• last year
Arkansas Razorbacks guards Keyon Menifield (32 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds), Devo Davis (14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals).
Transcript
00:00 32 points and that's a career high for you just but you only took 14 shots a
00:04 lot of guys take 25 or 30 to get that which is could you tell by getting the
00:09 30-point club and and just how efficient that was for you today?
00:13 It felt good, you know, getting back to myself, you know, from my third game in, just play my game, let it come to me.
00:20 If it was scoring or getting my teammates involved, I just do what I have to do to get the win.
00:24 You had five assists, I think four, at least three, but I think four were alley-oops.
00:28 And I know you've been on the scout team a lot waiting to get eligible.
00:31 Is that something you worked on a lot in practice or is that just something that comes pretty natural to you, the alley-oops?
00:36 It just comes natural, you know, like even from my last school, you know, I was a lot of alley-oops I threw.
00:41 I just make the right play if it's a bounce pass, alley-oop, just get my teammates involved.
00:45 Did you know you hit 30 on that three, pretty good way to do that.
00:48 Did you know that was 30 when you hit it?
00:50 No, I was just celebrating with my teammates after, you know, hitting a three, make sure we win.
00:55 What do you think about getting 32, just your third game as a Razorback?
00:59 It's kind of crazy, you know, it's my career high, you know, had 27 before, but I never had 30 in college.
01:04 It's kind of good.
01:08 Keon, when you look at what you've done in three games now, only three games in tonight, but the double figures the last game.
01:14 Did you have any idea if you got cleared that you would be having this kind of impact this soon?
01:19 Did you feel like you could do it?
01:22 I felt like I could just, I thought I was going to get in and just play the right way.
01:25 I didn't know if it would be 30 minutes, 20 minutes.
01:28 I just felt like when I got in, just do the right thing and help us win.
01:31 Follow up to that, how much, I mean, obviously you're with your team.
01:34 What do you think you're bringing to the court that's changing the dynamics, especially the ball movement, pace and spacing on offense?
01:40 You know, I can score, but I feel like I do better when I get my teammates involved and score, do both at the same time.
01:46 But I feel, it makes me more happy when I get my teammates involved.
01:51 I know you haven't been around, but this is usually the time of year where Devo starts to heat up.
01:55 He had three threes today to go along with six boards and six assists.
01:58 Just what'd you make of his impact?
02:00 You know, that's like my big brother, you know, so I look, that's who I look after.
02:03 You know, I was working out with, he took me under his arm.
02:05 So to see him finally getting back to, you know, his self is amazing.
02:10 Keon, there were a lot of whistles tonight.
02:12 Is that something y'all picked up on pretty early?
02:14 I mean, you had 17 free throws yourself.
02:16 Is that something that was addressed and did you feel like you took advantage of that?
02:19 Yeah, coming into here, we had zone one points, you know, that's paint points.
02:23 You know, we got to have 50% of our points have to come from the paint.
02:26 So we had to keep attacking and attacking, you know.
02:28 Our coach always told us they don't have no shot blockers, so we got to attack the rim.
02:31 That's what we did.
02:35 Devo was like almost a 42% three-point shooter in SEC play last year.
02:40 How much does he help this, he kind of can not say get over to 40% again, but consistently, you know, knock threes down?
02:49 If Devo, when Devo get the heating up and hitting, we're going to be scared.
02:53 You know, he our leader, you know, that's who we look for.
02:55 He our playmaker, you know.
02:57 When it come down to clutch time, we give him the ball, you know, to make the right play and it's going to be good.
03:03 Yeah, just the pace is really kind of, it feels like you guys are playing a lot faster,
03:08 since the second half of the Abilene game.
03:11 Just how much does that kind of have a positive impact on the entire team when you guys are running up on the floor
03:16 and playing with good pace and transition?
03:18 You know, when we play fast-paced, it's harder for teams to get back on defense,
03:21 so we got to keep attacking and pushing the pace and not try to slow the ball up, let them set their defense up.
03:27 You know, the half-court lob to Trevin, is that something you guys have ever, you know, even tried, practiced?
03:34 And when you let it go, did you feel like it was good?
03:36 Yeah, I feel like every lob I throw to him is going to be good.
