Tag: JD Notae

These are the Hogs to declare early for NBA last 10 years and how they’ve done

JD Notae announced his intent to go pro Sunday. Bobby Portis, Daniel Gafford and Isaiah Joe are still in the NBA, while BJ Young and Michael Qualls are still playing professionally elsewhere, too.

Arkansas senior guard [autotag]JD Notae[/autotag] unsurprisingly announced his intention to enter the NBA draft on Sunday, becoming the third player recruited by coach Eric Musselman in the coach’s three years at Arkansas to leave early.

Notae is not projected to picked, but could join the G League and play professionally in Europe.

During the last 10 seasons of Arkansas basketball, nine Razorbacks basketball players have decided to leave college early for a shot at the pros. Their success at the NBA level has varied, though all have played pro ball at some level for number of years after leaving the Hogs.

Notae may not be the last Arkansas player to declare. Sophomore forward [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag] is projected second-round pick by The Athletic. He has not announced a decision either way.

Let’s take a closer look at those Hogs who have declared in the recent past and what has transpired for them in the professional ranks.

Arkansas guard JD Notae declares for NBA Draft, will hire agent

Arkansas guard JD Notae will decline his super-senior season and declare for the NBA draft, he announced Sunday.

[autotag]JD Notae[/autotag], the Arkansas guard who won All-American honors and led the the Razorbacks to the Elite Eight, has declared for the NBA draft.

“The past three years at Arkansas have been the best of my life and I wouldn’t trade the memories I’ve made for anything, and Fayetteville will always hold a special place in my heart,” Notae wrote on Instagram. “I’ve dreamt about playing professional basketball since I was young and after careful consideration I have decided to sign with an agent and enter my name in the 2022 NBA Draft.”

Notae averaged 18.3 points, second most in the SEC. He had one more year of eligibility remaining because of the COVID-19 super-senior qualification, but the hiring of an agent means he cannot return to Arkansas.

Notae played two seasons with the Razorbacks after starting his career at Jacksonville. He was Arkansas’ sixth-man in 2020-21 when the Hogs went to the Elite Eight. After the team lost a bulk of its regulars, Notae stepped into the starting lineup in 2021-22.

Arkansas’ dream season comes to a halt in Elite 8

What an incredible season!

An incredible journey has reached the end of its’ road in San Francisco.

The No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks had dreams of knocking off the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils and ending the illustrious career of head coach Mike Krzyzewski and more importantly, reaching the Final Four for the first time since 1995. That plan was not in the cards, as Duke wins the West region by defeating Arkansas, 78-69.

Destiny continued to be on the side of the Blue Devils, as they took their first lead of the game with 14:09 remaining in the first half on a layup by Mark Williams to give Duke the 10-9 lead.

The score by Williams erased the quick start that Arkansas established. The Razorbacks quickly got on the board with a layup by [autotag]JD Notae[/autotag] at the 19:25 mark in the first half to put Arkansas ahead, 2-0. The Razorbacks and Blue Devils would tie twice before Arkansas jumped out to their largest lead of three points with 16:05 remaining in the half.

The score would remain close throughout the remainder of the half, with Duke leading by no more than eight points. The turning point came at the end of the first half, as Duke went on an 8-0 run to close the first half. Head coach [autotag]Eric Musselman[/autotag] told CBS’ Tracy Wolfson during the postgame interview that he felt that the way the first half ended is what “killed” them.

Duke would come out of the locker room and would lead by as many as 12 points before the Razorbacks cut the lead to 51-43 on a jumper by [autotag]Stanley Umude [/autotag]at the 14:40 mark.

Arkansas stormed back to trim Duke’s lead to 53-48 with 13:19 remaining in the game, but a foul to Duke’s Paolo Banchero sent him to the free throw stripe, where he sank both free throws to push the Blue Devils to an 11-point lead. Those made baskets would begin a scoring surge that would not allow Duke’s lead to dip below ten points for the rest of the contest.

Four Blue Devils reached double figures in scoring in the Elite 8 contest, led by AJ Griffin’s 18 points. Mark Williams recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points while hauling in 12 rebounds. For Arkansas, the leading scorer was [autotag]Jaylin Williams[/autotag], who picked up his fourth double-double of the NCAA Tournament by scoring 19 and securing 10 rebounds. Stanley Umude and[autotag] JD Notae[/autotag] finished with 14 points each.

