Arkansas' incoming star guards are more defense-oriented. John Calipari has to find a shooter.
It's transfer portal season in college basketball. Arkansas and John Calipari very clearly need a big man. They also need a knockdown shooter. Sports Illustrated dove into this urgent conversation:
"One area Arkansas could be woefully thin for next season is having a knockdown shooter on the outside. Both Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas made north of 40% of their three-point attempts as true freshman, which makes shooting percentage a priority for Calipari's roster construction. While each of his incoming freshmen are constantly improving their games on the outside, they've still shown inconsistency from deep.
"The Razorbacks have roster space, but it's been a rarity for Calipari to go deeper than eight men in his rotation. However, he'll probably be forced to do something different next season as Final Four teams like UConn and Michigan go at least nine players deep in a rotation.
"Should the Razorbacks sign (big man Somto) Cyril, along with a 40%+ three-point shooter, that would give Calipari at least a nine viable options in the line-up. The best shooter currently available is Liberty guard Brett Decker, who made a ridiculous 114-of-242 three-point attempts (47.1%, No. 2 nationally).
"If Arkansas gets these next two roster moves correct, then Calipari's team has the balance needed to make a run for a national championship. If not, he risks asking too much of his guards once again, ending a postseason run at the Sweet 16."
Getting a shooter obviously matters, but that shooter also needs to be able to play defense. Arkansas' offensive ceiling last season was very high, but its floor on defense was very low. Arkansas needs more balance this coming season. The incoming guards look like very strong defensive players, which is hugely encouraging, but the offense obviously can't fall off a cliff. John Calipari needs enough offense without sacrificing defense. Is Brett Decker really the answer for the Hogs?
That point aside, there are so many players either currently in the portal or about to enter the portal that Calipari has to be able to sift through options and make an informed choice about the best fit for Arkansas basketball. There's no prize for being first in the race for a less-than-ideal player. Only if that player truly fits the lineup and system does it become paramount to jump quickly in the portal and not let other teams into the hunt. For the most part, this is about making the right choice and exhibiting the patience needed to get there.