03:38 You know, he could go get it from anywhere, so I knew coming here, me and him was going to be lob partners.
03:45 I guess, I think I got it right, 196 points combined.
03:49 I mean, a lot of times you don't see that in an NBA game.
03:52 What was it like being involved in a game that high scoring?
03:55 It was crazy, you know, it was fast-paced, up and down, and we just had to keep getting stops and stops.
04:01 Oh my God, my bad, my bad.
04:05 It comes down to who got the most stops, and we did tonight.
04:08 And then, you know, I know you guys have been practicing two days, it's not like you've been, you know, sitting back,
04:14 but to not play a game in nine days, you guys really didn't look rusty at all.
04:17 I mean, you shot well, you didn't turn the ball over much, just what did you think of how you all played coming off nine days between games?
04:23 Devo, maybe you could take that too?
04:25 I feel like we did good, you know, we came back early, got in practice hard, and our scout on the team, we did very good, you know.
04:34 We did well, practiced hard, and it paid off in the game.
04:38 And then now you got an SEC play, I know you got another week, so probably maybe more two days, I don't know.
04:43 Do you feel like this team is ground into shape for SEC, start of SEC play?
04:47 Yeah, this one's a real season start, you know, we zero on zero.
04:50 Now it's time to show people who we really are.
04:59 Devo, you know, last year you got off to a slow start from three, and then you shot it really well during conference play,
05:04 and got off to a slow start this year, you knocked down three today.
05:07 I guess what is the secret? Was it just reps in the gym, or did you have a feeling that this was coming?
05:11 Yeah, reps in the gym, like you said, continue to stay in the gym.
05:16 Haven't been shooting it much, you know what I mean?
05:18 So, just trying to find my spots and make the right shots, and when I do shoot, make sure I'm shooting with confidence.
05:28 How good did it feel today, especially those three threes in the first half?
05:33 What kind of was going through your mind to start getting the shooting rolling?
05:37 I was so happy, because I mean, shoot, just trying to find the flow of the game, of course,
05:42 and then not just this game, but previous games as well, it was just me, myself, trying to find the flow of the game,
05:47 but also play the right way and make sure my teammates are okay on the court with me.
05:52 And seeing those shots go in felt good, but felt even better us winning the game.
05:58 Keyon called you kind of like his older brother a little bit.
06:03 What did you see from him in the preparation for his debut that kind of has translated to him having such a big impact now that he's eligible to play?
06:11 I already knew Keyon was good.
06:14 When he first came here, the first day I seen him at the gym, I said, "You know, I seen you when you was playing with the family."
06:20 This was his AAU team.
06:22 So I've seen him prior to coming here playing AAU basketball, and then a little bit at Washington.
06:29 So I knew he could play, and that wasn't a problem for me.
06:33 And I know Coach know he can play.
06:35 So you see Coach give him the freedom, and like he said, I try to lead him, lane blocker, those guys in the right direction
06:43 so they can be able to succeed longer in the program, you know what I mean?
06:47 Because it's kind of hard playing because he won so much at one time.
06:53 And so I think they're doing a pretty good job, man.
06:56 You see tonight Keyon proving that he's able to play with the best of them.
07:01 Again, you know, Keyon's obviously a talented guy.
07:04 He had a good year last year, but third game in, 32 points, only 14 shots, got a lot of free throws.
07:10 What do you think about his impact?
07:12 He's scoring 30 points his third game in.
07:15 I don't know if he brought it up to you.
07:18 I was in the locker room before the game.
07:20 I said, "Feeling like a day like, oh, you went crazy, or when you went against Borg?"
07:25 And so career high for him, and I'm happy for him.
07:29 He works hard.
07:31 He's been in the gym way more since he's been playing.
07:34 And so I love seeing him in the gym, and as long as he continues to work, these games will go by fast for him because, like, he missed a few.
07:43 So it's kind of hard, but once he get in the flow, I think he'll continue to play the way he's playing.
07:48 I know you guys have been practicing a lot, but still nine days between games and the score 106 points,
07:53 shoot as low as you did, didn't have many turnovers, just looked, you know, pretty sharp, I thought.
07:58 What did you think of how well you guys played coming off a lengthy break between games?
08:02 Yeah, I think we prepared really well for this team.
