Hogs move on from blowout loss

Arkansas guard Jabril Durham (4) is pursued by Mississippi State guard I.J. Ready (15) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Mississippi State won 78-46. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Arkansas guard Jabril Durham (4) is pursued by Mississippi State guard I.J. Ready (15) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Mississippi State won 78-46. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

— While some fans are still hung up on it, Arkansas has moved on from its blowout loss at Mississippi State.

The Razorbacks' 78-46 defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs matched their worst SEC loss in school history. The 46 points were their fewest ever under head coach Mike Anderson.

The trio of Anthlon Bell, Dusty Hannahs and Moses Kingsley entered the game averaging a combined 50 points per game, but managed to score only 18 against Mississippi State.

"When they don't show up, you know you're going to be in trouble," Anderson said. "But that page has been turned. We flushed that out of our system. You burn the tape and you move forward."

Anderson said he gave the team a day off Wednesday, but they'll return to practice Thursday and Friday before heading to Oxford, Mississippi, for Saturday's game against Ole Miss.

At no point will the Razorbacks watch Tuesday's film.

"They know what took place, so there's no need in that," Anderson said. "This time of the year, everything is in and it's all about your mindset, your makeup, coming out and playing with great energy, playing together, playing with toughness. To me, the mental toughness didn't take place in that game."

Considering Arkansas beat Tennessee by 18 points three days before and Mississippi State's 9-13 record, most expected the Razorbacks to roll over the Bulldogs.

Instead, the Razorbacks shot just 22.2 percent from the floor and had nine shots blocked.

"That's what baffles me," Anderson said. "That's the question mark... I thought we played one of our best games from start to finish (against Tennessee) and then to go on the road and play like we did."

The loss dropped Arkansas to 12-12 overall and 5-6 in the SEC.

The Razorbacks have dipped below .500 four times and have never been multiple games under .500, giving Anderson confidence that his team will bounce back Saturday.

"I think our guys will be up to the challenge, especially on the heals of what took place at Mississippi State," Anderson said. "This team, when they've had some adverse things take place, they responded the right way and I expect nothing less."

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