Jonell Davis identified the key to Hogs’ victory and season’s success

Stay disciplined. Those were probably the two most important words spoken after Arkansas’ season-opening win over Lipscomb.

Stay disciplined. Nellie Davis uttered those two words as teammate Zvonimir Ivisic contemplated an appropriate answer to the question of what was the key to beating Lipscomb.

Call it the difference between a senior and a sophomore. No offense to the 7-foot-2 Ivisic, who has a bright future in the NBA, although he’ll likely have to spend next season at Arkansas before entering the draft.

Davis is the most disciplined of all the Razorbacks, which is a testament to his experience and maturity. He acquired those qualities over four steadily improving seasons, honing an all-around game that helped him excel in postseason play and help lead Florida Atlantic to the 2023 Final Four.

Ivisic was one of the keys to the win over Lipscomb, scoring eight straight points, including a 3-pointer and an old-fashioned 3-pointer to extend the Razorbacks’ lead from four to nine with 3:20 left.

Ivisic has good instincts, is a good passer, posts in the lane using effective footwork and feints to get quality shots, can shoot threes and plays rim protector. He can be a force on both sides of the ball for the young but talented Razorbacks.

However, like all Pigs, he learns a bit from Davis, who has taken on a natural leadership role. Much of that leadership comes from what he does, and perhaps not from what he says.

When Ivisic was asked what he thought of Davies, the Croatian transfer was at a loss for words.

“First of all, you just saw… steals, rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds,” Ivisic said. “Be strong all the time. When we see him, all of us, even the players on the bench, when we see him, how he fights, it motivates us. So he’s a dude.”

Davis had 15 points and six rebounds on 7-of-12 shooting, including 6-of-8 from 2-point range. The 6-foot-4 guard was asked about how he settled into the offense after a couple of uneven exhibition games due to lack of practice due to a wrist injury.

He didn’t say it this time, but the same two words apply: maintain discipline.

“Getting to the basket and not settling down,” Davis said. “I’m not trying to settle for Cs. Try to get to the basket and get fouled, but I don’t get fouled that often.”

Davis shot just 1 of 4 from 3-point range despite good looks, so he put the ball on the floor, got to the paint and finished strong. Arkansas coach John Calipari praised his transfer of the prize, saying, “I thought Nellie did a good job today physically.”

Plus, Davis did what Calipari preached. Stay disciplined. Getting good shots.

Maintain discipline, put pressure on the defense. Maintain discipline and avoid mistakes.

“Coach has been emphasizing this since the beginning of the week: keep the ball in the paint, get the paint,” Davis said. “Drive down the alley and try to apply some paint.”

Arkansas’ brilliant freshman point guard Boogie Fland could take a page from Davis’ book. Calipari insisted on this despite Fland’s 18 points because his stat line included 1 of 8 shooting from beyond the arc.

“Why would you shoot three?” Calipari wondered loudly in the media. “Boogie, you barely made one and it went (imitates the ball clanging around the hoop)… that was the one you made and kept shooting. Throw in deuces! I’m not going to tell you not to quit, just don’t.” I shoot threes. “Well, I’m trying to get…” No, no. We’re trying to win. Go to that gym over there and shoot threes.”

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

“Do you know how to get better?” Calipari asked. “You come into the gym and you become disciplined in the way you throw the ball. That’s why you throw the same thing every time. And then you go into the game and throw just like that. and you get C’s. It builds your confidence.”

The Hogs made just 4 of 19 (21%) from beyond the arc, continuing a troubling trend in which they made just 6 of 24 threes against Kansas and 7 of 24 against TCU. Do the math and that’s 17 out of 67 for a measly 25%.

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

Whether this will be a good result for external shooting teams remains to be seen. Calipari thinks that will happen before the end of the season, preferably after making the NCAA Tournament. However, for the Razorbacks to do this, they will need to remain disciplined.

• Calipari’s first game as Razorbacks coach gave him goosebumps

• Hall of Famer Calipari still has a lot to learn from an unexpected source

• No drama: Ivisic is fully focused on basketball for the Hogs

• Pittman may have to play a respected freshman

• Razorback fans shouldn’t pay too much attention to Longhorns wide receiver out of team

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