FAYETTEVILLE -- University of Arkansas sophomore forward Daniel Gafford draws a crowd whenever he's on the court, but the 6-11 projected NBA first-round draft pick figures to attract more attention than usual when the Razorbacks play at LSU today.
Gafford scored a career-high 32 points and hit 14 of 19 shots in the teams' first meeting this season when the Tigers won 94-88 in overtime in Walton Arena three weeks ago.
"Gafford killed us," LSU Coach Will Wade said. "We just gave him too many angles, and he was able to score too many at the rim.
"Our post D wasn't very good. We didn't have a lot of help. We didn't make him work as hard as we need to make him work."
Kavell Bigby-Williams, the Tigers' 6-11 senior center, struggled to guard Gafford and fouled out in 18 minutes without scoring a point or getting a rebound.
Anderson's month
February has been a good month for Arkansas under Coach Mike Anderson, a trend the Razorbacks hope continues starting with today's game.
In Anderson's previous seven seasons at Arkansas, the Razorbacks are 36-20 in February for a .647 winning percentage.
Vs. LSU
Will Wade, LSU's second-year head coach, is 3-0 against Arkansas.
In addition to the Tigers' victory in the teams' earlier game this season, they swept the Razorbacks 75-54 in Fayetteville and 94-86 in Baton Rouge last season.
If the Tigers beat Arkansas today, it will be the third time in the 67-game series they have beaten the Razorbacks at least four consecutive times.
LSU's longest winning streak in the series is five games between 2003 and 2005. The Tigers had a four-game winning streak from 2012 through 2014.
Arkansas won the first 11 SEC games against LSU from 1992 through 1997, and was 19-3 in their first 22 conference matchups.
In SEC games, the Razorbacks are 31-26 against the Tigers.
A little help
Coach Mike Anderson said he hopes Arkansas can get more scoring off the bench from freshman guards Desi Sills and Keyshawn Embery-Simpson, who both have struggled offensively in SEC play.
Sills is shooting 35.7 percent (10 of 28) from the field in seven SEC games, including 4 of 14 on three-pointers. He's averaging 4.1 points.
Embery-Simpson is shooting 24.2 percent (8 of 33), including 4 of 22 on three-pointers. He's averaging 3.7 points.
"I think they're bringing the energy defensively, and it's just a matter of confidence when you're talking about offensively," Anderson said. "They're in position to make them. They're taking open shots, they just have to knock them down or get to the free-throw line."
Embery-Simpson and Sills have shown the ability to score, including against SEC opponents. Embery-Simpson scored a career-high 16 points at Ole Miss, and 14 against Colorado State and Austin Peay.
Sills scored a career-high 14 points at Texas A&M, and he has scored at least eight points in four other games.
Not half bad
Arkansas scored a basket right before halftime in each of the past three games.
Daniel Gafford was falling down backward in the lane when he threw up a shot that bounced off the backboard and went through the basket against Missouri.
Jalen Harris hit a running three-pointer at Texas Tech to beat the halftime buzzer, then scored on a drive with 2.9 seconds left against Georgia.
Versatile Tigers
All five LSU starters have led the team in scoring at least once this season.
"I think everybody knows that we have a versatile team," Coach Will Wade said. "We have a team that is based on matchups.
"Who can we put in a position to win certain matchups? I think when you have multiple guys like that it makes us a little more difficult to prepare for and a little more difficult to guard."
Dunkin' Daniel
Daniel Gafford has 126 dunks in 51 games for the Razorbacks in the past two seasons.
In shooting an SEC-leading 66.3 percent from the field this season, 51 of Gafford's 124 baskets are dunks.
Reid's threes
LSU 6-10 freshman Naz Reid hit 4 of 4 three-pointers in scoring 27 points against Arkansas earlier this season.
Against all other opponents, Reid is 14 of 44 on three-pointers, including 3 of 7 in the other six SEC games.
Anderson vs. LSU
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson is 6-10 against LSU, including 5-10 with the Razorbacks. His Alabama-Birmingham team beat the Tigers 82-68 in a first-round NCAA Tournament game in 2005 in Boise, Idaho.
Sports on 02/02/2019