2019–20 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

The 2019–20 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2019–20 season. The team was led by first-year head coach Eric Musselman, and played their home games at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Razorbacks finished with a record of 20–12 (7–11), with junior Mason Jones earning a share of the SEC Player of the Year award and being named a consensus First-Team All-SEC player.

2019–20 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
2019–20 record20–12 (7–11 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBud Walton Arena
2019–20 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 8 Kentucky153 .833  256  .806
No. 20 Auburn126 .667  256  .806
LSU126 .667  2110  .677
Mississippi State117 .611  2011  .645
Florida117 .611  1912  .613
South Carolina108 .556  1813  .581
Texas A&M108 .556  1614  .533
Tennessee99 .500  1714  .548
Alabama810 .444  1615  .516
Arkansas711 .389  2012  .625
Missouri711 .389  1516  .484
Ole Miss612 .333  1517  .469
Georgia513 .278  1616  .500
Vanderbilt315 .167  1121  .344
As of January 29, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
NOTE: The 2020 SEC Tournament was canceled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arkansas started the season strongly, going into conference play with an 11–1 record, including two road wins against Power Five teams, Georgia Tech and Indiana. The first quarter of conference play was promising for the Razorbacks, with the only setback coming on the road against LSU, 79–77. Heading into a highly anticipated home game with #10 Kentucky, the Hogs were 14–2, with a 3–1 conference record. Arkansas led with less than nine minutes left in the game when Kentucky head coach John Calipari was ejected, sparking a Kentucky run and victory. From there the season bottomed out, with the Hogs finishing the last fourteen games of the conference season with a record of 4–10 for a final regular season record of 19–12 (7–11), including a five-game losing streak without star guard Isaiah Joe that featured back-to-back overtime losses for the first time in school history, in addition to a one-point loss.[1] Heading into the last quarter of the conference season, Arkansas avenged earlier losses to Missouri and Tennessee, placing the Hogs back on the bubble, but fell on the road to thirteenth-place Georgia, effectively knocking the Razorbacks out of tournament contention. After splitting the last two games of the season at home against LSU and on the road against Texas A&M, the Hogs were on the outside looking in, most likely needing to win the SEC Tournament to receive an NCAA Tournament bid.[2]

After winning their first-round game against Vanderbilt on March 11, 2020, the Hogs were slated for a rematch against South Carolina in the second round, but the SEC announced on March 12, 2020 that the SEC Tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an announcement following from the NCAA later that day that the whole tournament was cancelled, along with all other winter and spring championships, ending the Razorbacks' season.

The Razorbacks received some votes for the AP Poll throughout the non-conference season, but never earned a ranking, and stopped receiving votes by the end of January.[3]

Mason Jones was voted the SEC Player of the Year by the league media, sharing the honor with Reggie Perry, a Mississippi State player and former Arkansas commit, while the coaches' award went to Immanuel Quickley, of Kentucky. Jones was the third Razorback to win the award, along with Bobby Portis and Corliss Williamson. Jones had an outstanding season, being named SEC Player of the Week four times, one of three SEC players to ever do so and the first in over a decade. Jones led the SEC in scoring, becoming the first Razorback to claim the SEC scoring title, while also finishing ranked eighth in the country for points per game. Jones led the NCAA in both free throw attempts and makes, while also having nine thirty-point games, the most by an SEC player in two decades. Jones broke Sidney Moncrief's school record for free throws made in a season, in addition to being one of only three players in the previous thirty years to score forty points in a game multiple times in a season. Jones was named a consensus First-Team All-SEC player, the tenth time an Arkansas player has achieved that honor.[4] Jones was also named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press (AP).

