It's time for Razorback Reels!
Khalif Battle had a career day yesterday. There are very few scorers in the history of the game who can score 40 with no help from teammates. Battle was assisted on all his made threes yesterday. Let's watch them!
Roll the tape!
Battle got the scoring started for the Hogs yesterday on this three off a BLOB opportunity. Before the inbounds pass was thrown, Battle curled from the weakside to the strongside corner. Devo Davis caught the inbounds pass and dished to Battle for the catch and shoot 3.
I'm leaving several of these clips kind of long today, and I'll talk about why at the end. The first action of this possession is Battle curling around a high screen from Makhi Mitchell. Near the end of the possession, the defense collapses on Davis in the paint, so Battle flashes to the open space at the top of the key. Another catch-and-shoot opportunity for Battle that he knocks down from long distance.
After some initial dribble penetration is well defended, Battle dishes off to El Ellis who passes to Davis in the corner. Davis dribbles toward the top of the key the lobs a skip pass over defenders to Battle who catches and steps into another deep 3.
There's deep, and then there's shooting from past the coach's box deep. Call it Al Dillard territory. Tramon Mark gets the assist here.
Battle's last assisted 3 came early in this possession. He filled the lane well in transition and then flashed from the weakside slot all the way to the strongside slot. No hesitation and he gets a four-point-play opportunity for his work.
So what are the takeaways?
I kept clips long today to show you how crisp Battle’s off ball movement was within the motion of the offense. Make no mistake about it. He doesn't get these shot opportunities without that work off the ball. Arkansas has been missing this dynamic from their offense for most of the season. Eric Musselman should be able to take this into the film room this week as proof of the concept that if you move without the ball, good things will happen for you and the team.
I'd like to see Battle continue to carve out more of these chances consistently for the rest of the year. I'm not saying he needs to shoot ten deep 3's a game, but getting him 4-6 catch and shoot attempts per game will create space for everyone else.
Lastly, Battle was just on an absolute heater yesterday. Can't coach or build that into the gameplan. The dude was throwing pebbles into the ocean from all over the floor yesterday, and you have to ride that wave. Kudos to Muss for doing so.