Devo Davis turning into a leader on the court for the Hogs

The Razorbacks have a deep group of guards, which has come in handy with the unexpected absence of future lottery pick Nick Smith Jr.

We’re not sure when Smith Jr. will return to the court, but it looks like the Devo Davis show until then.

“He’s playing fabulous. He really is. Defensively, it’s every single night,” Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman said about his junior guard after they defeated LSU 60-40. Davis was instrumental on the defensive end and a significant reason why this was the lowest-scoring game in the rivalry’s history.

But Davis has been consistent all season, on pace to eclipse all his career highs for season averages and totals. After the loss of Smith Jr. rocked the team’s rotation, Davis made it clear that he would be the direct floor general for the Razorbacks this season.

“We’ve been waiting on someone to emerge as a leader with their voice. I think he’s kind of turned the corner on that.”

In January, Davis amplified his play, scoring 16+ points in the last five games, which could be credited to the increased number of attempts, another indicator of trust from Musselman.

“That’s maturity on his part. It’s him understanding the system. Defensively, again, it’s another level. And now offensively, he’s doing the same exact thing. He’s doing a good job of taking care of the basketball. It’s really cool to see growth in his game both as a leader and offensively and defensively, keeps getting better. I don’t know how he’s doing it.”