The Razorbacks’ incredible season ends with a 28-9 record, including a 17-1 record at Bud Walton Arena, and a 13-5 record against SEC foes.

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ESPN shows little faith in Arkansas ahead of Sweet 16 matchup with Gonzaga

The Basketball Power Index gives the Razorbacks very little chance in this one.

Arkansas, the No. 4 seed from the West region, survived another scare on Saturday by being heavily reliant on defensive production in a 53-48 win over No. 12 seed New Mexico State.

Next up on the Razorbacks’ path to a championship is No. 1 seed Gonzaga, who they will meet on Thursday in San Francisco, Calif. In an early matchup prediction, ESPN has given Arkansas very little chance to defeat the Bulldogs.

In their latest Basketball Power Index Matchup Predictor, ESPN is giving Gonzaga an 85.8% chance to defeat Arkansas on Thursday to advance to the Elite Eight.

Gonzaga has played well enough to be considered one of the nation’s best all season long with victories over Texas Tech, UCLA, and Texas, and finishing 13-1 in West Coast Conference play. ‘

The Bulldogs recently defeated Memphis in the round of 32 on Saturday, 82-78. Gonzaga trailed Memphis, 41-31 at halftime. That was when freshman Drew Timme put his teammates on his back and led them to a win. Timme led the Gonzaga comeback effort by scoring 21 of his 25 points in the second half.

For the second game in a row, Arkansas needed late free throws to pull away and establish the win. In the first-round game against Vermont, JD Notae was successful on both free throw attempts with 0:09 remaining in the contest to give Arkansas the 75-71 win over the Catamounts. In Saturday’s win over New Mexico State, Chris Lykes was fouled following a dunk by New Mexico Stare to cut the Razorback lead to 50-48 with 0:02 remaining. Lykes would succeed on both attempts, with Au’Diese Toney getting a chance at the line following a personal foul as time expired.

The Razorbacks look to shock the world on Thursday night. Tipoff time has yet to be announced.

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Beyond the Box: Ugly Never Looked More Beautiful

No one said it was going to be easy. Or pretty. But the Arkansas Razorbacks are once again in the Sweet 16 after a grueling, gritty second round victory of 12-seed New Mexico State. The Hogs used lockdown defense and their trademark free-throw prowess to eke out a 53-48 win on Saturday night. 

No one said it was going to be easy. Or pretty. But the Arkansas Razorbacks are once again in the Sweet 16 after a grueling, gritty second round victory of 12-seed New Mexico State. The Hogs used lockdown defense and their trademark free-throw prowess to eke out a 53-48 win on Saturday night.

The Hogs are back in Fayetteville before heading out to San Francisco for a West Region Semifinal matchup against overall #1 seed Gonzaga. Last year’s national runner-up used a late rally to pull away from 9-seed Memphis late Saturday. This will be the second ever meeting between the two side. Gonzaga won their previous matchup 91-81 in the 2013 Maui Classic.

The Saturday night slugfest in Buffalo was something the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres – current tenants of KeyBank Center – would have loved. The first half in particular featured physical play that was largely uncalled, with the refs only blowing the whistle 8 times for fouls between the two teams. That translated into a meager 28.8% combined field goal percentage.

New Mexico State rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to take a lead in the second half, but Arkansas locked down defensively and hit their free throws en route to the prettiest ugly win in recent memory.

Let’s take a look at some things you may not find in the typical box score.

Beyond the Box: Survive & Advance

Arkansas vs. Vermont felt like three or four packed into one.

This game felt like three or four packed into one. Vermont bolted out early, looking like they were destined to pull the upset. Then Arkansas settled things down, used its athleticism to take control, and reeled off 7 straight points to lead 34-27 at the break.

The second half started just like the first with Vermont looking very much like a giant killer. They went on a 12-0 run to pull ahead 39-36 early in the second half. And jus like the first half, the Hogs worked to level the game at 48 before ultimately building a 9-point lead with 4:25 to play. Arkansas looked in control.

Then things got weird.

With a minute to play the Hogs still held a 4-point lead.

Then things got really weird.

A botched out of bounds call, a no-call on a Vermont travel followed quickly by an event sketchier foul call on Au’Diese Toney, and an even more surprising (because they got it right) review reversal that gave Arkansas the ball… The entire game was beyond the box!

