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Anthony Black, Nick Smith rave about impact of Ricky Council off the bench

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•02/24/23
Nick Smith, Ricky Councy - Arkansas Razorbacks basketball
Nick Smith (left) and Ricky Council (right) stand next to each other on the court on Feb. 21, 2023. (Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)

Arkansas is coming off one of its hottest shooting performances of the season, hitting on 63.8% of its looks in a 97-65 win over Georgia. But the impact of Ricky Council off the bench was one of the key storylines coming out of the game.

Council scored 22 points while stuffing the stat sheet with four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block.

“Ricky, he’s an electric player. He gets downhill quick fast in a hurry,” star freshman guard Nick Smith said. “He can also shoot the mid-range. He can shoot the spot-up three. He’s a good player, and he’s one of the players we need on this team.”

Smith led all scorers with 26 points in the win over the Bulldogs, but Council drew just as much press.

He’s an integral part of the team, now working off the bench with Smith inserted into the starting lineup now that he’s healthy again. But having Council available off the bench has created some unique opportunities.

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“I think he’s really good for us coming off the bench because it’s like a spark,” point guard Anthony Black said. “You don’t ever want to sub and go downhill, so we basically have like six, seven dudes who could start. So whenever he comes off the bench and scores like that it’s huge for us and it brings us a lot of energy, the second group.”

The impact of Ricky Council off the bench is not small

With Nick Smith back in the starting lineup Arkansas has taken on a new look. But Ricky Council’s impact off the bench can’t be overlooked, either.

In part because it allows Smith to work with the starting lineup.

“Bench points were phenomenal for us, I thought basically everybody that checked in the game tonight really contributed,” coach Eric Musselman said. “But Nick obviously changes who we are with his perimeter shooting. Tonight his three balls also opened up other looks for other guys from 3-point range as well, so really good game on both sides of the floor tonight for us.”

Arkansas will put the new dynamic back out on the floor on Saturday with a game against No. 2 Alabama. The road trip will tip off at 2 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ESPN2.