Six years have passed since Arkansas basketball started the season this well.
The Razorbacks outscored Clemson by 12 in the third quarter and beat the Tigers in the second game of the Paradise Jam, 76-62, on Friday. Makayla Daniels led four Arkansas players in double figures with 21 points as Arkansas (7-0) achieved its best start since 2016.
The Hogs went just 13-17 that year and 2-14 in SEC play. No one expects that to be the case, or even close to it, in 2022-23. Arkansas is one of just four teams remaining in the SEC who are unbeaten.
Arkansas led by as many as 21 points in the second half before Clemson cut the lead to 10 with less than four minutes left. The Razorbacks, however, made 8 of their 10 free throws in the closing stretch to hold on.
Arkansas plays Kansas State in the championship game from the tournament at 7a p.m. CT. Saturday.