Previous season

On March 26, 2019, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek fired former head coach Mike Anderson.[5] Following a 12-day search, Yurachek announced Musselman's hiring on April 7.[6]

Former guard Keyshawn Embery-Simpson had already announced following Anderson's firing that he would be leaving the school and transferring to Tulsa.[7]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Daniel Gafford10F6'11"233SophomoreEl Dorado, ArkansasDeclared for the NBA Draft; selected 38th overall by the Chicago Bulls.
Keyshawn Embery-Simpson11G6'3"202FreshmanMidwest City, OklahomaTransferred to Tulsa
Gabe Osabuohien22F6'8"221SophomoreToronto, OntarioDismissed from team;[8] transferred to West Virginia
Justice HillG5'11"202FreshmanLittle Rock, ArkansasTransferred to Salt Lake CC[9]

Incoming Transfers

NamePos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Jimmy WhittSG6'3"175Graduate StudentColumbia, MOTransferred from SMU after graduating. Will have one year of eligibility beginning immediately.
Jeantal CyllaPF6'7"215Graduate StudentLake Worth, FLTransferred from UNC Wilmington after graduating. Will have one year of eligibility beginning immediately.
JD NotaePG6'2"185JuniorCovington, GATransferred from Jacksonville. Under NCAA transfer rules, Notae will have to sit out the 2019–20 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.[10]
Connor VanoverPF7'3"230SophomoreLittle Rock, ARTransferred from California. Under NCAA transfer rules, Vanover will have to sit out the 2019–20 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.
Abayomi IyiolaPF6'9"210JuniorAtlanta, GATransferred from Stetson. Under NCAA transfer rules, Iyiloa will have to sit out the 2019–20 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.

Jamario Bell would also join the team with one year of eligibility after his career with the Arkansas football team ended.

2019 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Justice Hill
PG
Little Rock, Arkansas LR Christian 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Nov 14, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
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:

  • "2019 Arkansas Commits". Rivals.com.
  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    Preseason

    SEC media poll

    The SEC media poll was released on October 15, 2019.[11]

    Media poll
    Predicted finish Team
    1Kentucky
    2Florida
    3LSU
    4Auburn
    5Tennessee
    6Alabama
    7Mississippi State
    8Ole Miss
    9Georgia
    10South Carolina
    11Arkansas
    12Texas A&M
    13Missouri
    14Vanderbilt

    Preseason All-SEC teams

    The Razorbacks had one player selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

    Roster

    2019–20 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    SF 2 Adrio Bailey 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)222 lb (101 kg) SrLakeview HS Campti, Louisiana
    PF 14 Jamario Bell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)250 lb (113 kg) SrJunction City HS Junction City, Arkansas
    PF 35 Reggie Chaney 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)222 lb (101 kg) SoFindlay Prep Tulsa, Oklahoma
    PF 4 Jeantal Cylla 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) GSLake Worth Community HS
    UNC Wilmington
    Lake Worth, Florida
    SG 5 Jalen Harris 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) RS JrWord of God Christian Academy
    New Mexico
    Raleigh, North Carolina
    PF 24 Ethan Henderson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) SoParkview Arts & Science HS Little Rock, Arkansas
    SG 1 Isaiah Joe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg) SoNorthside HS Fort Smith, Arkansas
    SG 15 Mason Jones 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)207 lb (94 kg) JrTriple A Academy
    Connors State College
    DeSoto, Texas
    PF 22 Abayomi Iyiola  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrGreenforest-McCalep Christian Academy
    Stetson
    Atlanta, Georgia
    PG 11 JD Notae  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg) JrNewton HS
    Jacksonville University
    Covington, Georgia
    PF 13 Emeka Obukwelu 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)222 lb (101 kg) RS JrPlano West Senior HS
    UT-Tyler
    Plano, Texas
    PG 0 Desi Sills 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)196 lb (89 kg) SoJonesboro HS Jonesboro, Arkansas
    PF 23 Connor Vanover  7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)230 lb (104 kg) SoFindlay Prep
    California
    Little Rock, Arkansas
    SG 33 Jimmy Whitt 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)175 lb (79 kg) GSHickman HS
    SMU
    Columbia, Missouri
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster
    Last update: 2019-07-28

