Ricky Council discusses how Arkansas has started to turn things around

Arkansas had a rough four-game losing skid in conference play during the month of January that had many worried about the once-ranked Razorbacks. They’ve since bounced back, winning their last four conference games and looking to make it a fifth on Tuesday versus Kentucky. Arkansas guard Ricky Council spoke about the team’s turnaround following their recent victory over South Carolina.

“The last couple games I remember, all the close games, we ended up losing … Four in a row, we’re on a hot streak. So we just gotta keep it going, Kentucky Tuesday, go in there that’s two road wins. That’d be good to get that one then we come back home versus Mississippi State,” Council said.

The Razorbacks last two losses had two things in common, they were on the road and they were by just a three-point margin in each. The tables turned in Arkansas’ favor versus the Gamecocks, defeating them on the road 65-63. Council ended the contest with 10 points, which is pedestrian for him, as he’s averaged 17 points per game this season.

Council has only scored 10 or fewer points on four occasions this season, and will be looking to bounce back against Kentucky. This will be the Razorbacks’ first meeting with the Wildcats this season, but they will also host them in their regular season finale on March 4 as well. Part one of the season series tips off on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.

Orlando Antigua calls Ricky Council a ‘tough matchup’

Two 16-7 SEC squads will square off on Tuesday, as Kentucky hosts Arkansas in a marquee inter-conference matchup. Both teams enter the game coming off of two straight victories, and if the Wildcats want to push their streak to three games, they might want to start with stopping Razorbacks’ guard Ricky Council. Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua previewed their upcoming matchup against Council.

“It’s a tough matchup, like I said, those three guards they’re playing 30-plus minutes a game and they all bring their own talents and abilities to the table,” Antigua said. “Ricky Council’s certainly one of those guys that on any given night can go off for 30.”

Council spent the previous two seasons at Wichita State, but burst onto the scene in his first season in the SEC. Council ranks second in the conference in points per game averaging 17 points per game. He’s scored 20-plus points in seven games this season and has proven himself as one of the biggest scoring threats not only in the SEC, but the entire country.

Council also has a tremendous workload, leading the SEC in minutes per game with a 35.3 minutes per game average. This may seem like an issue for the Razorbacks, but they have no issue with depth at the guard position, with players like Anthony Black and Davonte Davis more than capable of picking up the offensive slack in the backcourt.

“We have a great challenge in terms of trying to contain him. And Davonte Davis has been playing ridiculously in those last four games as well as Anthony Black,” Antigua said.