What matters most is that the Hogs survived a frantic Vermont comeback to escape Buffalo’s KeyBank Center with a 75-71 win. They’ll face 12-seed New Mexico State on Saturday. The winner advances to the Sweet Sixteen.

 

“Fear nobody. Respect everybody:” What Eric Musselman said after Arkansas beat Vermont

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman was worn after his Razorbacks escaped Vermont on Thursday.

Arkansas had its hands full with Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament from Buffalo, New York, but the fourth-seeded Hogs escaped upset fate, beating the Catamounts, 75-71, to advance to the second round where New Mexico State awaits.

Coach Eric Musselman attended the post-game press conference with heat on his left shoulder. He was tired and hurting, much like his team.

But he was advancing, excited to start preparation for the Aggies, which, as a 12-seed, upset fifth-seeded Connecticut earlier in the night.

Arkansas and New Mexico State will play Saturday at a time to be determined for a spot in the Sweet 16.

All heart: Arkansas survives feisty challenge from Vermont in NCAA Tournament

Arkansas was pushed to the brink in the first round by Vermont, but advanced to play New Mexico State in the NCAA Tournament.

Arkansas basketball lived to play another day.

The fourth-seeded Razorbacks dispatched 13-seed Vermont, 75-71, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament from Buffalo on Thursday night. The Hogs will play New Mexico State on Saturday for a spot in the Sweet 16.

Vermont tried twice in the final minute.

The Catamounts pulled within three points with 23 seconds left, but Stanley Umude, who led the Hogs with 21 points, nailed a pair of free throws to force the issue. Then, Ben Shungu buried a 3-pointer on the other end with 12 seconds to meet the challenge, but JD Notae hit a pair of free throws to build the lead back to five.

Arkansas led by seven at halftime, but neither team ever led by double digits. The Hogs had it up to a nine-point lead, which was quickly countered by a 12-0 Vermont run. But Arkansas’ superior athleticism put away the Catamounts.

Led by Umude’s 21, four Arkansas players scored in double figures. JD Notae, who led the team in scoring during the regular season, had all of his 17 in the second half.

Vermont’s two best players – Ryan Davis and Ben Shungu – did what they could, scoring 20 and 20 points on a combined 15 of 27 shooting. But the rest of the Catamounts lineup was just 11 of 31.

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Arkansas guard JD Notae named All-American

JD Notae is the fourth Arkansas player in the last four years to garner All-America honors.

Arkansas basketball has an All-American for the fourth straight year.

Senior guard JD Notae was named to the Associated Press’ All-America third-team on Tuesday, just two days before his team begins their NCAA Tournament against Vermont.

Notae, in his second season with the Razorbacks, averaged 18.4 points per game to go with 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He could return for a final season with Arkansas in 2022-23, though no decision has yet been made.

Notae’s selection follows that of Moses Moody last year, Mason Jones in 2020 and Daniel Gafford in 2019. Those three players were all named Honorable Mention All-Americans. Notae is the first outright selection since Bobby Portis in 2015.

The fourth-seeded Razorbacks tip against Vermont on Thursday night at 8:20 p.m.

See ya, Tigers! Arkansas eliminates LSU from SEC Tournament

A huge run to start the second half was more than enough to allow Arkansas to eliminate LSU from the SEC Tournament.

The SEC Tournament No. 4-seed Arkansas used a 13-0 run to start the second half and dispatched fifth-seeded LSU, 79-67, in the quarterfinal round Friday afternoon.

With the win, Arkansas advances to play No. 8 Texas A&M on Saturday noon. The Aggies upset top-seeded Auburn just before the Razorbacks beat LSU, 67-62. Arkansas split with A&M during the regular season.

The Hogs led LSU by three at halftime but all five starters scored during the first 3:20 of the second half to open a 16-point lead. Au’Diese Toney, who was questionable for the game with a lower-body injury, scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his first game since March 2.

LSU had an opportunity to pull within single digits in the final five minutes, but Arkansas guard Chris Lykes scored seven straight Razorbacks points to stop any chance of a Tigers comeback. He ended with 18 points.

Arkansas’ defense carried the day, though. LSU shot just 35% from the floor and 4 of 19 from 3-point range.

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