Arkansas beats Memphis, improves offensive efficiency

When Arkansas basketball defeated Gonzaga, the theme of the day was defense for John Calipari and his Razorbacks. Arkansas didn't commit many fouls and kept Gonzaga's offense under wraps. UA was able to win even though the Hogs shot under 40 percent from the field and Jordan Smith went 0 for 9. On Wednesday night, it was a different story for the Razorbacks. They posted 93 points in a 12-point win over Memphis. The 93-81 win showed this team can carve up an opposing defense, showing that UA has the potential to be a balanced team which can get the job done at both ends of the floor.

We know that last season's Arkansas team was imbalanced toward offense and away from defense. Darius Acuff was an absolute magician and wonder-worker on offense, but he was often a vacant spot on defense which left the Hogs at a disadvantage if they didn't max out on offense. This season, we are seeing some early indications that Arkansas can be a true two-way team, which is what a Final Four team looks like. Gonzaga provided one dimension of this team's capabilities. The Memphis win provided another look at what this team can bring to the table.

In marked contrast to the ugly shooting performance against Gonzaga, Arkansas was highly efficient against Memphis, hitting nearly 54 percent of its field goals versus the Tigers. Notably, Arkansas' 3-point shooting declined against Memphis. The Hogs hit almost 50 percent of their long balls against the Zags. Versus Memphis, they made only 29 percent of their threes. That tells you Arkansas was getting the ball to the basket. This was not a "hot shooting night" when everything was going in. This was a display of territorial dominance in which Arkansas was able to get to its spots, beat Memphis defenders off the dribble, and use its combination of athleticism and length to get its preferred type of shot on a consistent basis. This is what overpowering offense looks like, and it's the template John Calipari will want to keep in place for the long road ahead.

It's true that Memphis isn't as good as Gonzaga, but the basic reality remains in place: Great teams should be able to bully weaker defenses into submission the way Arkansas did against Memphis. It's a step forward for this team in its overall evolution as the regular season is now just a few days away, beginning next week.