Preview and Gamethread: Arkansas vs. Georgia Tech

Time: 8 p.m. CT

TV: SEC Network

Line: Arkansas -8.5; O/U: 145

Location: Bud Walton Arena

Even if it’s signing day the Hogs have a big game in Bud Walton tonight. The Hogs will rumble with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Josh Pastner’s team is a young one and trying to make a big uphill climb in the ACC. It won’t be the test that Indiana was, but should be an interesting game that the Hogs will need to play well in.

Jose Alvarado is their leading scorer and does so primarily on drives. He, like the rest of the team, are not great outside shooters. He’s shooting just over 26% from deep on the year. On the interior, Daniel Gafford will have a battle with James Banks III who is a very good rebounder at 8.8 per game. He averages over three offensive rebounds per game, so it will be critical to limit those second chance opportunities in a game that will likely have fewer possessions.

It’s clear this season that Georgia Tech wants to win with their defense. They’re 6th in the nation in effective fg% defense, significantly better in a position the Hogs have done really well in this season so far. They’ve only allowed over 70 points just twice this season and both were losses. 75 should be the magic number for the Hogs since their offense has proven they have a hard time getting higher than that. In their three games so far against major conference opponents (all losses) they’ve scored 53 against Tennessee, 61 against Northwestern, and 73 against St. Johns.