Davis Pinpoints Key to Hogs' Victory, Season Success

Pressure defense, individual talent, skills won't be enough for deep NCAA run

Arkansas guard Johnell Davis (1) eyes the basket while driving against Lipscomb Bisons guard Will Pruitt (2) during the second half at Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday. Davis had 15 points and six rebounds as the Razorbacks won their season opener, 76-60. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Staying disciplined. Those were likely the two most important words spoken after Arkansas' season-opening win against Lipscomb.

Staying disciplined. Nelly Davis said those two words when teammate Zvonimir Ivišić pondered the appropriate answer to what was the key to beating Lipscomb.

Call that the difference between a senior graduate student and a sophomore. No offense to the 7-foot-2 Ivišić who has a bright future in the NBA, though it'll likely behoove him to spend next season at Arkansas before entering the draft.

Davis is the most disciplined of all the Razorbacks, a testament to his experience and maturity. He gained those qualities during four ever-improving seasons as he honed an all-around game that helped him excel in postseason play and helped carry Florida Atlantic to the 2023 Final Four.

Ivišić was one of those keys to victory against Lipscomb, by scoring eight straight — including a 3-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play — to extend the Razorbacks' lead from four to nine with 3:20 left.

Ivišić possesses good instincts, passes well, posts in the lane using effective footwork and feints to get quality shots, can shoot the three, and is a defensive presence at the rim. He can be a force on both ends for the young, but talented, Razorbacks.

Arkansas Razorbacks forward Zvonimir Ivišić (44) shoots in the second half as Lipscomb Bisons forward Jacob Ognacevic (41) defends at Bud Walton Arena Wednesday. Arkansas won 76-60 as Ivišić scored 12 points in 21 minutes of action. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Still, like all the Hogs, he's learning a bit from Davis, who's assumed a natural leadership role. Much of that leadership comes from what he does, perhaps not what he says.

When Ivišić was asked his thoughts on Davis, the Croatian transfer didn't lack for words.

"First of all, you just saw how ... steal balls, rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds," Ivisic said. "Going strong all the time. When we see him, all of us, even bench players, when we see him, how he fights, it motivates us. So he’s a dawg."

Davis had 15 points and six rebounds while making 7-of-12 shots, including 6-of-8 from two-point range. The 6-foot-4 guard was asked about how he settled into the offense after a pair of uneven exhibition games following his lack of practice from an injured wrist.

He didn't say it this time, but those same two words applied: Staying disciplined.

Arkansas' 6-4 guard Johnell Davis (1) has impressed Razorbacks coach John Calipari with his toughness and physicality. He makes it hard on opposing defenses by driving strong to the rim. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

"Getting to the basket and not settling," Davis said. "Not trying to just settle for threes. Try to get to the basket and get fouled, but I didn’t get fouled that much."

Davis made just 1-of-4 from three-point land despite good looks, so he put the ball on the floor, got to the paint and finished strongly. Arkansas coach John Calipari praised his prize transfer when he said, "I thought Nelly did some good stuff today physically."

Plus, Davis was doing what Calipari was preaching. Staying disciplined. Getting good shots.

Staying disciplined, putting pressure on the defense. Staying disciplined, avoiding mistakes.

"Coach emphasized this from the beginning of the week, that’s get the ball in the paint, get paint touches," Davis said. "Drive the lane and try to get paint touches."

Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari talks to standout freshman guard Boogie Fland (2) during the second half Wednesday against the Lipscomb Bisons at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 76-60 as Fland scored a team-high 17 points but shot just 1 of 8 on 3-pointers. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Arkansas' scintillating freshman point guard Boogie Fland could take a page out of Davis' book. Calipari harped on that despite Fland's 18 points because his stat line included 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.

"Why would you shoot a three?" Calipari wondered aloud to the media. "Boogie, you barely made one and it went (imitates ball clanging around the rim) ... that was the one you made and you kept shooting. Shoot twos! I’m not going to tell you not to shoot, just don’t shoot threes. ‘Well I’m trying to get my — .‘ No, no. We’re trying to win. You get in that gym over there and shoot threes."

Arkansas' first-year coach John Calipari exhorts his players during the first half against the Lipscomb Bisons at Bud Walton Arena. Wednesday. Calipari, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015, won the national championship in 2012 as Kentucky's bench boss. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Calipari continued his public teaching session and those two words Davis knows— or has learned from the Hall of Fame coach — came up again.

"You know how you get better?" Calipari asked. "You get in the gym and you’re disciplined how you’re shooting the ball. So you shoot it the same way every time. And then you go in the game and you shoot it that way. And then you go in the game and you make threes. Builds your confidence."

The Hogs made only 4-of-19 (21%) beyond the arc, continuing a disturbing trend that saw them make just 6-of-24 treys against Kansas and 7-of-24 versus TCU. Count it up and that's 17-of-67 for a paltry 25%.

Lipscomb Bisons guard Will Pruitt (2) looks for help as Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile (4) applies defensive pressure during the second half at Bud Walton Arena Wednesday. Arkansas won 76-60 as Brazile had a team-high eight rebounds and six points. / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Against Lipscomb, pressure defense led to steals and fast breaks for easy hoops. The Hogs totaled only 10 assists, but used their dribble-drive skills — especially Davis — to attack the rim or create mid-range floaters and 14-foot jumpers. On those two-pointers, Arkansas made 30-of-44 for 68%.

Whether this is a good outside shooting teams remains to be seen. Calipari thinks it will be before the season ends, preferably with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. For the Razorbacks to do that, though, it will require staying disciplined.

HOGS FEED:

• First game as Razorbacks coach gave Calipari goose bumps

• Hall of Famer Calipari still has lesson to be learned from unexpected source

• No more drama: Ivisic fully focused on basketball for Hogs

• Pittman might be forced to play highly regarded freshman

• Razorback fans shouldn’t pay too much attention to Longhorns receiver off team

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