NWADG Basketball

8 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BASKETBALL | 11.22.2020 BOB HOLT ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FAYETTEVILLE — In early August the University of Arkansas basketball team started popping up in several preseason top 25 polls. It was in reaction to Isaiah Joe's announcement on Aug. 1 that he was withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to Arkansas for his junior season. The 6-5 guard, who led the SEC with 94 3-point baskets despite missing six games because of a knee injury and averaged 16.9 points, was expected to be one of the top players in the nation. Arkansas was 19-7 with Joe in the lineup last season and 1-5 without him, underscoring his importance not only on offense, but as a premium perimeter defender. Check preseason top 25 polls now and the Razorbacks are nowhere to be seen. They didn't receive one vote in the preseason Associated Press top 25 poll. Expectations for Arkansas, from a national perspective at least, took a major hit when Joe announced on Aug. 17 he had changed his mind and was putting his name back into the draft. Joe cited the uncertainty of a college season because of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for his decision to turn pro. The announcement Joe would stay in the draft came just a week before the fall semester began at Arkansas. "Losing Isaiah Joe at the time we did was a huge blow to the roster," Razorbacks Coach Eric Musselman said. "Not being able to fill his spot, it's more than problematic. "But, having said that, you move forward. Somebody else has to step up. Somebody else is going to have a bigger role than they would have had if Isaiah was here." NWA Democrat-Gazette/Ben Goff Connor Vanover should have a major impact for the Razorbacks in 2020-21 after sitting out last season after he transferred into the program. The 7-foot-3 redshirt sophomore can score inside and outside and will give the Razorbacks another scoring threat. See POLL, Page 10 ARKANSAS FLYING UNDER THE RADAR OF NATIONAL RANKINGS NO JOE, NO POLL

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