FAYETTEVILLE — It only took nine minutes for Arkansas basketball to land a haymaker on opening night.
After giving up a basket on their first defensive possession, the No. 13 Razorbacks (1-0) responded with a 25-0 run and cruised through the finish line in a 106-61 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
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Improved depth was on full display. John Calipari primarily used a 10-man rotation which saw eight players score at least six points.
Here are three takeaways from the Razorbacks’ romp over UAPB.
Arkansas added Wilkinson this offseason to be a floor-spacer and its top 3-point option, but the Georgia transfer was 2 for 11 from behind-the-arc across two preseason exhibitions.
Against UAPB, Wilkinson showed why he was such a priority target for John Calipari. The lefty went 4 of 7 on 3s and scored a game-high 23 points. He grabbed six rebounds, racked up five steals and dished out three assists. He showed off his athleticism with a windmill dunk in transition at the midway point of the second half.
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Wilkinson was also the perfect compliment to Jordan Smith Jr. in the backcourt, providing a long-distance threat while Smith does his damage inside the paint. Smith had 20 points, four rebounds and three steals.
For the most part, Arkansas operated at its desired pace. There was a slight lull in the closing stages of the first half that rolled over into the first minutes of the second half. Otherwise, the Razorbacks forced turnovers and got out in transition.
Twenty-four UAPB giveaways led to 32 points for the Hogs. Arkansas forced eight turnovers during the 25-0 run, and the best offensive stretches of the night coincided with havoc-inducing defense.
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Australian freshman Maper Maker played a meaningful role in the defensive dominance. The 7-footer had two blocks and frustrated UAPB with his length. He was plus-51 in 23 minutes and finished with six points and eight rebounds.
Arkansas’ pace and the style of play should translate into a team that ranks near the top of the national rankings in free-throw attempts. The struggles at the charity stripe in two exhibitions carried over into the season opener.
The Hogs went 30 of 42 (71.4%) at the line. Smith was 6 for 10. Arkansas might not survive those numbers this weekend against No. 10 Virginia.
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Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: 3 takeaways from Arkansas basketball’s season-opening blowout over UAPB
