Arkansas coach Eric Mussleman has been loath to give many details about Nick Smith Jr.’s knee injury. That continued Monday as the Razorbacks prepared for UNC-Asheville.
Smith left Arkansas’ win against Bradley on Saturday shortly after halftime. Musselman said at the time it was mostly precautionary, that he and the coaching staff had decided, with the game in-hand, it wasn’t worth taking a chance.
“Obviously we’re starting our prep today on the court. Don’t have any updates other than the fact that we’re going to go down there and get ready for UNCA,” Musselman said.
The type and extent of Smith’s knee injury has been an unknown since it was disclosed an hour before Arkansas’ season-opener. Smith is a projected top-five pick in the NBA Draft and, accordingly, Arkansas’ most talented player.
But it’s not as though the Razorbacks are toast without him. Their plan on the court is a bit different, though. Smith has taken 54 shots in his six games. And, really, he’s played more like 4 1/2 games, as he played just three minutes in his debut and only about a half last time.
Still, Smith is Arkansas’ tied for second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game and the Hogs have a higher ceiling with than without him.
The Hogs tip Wednesday at 8 p.m. from Bud Walton Arena against UNC-Asheville.
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