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FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas basketball fans got their first glimpse of the 2023-24 Razorbacks in a 76-72 exhibition win over Gonzaga, and the performance offered a mix of encouraging signs and clear areas for growth. Head coach John Calipari used the matchup to evaluate his roster, and one player who stood out was senior transfer center Cooper Bowser, who posted nine points, 10 rebounds, one block, and one assist in 20 minutes.
Bowser, a former Furman standout, connected on 4-of-6 field goal attempts and led the team with a plus-12 rating while on the court. His performance was a bright spot for a Razorback squad that is still finding its identity.
Calipari, known for tinkering with lineups, explained his rotation strategy after the game. "I'm going to start this group, but I may start a different group in the second half," he said. "And the reason I went with the group I went is they finished so strong. Davion [Thompson], Abdou [Toure], JJ [Andrews], we have Miikka [Muurinen] and Cooper [Bowser]. I said, 'Leave them in.' They got nine straight stops to start the half."
However, Calipari also noted that Bowser and others didn't bring the necessary intensity early on. He pulled the veteran big man aside in the first half and challenged him to be more aggressive. "I got no choice," Calipari said. "You saw us starting the game. What couldn't we do? Rebound. And now all of a sudden we got guys. Cooper [Bowser].. I got on him a little bit. He ends up with the double double. But it appears this is going to be different players in different games."
Lob Threat
Arkansas' length and athleticism were on full display, particularly in transition, where the Razorbacks forced turnovers and altered passing lanes. Bowser provided several highlight-reel dunks, missing a couple of early shots but finishing 4-of-4 from the field the rest of the way, including a smooth hook shot and three slams.
Like teammates Smith and Muurinen, Bowser experienced what appeared to be a leg injury, but Calipari clarified after the game that it was merely cramping. "I don't know if the gym was hot or maybe we're not going as hard as I think we are, but we had like three guys cramp up," Calipari said. "Like you're thinking they're hurt. No, they cramped. So, we have to figure that out. I told Matt, our trainer, I said, 'Matt, we got to figure out what happened.'"
Other Surprises
Freshman guard Davion Thompson, who reclassified and skipped his senior year of high school, showed poise beyond his years. The 17-year-old found himself isolated at the top of the key against fifth-year senior Xavian Lee and drilled a clutch shot as the clock wound down in the second half. His range and efficiency could make him a valuable weapon.
On the other hand, freshman guard Jordan Smith Jr., the reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year, struggled with his shot, finishing with one point on 0-of-9 shooting. Despite the off night, Smith contributed in other ways, posting a plus-2 rating with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, though he did commit two first-half turnovers.
Some Things To Clean Up
Arkansas had difficulty finishing near the rim, converting just 5-of-16 layups, with several shots rolling around the rim or coming off the backboard awkwardly. That inefficiency kept the Razorbacks from extending their lead. Gonzaga's length and physicality inside, led by Braden Huff and Massamba Diop, forced Arkansas into contested attempts.
"They're big and you know, I thought there's times on four or five of our turnovers where he drove into 7-foot," Calipari said. "He's there. Don't keep going. I'm going to get this off. You're not getting it off. It's going to get a block. [Gonzaga] ended up with four, but we ended up with six. One of the things I told you, they cleared us out some. We got to do some work on that. But in the end of the day, we need to be a transition team."
The Razorbacks also struggled at the free throw line, making just 17-of-30 attempts, while Gonzaga attempted nearly half as many. Thompson was the only Razorback to make all his free throws, while Richmond went 6-of-10, Muurinen 1-of-3, Maper Maker 1-of-3, and Andrews 2-of-4.
Despite the flaws, the exhibition win over a quality opponent like Gonzaga is reason for optimism. If Calipari can correct the finishing issues and get more consistent production from his heralded freshman class, Arkansas could develop into one of the nation's top teams. The unfinished product shown on Saturday suggests something special might be brewing in Fayetteville.