hardwood Showcase 		W 78–60  4–1
  21 – Gafford   8 – Chaney   6 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (17,403)
Fayetteville, AR
December 1, 2018*
7:00 pm, SECN+ 		FIU W 121–89  5–1
  34 – Joe   12 – Gafford   5 – Sills  Bud Walton Arena (13,763)
Fayetteville, AR
December 5, 2018*
9:00 pm, CBSSN 		at Colorado State W 98–74  6–1
  16 – Jones   9 – Gafford   12 – Harris  Moby Arena (3,238)
Fort Collins, CO
December 8, 2018*
2:30 pm, SECN 		Western Kentucky L 77–78  6–2
  19 – Joe   9 – Gafford   7 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (14,488)
Fayetteville, AR
December 15, 2018*
7:00 pm 		vs. UTSA
North Little Rock Showcase 		W 79–67  7–2
  21 – Joe   14 – Gafford   10 – Harris  Verizon Arena (13,728)
North Little Rock, AR
December 19, 2018*
8:00 pm, SECN 		Georgia Tech L 65–69  7–3
  17 – Jones   9 – Gafford   5 – Jones  Bud Walton Arena (14,368)
Fayetteville, AR
December 22, 2018*
1:00 pm, SECN 		Texas State W 73–70  8–3
  21 – Jones   10 – Gafford   4 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (13,463)
Fayetteville, AR
December 28, 2018*
7:00 pm, SECN+ 		Austin Peay W 76–65  9–3
  16 – Gafford   10 – Gafford   7 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (14,267)
Fayetteville, AR
January 5, 2019
5:00 pm, SECN 		at Texas A&M W 73–71  10–3
(1–0) 		 15 – Harris   11 – Gafford   9 – Harris  Reed Arena (10,049)
College Station, TX
January 9, 2019
7:30 pm, SECN 		Florida L 51–57  10–4
(1–1) 		 30 – Jones   12 – Gafford   3 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (17,160)
Fayetteville, AR
January 12, 2019
5:00 pm, SECN 		LSU L 88–94 OT 10–5
(1–2) 		 32 – Gafford   7 – Gafford   6 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (17,361)
Fayetteville, AR
January 15, 2019
6:00 pm, ESPN2 		at No. 3 Tennessee L 87–106  10–6
(1–3) 		 23 – Joe   7 – Tied   6 – Jones  Thompson–Boling Arena (19,282)
Knoxville, TN
January 19, 2019
12:00 pm, SECN 		at No. 18 Ole Miss L 67–84  10–7
(1–4) 		 16 – Embery-Simpson   10 – Gafford   7 – Harris  The Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,500)
Oxford, MS
January 23, 2019
8:00 pm, SECN 		Missouri W 72–60  11–7
(2–4) 		 23 – Joe   10 – Gafford   6 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (13,881)
Fayetteville, AR
January 26, 2019*
5:00 pm, ESPN2 		at No. 14-T Texas Tech
Big 12/SEC Challenge 		L 64–67  11–8
  16 – Gafford   5 – Gafford   2 – Harris  United Supermarkets Arena (14,290)
Lubbock, TX
January 29, 2019
6:00 pm, ESPNU 		Georgia W 70–60  12–8
(3–4) 		 23 – Jones   6 – Tied   4 – Jones  Bud Walton Arena (13,970)
Fayetteville, AR
February 2, 2019
5:00 pm, SECN 		at No. 19 LSU W 90–89  13–8
(4–4) 		 23 – Gafford   8 – Gafford   5 – Tied  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,311)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 5, 2019
8:00 pm, SECN 		Vanderbilt W 69–66  14–8
(5–4) 		 28 – Gafford   9 – Gafford   5 – Joe  Bud Walton Arena (13,587)
Fayetteville, AR
February 9, 2019
2:30 pm, SECN 		at South Carolina L 65–77  14–9
(5–5) 		 17 – Harris   6 – Bailey   4 – Jones  Colonial Life Arena (12,374)
Columbia, SC
February 12, 2019
8:00 pm, ESPNU 		at Missouri L 78–79  14–10
(5–6) 		 26 – Gafford   8 – Gafford   5 – Harris  Mizzou Arena (9,489)
Columbia, MO
February 16, 2019
7:30 pm, SECN 		Mississippi State L 67–77  14–11
(5–7) 		 30 – Jones   11 – Gafford   7 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (17,022)
Fayetteville, AR
February 20, 2019
7:30 pm, SECN 		at Auburn L 56–79  14–12
(5–8) 		 14 – Joe   8 – Gafford   3 – Sills  Auburn Arena (7,493)
Auburn, AL
February 23, 2019
7:30 pm, SECN 		Texas A&M L 80–87  14–13
(5–9) 		 23 – Gafford   13 – Gafford   4 – Jones  Bud Walton Arena (16,108)
Fayetteville, AR
February 26, 2019
8:00 pm, SECN 		at No. 4 Kentucky L 66–70  14–14
(5–10) 		 19 – Joe   8 – Gafford   4 – Osabuohien  Rupp Arena (21,998)
Lexington, KY
March 2, 2019
12:00 pm, SECN 		Ole Miss W 74–73  15–14
(6–10) 		 22 – Jones   4 – Bailey   9 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (17,320)
Fayetteville, AR
March 6, 2019
7:30 pm, SECN 		at Vanderbilt W 84–48  16–14
(7–10) 		 20 – Gafford   7 – Osabuohien   5 – Jones  Memorial Gymnasium (8,517)
Nashville, TN
March 9, 2019
5:00 pm, SECN 		Alabama W 82–70  17–14
(8–10) 		 29 – Gafford   16 – Gafford   4 – Harris  Bud Walton Arena (16,253)
Fayetteville, AR
SEC Tournament
March 14, 2019
12:00 pm, SECN 		(9) vs. (8) Florida
Second Round 		L 50–66  17–15
  15 – Gafford   6 – Tied   5 – Harris  Bridgestone Arena (13,000)
Nashville, TN
NIT
March 19, 2019*
8:00 pm, ESPN2 		(5) at (4) Providence
First Round – Indiana Bracket 		W 84–72  18–15
  18 – Jones   8 – Osabuohien   6 – Harris  Dunkin' Donuts Center (3,057)
Providence, RI
March 23, 2019*
12:00 pm, ESPN 		(5) at (1) Indiana
Second Round – Indiana Bracket 		L 60–63  18–16
  18 – Sills   6 – Osabuohien   7 – Harris  Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (12,225)
Bloomington, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

  1. ^ "South Carolina vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - March 8, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  2. ^ "Florida Gators Basketball loses to Arkansas Razorbacks, shoots a blank , ducks out of SEC Tournament". Swamp247. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  3. ^ "Arkansas vs. Tennessee - Game Recap - March 10, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  4. ^ "Butler vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - March 16, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  5. ^ "3 Arkansas Razorbacks honored named to coaches' All-SEC teams - Jaylen Barford, Daryl Macon, Daniel Gafford". HawgSports.com. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  6. ^ "Daniel Gafford will return to Arkansas for sophomore season". Arkansas Online. March 26, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.