08:05 With those nine days being able to prepare for a team like this coming in here,
08:10 knowing that they went into Lexington and beat Kentucky, it's a great win for us.
08:15 And like I said, overall, I think we was prepared, and we just had to show it.
08:19 I think we did pretty good doing it.
08:21 A few miscues here and there, but we got the job finished.
08:26 Devo, hustle plays seemed tonight to really be stepped up with you guys, diving on the floor, 50-50 ball, offensive glass, turnover game.
08:34 Has that been an emphasis or a focus in practice?
08:37 Because it seems like that might be where the team needed to make the biggest strides.
08:40 Yeah, sure.
08:42 We knew that team was a gritty team.
08:45 Wilmington, they're a really gritty team, and so we knew they liked to get on the floor and get loose balls and things like this.
08:51 So we knew we had to do the same because we must have brought it up all week.
08:54 And so we knew if we won the 50-50 balls, then try to keep them off the offensive boards,
08:58 and we tried to get offensive rebounds while we'd be in a pretty good position to win.
09:02 Also, this is a team that does the submarine substitution.
09:05 They go 10 deeps.
09:07 Not necessarily Musta's style, but you guys have had to do that all year.
09:10 I think he kind of sent a message that he'll match his with theirs.
09:13 Did y'all talk about that at all, or did you notice it?
09:15 We talked about it.
09:16 We talked about hockey exchanges all week, and so we knew they were going to do it.
09:20 We watched film on them.
09:21 We knew they did it around the three-minute mark, and so we told those guys on the bench to be ready, and they was ready.
09:26 So it wasn't a surprise for us.
09:30 The Kobe pants bring some good energy today.
09:33 Yeah, I like the NA contour.
09:34 Christmas gift.
09:35 Yeah, for sure.
09:36 No, I actually bent hat on, just pulled them out.
09:38 All right.
09:39 There was a -- I think there was a sequence in the second half where you --
09:44 there's some defensive anticipation, came up with a steel transition bucket.
09:47 Not to say that you, like, haven't been who you have been, but that looked like vintage you.
09:52 Did that feel -- that kind of feel right?
09:54 Yeah, yeah, for sure.
09:56 And like I've been telling this team, like, we've been struggling defensively,
10:00 but if we play together defensively, we can be much better, you know.
10:04 And so credit to my team.
10:06 I mean, as long as we continue to get better as a team defensively, I think it will help me
10:12 and the other guys individually as well, and we can all get steals like that all the time
10:17 and be able to play in a fast-break game, and I think we're pretty good at that.
10:21 Yeah, D.W., you had six assists.
10:23 What did you think about your assistant?
10:25 And obviously Keon had five, I think, and four alley-oops.
10:28 What did you think of your assistant and his assist?
10:30 I think his was a little better.
10:32 Yeah, like you said, he had some crazy oops.
10:35 I think one of them hit the backboard of the TV, and he still dunked it.
10:38 So I take Keon's oops over my little assist.
10:43 Okay.
10:44 And then I know you got another week before the next game, but, you know, SEC play starts.
10:48 Auburn's off to a really good start.
10:50 Do you feel like you guys are rounding to SEC readiness?
10:53 Yeah, I think we're getting better every single day.
10:56 I keep telling these guys, as long as we can continue to come in, practice with great energy,
11:02 ready to practice, and wanting to get better, 1% better every single day,
11:06 I think the sky's the limit for this team.
11:08 You know, like we have struggled, that's fine, but we've got to continue to push,
11:13 and SEC haven't started, and so we know that's going to be a challenge, not for just us,
11:18 but every team, because the SEC is tough, you know, so we're just ready to battle,
11:22 and we know we're going to pull these games out, the ones we are being ready for,
11:27 and so we ready.
11:29 I think we are.
11:30 Hopefully we continue to prepare the way we prepared for this game,
11:34 prepare for the next game like we did for this game, and I think we'll be successful.
11:39 And I think Jaylon Graham, I think that was a season-high 16.
11:43 What did you think of his game?
11:44 Oh, great.
11:45 Being aggressive like he is, can't say no more.
11:50 I know Jaylon Graham can score the ball all around the rim, and so we give it to him,
11:54 he scored, so it's not a surprise for me or the team.
11:59 Appreciate it.
12:00 Thank you.