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    October 20, 2019*
    3:00 pm
    Little Rock W 79–64 
     25  Joe  9  Whitt Jr.  3  Tied  Bud Walton Arena (7,364)
    Fayetteville, AR
    October 25, 2019*
    7:00 pm
    Southwestern Oklahoma State W 78–51 
     22  Jones  9  Chaney  5  Sills  Bud Walton Arena (3,509)
    Fayetteville, AR
    Regular season
    November 5, 2019*
    7:00 pm, SECN+
    Rice W 91–43  1–0
     32  Jones  9  Bailey  7  Joe  Bud Walton Arena (17,274)
    Fayetteville, AR
    November 12, 2019*
    7:00 pm, SECN+
    North Texas W 66–43  2–0
     16  2 tied  6  Jones  2  2 tied  Bud Walton Arena (12,001)
    Fayetteville, AR
    November 16, 2019*
    4:00 pm, SECN+
    Montana
    College Hoops Roadshow
    W 64–46  3–0
     19  Jones  11  Bailey  4  Jones  Bud Walton Arena (13,058)
    Fayetteville, AR
    November 19, 2019*
    7:00 pm, SECN+
    Texas Southern
    College Hoops Roadshow
    W 82–51  4–0
     33  Joe  10  Whitt Jr.  5  Harris  Bud Walton Arena (11,182)
    Fayetteville, AR
    November 22, 2019*
    8:00 pm, SECN
    South Dakota
    College Hoops Roadshow
    W 77–56  5–0
     24  Whitt Jr.  7  Tied  5  Joe  Bud Walton Arena (12,581)
    Fayetteville, AR
    November 26, 2019*
    6:00 pm, ACCN
    at Georgia Tech W 62–61 OT 6–0
     24  Jones  9  Joe  4  Sills  Hank McCamish Pavilion (6,547)
    Atlanta, GA
    November 30, 2019*
    4:00 pm, SECN+
    Northern Kentucky
    College Hoops Roadshow
    W 66–60  7–0
     24  Whitt Jr.  11  Chaney  5  2 tied  Bud Walton Arena (14,080)
    Fayetteville, AR
    December 3, 2019*
    7:00 pm, SECN+
    Austin Peay W 69–61  8–0
     17  Whitt Jr.  6  Joe  3  Harris  Bud Walton Arena (11,995)
    Fayetteville, AR
    December 7, 2019*
    6:30 pm, CBSSN
    at Western Kentucky L 79–86 OT 8–1
     20  Sills  12  Whitt Jr.  4  Whitt Jr.  E. A. Diddle Arena (6,862)
    Bowling Green, KY
    December 14, 2019*
    12:30 pm, ESPNU
    Tulsa W 98–79  9–1
     41  Jones  7  Chaney  4  Tied  Bud Walton Arena (15,589)
    Fayetteville, AR
    December 21, 2019*
    7:00 pm
    vs. Valparaiso W 72–68  10–1
     21  Joe  9  Jones  4  2 tied  Simmons Bank Arena (15,630)
    North Little Rock, AR
    December 29, 2019*
    5:00 pm, BTN
    at Indiana W 71–64  11–1
     24  Joe  8  Bailey  6  Jones  Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (14,892)
    Bloomington, IN
    January 4, 2020
    6:00 pm, SECN
    Texas A&M W 69–59  12–1
    (1–0)
     17  2 tied  6  Jones  5  Harris  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
    Fayetteville, AR
    January 8, 2020
    8:00 pm, ESPNU
    at LSU L 77–79  12–2
    (1–1)
     24  Jones  7  Bailey  4  Jones  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,662)
    Baton Rouge, LA
    January 11, 2020
    5:00 pm, SECN
    at Ole Miss W 76–72  13–2
    (2–1)
     34  Joe  6  Jones  9  Jones  The Pavilion at Ole Miss (8,233)
    Oxford, MS
    January 15, 2020
    7:30 pm, SECN
    Vanderbilt W 75–55  14–2
    (3–1)
