Eric Musselman provides injury update on Khalif Battle ahead of Auburn game

Arkansas closed their non-conference schedule last Saturday ahead of their opener in the SEC this weekend. That has given them important time as Khalif Battle, the team’s second-leading scorer, heals from a sprained ankle in that last outing.

Eric Musselman provided an update on Battle’s status ahead of the team’s first conference game versus Auburn on Saturday. After the graduate senior missed practice on Monday, Musselman said he has participated in all four of Arkansas’ practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Yeah, so, he did not practice on Monday,” said Musselman. “We did go two practices yesterday, we went two practices today – although the format was a little bit different today than what it was yesterday and what it was last week. He did go through both practices yesterday and today.”

Battle, in his fifth collegiate season and first in Fayetteville, is averaging 14.3 points off the bench. He’s doing so on 40.2% shooting from the field and 42.1% from three. That includes four performances of 21 points, with one coming in their win over Duke in the ACC/SEC Challenge. It also features his season-high of 25 against Furman to start last month.

Musselman continued by highlighting Battle’s importance to the Razorback lineup, especially on offense.

“I think KB is an explosive offensive player. He can really get streaky hot. We need him, want him to continue to have consistency from a defensive standpoint. Offensively, a high-energy guy, incredible confidence. Obviously, we run plays for him when he is in the game. Can go get his own shot off the bounce, has great elevation on his jump shot,” Musselman noted. “The one thing is just consistency. I mean he has had some games that were just lights-out and the defense has no answer for him. Then there’s been some other games of some 2-10 nights that I think all offensive players that are explosive scorers go through those nights as well.”

“We’ve been really happy with him as an offensive threat. He has got deep three-point range. Then his free-throw attempt numbers are as good as anyone in the country,” said Musselman. “He’s able to do that through isolations, he’s able to do that through broken plays, and he’s able to do that in late shot-clock situations.”

Battle’s return to practice is a positive sign for his availability against the Top-25 opponent in the Tigers this weekend. Still, he has 48 hours to go and continue to heal that ankle in order to be fully prepared to open conference play.