NWADG Basketball

18 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BASKETBALL | 11.22.2020 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BASKETBALL Neighbors said. "Defense is a lot of science. Defense takes time. Offense is art. "When you're talking about what you're seeing in football, I think it will be even more impactful in basketball." Neighbors said he believes a good offense beats a good defense. It at least gives the Razorbacks a chance against, top-flight competition, Neighbors said. "South Carolina for example, I don't think you can get into a defensive struggle with South Carolina and win a game," Neighbors said. "You have to be able to score at the highest level to beat the best teams." Arkansas had one of the top offenses in the country a year ago as well as one of the top 3-point shooting teams. The Razorbacks averaged 83.4 points per game, which ranked third among Division I teams. They also make 9.8 3-pointers per game, which ranked fifth, not to mention third averaging only 11 turnovers per game. Judging from practice, that hasn't changed this year either, Neighbors said. He pointed out one team in a recent intrasquad scrimmage scored 31 points in a quarter and lost by eight. "That team had a great quarter, scored 31 points and got their butts beat by eight points in 10 minutes," Neighbors said. "So 70 points scored in a live 10-minute game scrimmage." He's kept Slocum and sophomore Makayla Daniels on separate teams most of the time in practice, but he's put them together some already with great results. "When we do, it operates at a really high speed and everybody just flows in behind it," Neighbors said. One area Arkansas should be improved in is around the basket with the addition of 6-2 freshman Destinee McGhee, who has already made an impression on Mason. "She's a powerhouse," Mason said. "We call her The Wall … you can't really get through her." "We can throw it inside on the block to Destinee McGhee or Destinee Oberg," Neighbors said. "If you put four shooters around Oberg or McGhee, then it's layup city or get to the foul line and they both shoot incredible from the foul line." The Razorbacks won't have the services this season of freshman Elauna Eaton, a five-star recruit from Jonesboro. She suffered a knee injury in early October and has already had surgery, according to a post from her Twitter account. NWA Democrat-Gazette/David Gottschalk Mike Neighbors will lead his deepest and most talented Arkansas team into the season. The Razorbacks open the season ranked in the top 15 and should content for a top finish in the Southeastern Conference. Slocum n Continued from Page 16

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