     30  Whitt Jr.  8  Whitt Jr.  8  Jones  Bud Walton Arena (14,321)
    Fayetteville, AR
    January 18, 2020
    3:00 pm, ESPN
    No. 10 Kentucky L 66–73  14–3
    (3–2)
     19  Jones  6  Jones  2  Tied  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
    Fayetteville, AR
    January 22, 2020
    6:00 pm, SECN
    at Mississippi State L 70–77  14–4
    (3–3)
     20  Tied  7  Tied  4  Jones  Humphrey Coliseum (6,337)
    Starkville, MS
    January 25, 2020*
    3:00 pm, ESPN2
    TCU
    Big 12/SEC Challenge
    W 78–67  15–4
     22  Whitt Jr.  6  Bailey  6  Harris  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
    Fayetteville, AR
    January 29, 2020
    7:30 pm, SECN
    South Carolina L 77–79  15–5
    (3–4)
     34  Jones  12  Jones  4  Jones  Bud Walton Arena (14,085)
    Fayetteville, AR
    February 1, 2020
    5:00 pm, SECN
    at Alabama W 82–78  16–5
    (4–4)
     30  Jones  11  Chaney  2  Tied  Coleman Coliseum (12,461)
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    February 4, 2020
    6:00 pm, SECN
    No. 11 Auburn L 76–79 OT 16–6
    (4–5)
     40  Jones  7  Tied  5  Jones  Bud Walton Arena (17,196)
    Fayetteville, AR
    February 8, 2020
    2:30 pm, SECN
    at Missouri L 79–83 OT 16–7
    (4–6)
     17  Tied  11  Chaney  4  Harris  Mizzou Arena (11,439)
    Columbia, MO
    February 11, 2020
    6:00 pm, SECN
    at Tennessee L 61–82  16–8
    (4–7)
     19  Whitt Jr.  6  Chaney  2  Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (17,222)
    Knoxville, TN
    February 15, 2020
    12:00 pm, SECN
    Mississippi State L 77–78  16–9
    (4–8)
     38  Jones  6  Tied  3  Whitt Jr.  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
    Fayetteville, AR
    February 18, 2020
    6:00 pm, ESPNU
    at Florida L 59–73  16–10
    (4–9)
     21  Jones  8  Bailey  5  Jones  O'Connell Center (9,023)
    Gainesville, FL
    February 22, 2020
    12:00 pm, SECN
    Missouri W 78–68  17–10
    (5–9)
     21  Joe  8  Jones  4  Jones  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
    Fayetteville, AR
    February 26, 2020
    7:30 pm, SECN
    Tennessee W 86–69  18–10
    (6–9)
     37  Jones  9  Henderson  4  Whitt Jr.  Bud Walton Arena (14,101)
    Fayetteville, AR
    February 29, 2020
    5:00 pm, SECN
    at Georgia L 89–99  18–11
    (6–10)
     26  Tied  6  Sills  6  Whitt Jr.  Stegeman Coliseum (10,017)
    Athens, GA
    March 4, 2020
    6:00 pm, SECN
    LSU W 99–90  19–11
    (7–10)
     36  Jones  15  Whitt Jr.  5  Whitt Jr.  Bud Walton Arena (15,169)
    Fayetteville, AR
    March 7, 2020
    3:30 pm, SECN
    at Texas A&M L 69–77  19–12
    (7–11)
     30  Jones  5  Tied  4  Whitt Jr.  Reed Arena (8,443)
    College Station, TX
    SEC Tournament
    March 11, 2020
    8:30 pm, SECN
    (11) vs. (14) Vanderbilt
    First round
    W 86–73  20–12
     22  Jones  6  Jones  6  Jones  Bridgestone Arena 
    Nashville, TN
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    See also

    References

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