Wagner and Hogs want to show the fans

FAYETTEVILLE – DJ Wagner knows exactly what it feels like to play in front of a big college basketball crowd.

The 6-4 sophomore guard played last season for Kentucky, which averaged 19,928 spectators in its 18 games at Rupp Arena.

A crowd of 20,322 watched Wagner score 19 points for Kentucky as the Wildcats defeated the University of Arkansas 111-102.

But now Wagner is a Razorback and he said he’s excited to finally get the chance to play with the Arkansas fans cheering him on, even if it’s just a scrimmage and not a regular season game.

Fans will get their first look at Wagner and his Arkansas teammates when the Razorbacks hit the road this weekend to play red-white intrasquad games in Hot Springs and Pine Bluff.

The Razorbacks will face Hot Springs at Bank OZK Arena on Saturday at 4 p.m. and at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on Sunday at 5 p.m.

It will be the first time the Razorbacks have practiced in a public setting under new Arkansas coach John Calipari.

“We’re all excited to get out there and be able to play in front of people who support us,” Wagner said. “We just want to show that we support them too. We want to show them what we’ve been working on.”

Calipari has taken his team to games in Kentucky the last two years when the Wildcats visited Pikeville, Kentucky, and Highland Heights, Kentucky. All ticket proceeds went to flood and tornado relief funds in the state.

The main purpose of bringing the Razorbacks to Hot Springs and Pine Bluff, Calipari said, is to demonstrate a nationwide commitment to fans.

“This program is the state’s program,” Calipari said. “By going to them, it is like going where you are. You don’t always have to come to us.”

“I also want to make it clear to the children in the community how important this program is to this state.”

Wagner said the Razorbacks want to put on a good show for the fans.

“We’re excited to play in front of some people who might not be able to come to Fayetteville for a game and see us in person,” he said. “It’s a blessing that we can bring our team there.”

Wagner is among three former Wildcats who followed Calipari from Kentucky – where he coached for the past 15 seasons – to Arkansas.

Two other Kentucky players who transferred to Arkansas are junior forward Adou Thiero and sophomore forward Zvonimir Ivisic.

Junior forward Trevon Brazile is the Razorbacks’ lone scholarship returnee from last season.

Other additions include senior transfers guard Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic) and forward Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee), as well as freshman guard Boogie Fland and forwards Karter Knox and Billy Richmond, who transferred commitments from Kentucky to Arkansas, as Calipari Became the coach of the Razorbacks.

“I feel like we’re all doing pretty well so far,” Wagner said. “We are still learning. We still have a long way to go, but it’s all part of the process.”

“Everyone picked things up quickly and learned what we needed to do and worked hard. We stay focused and pay attention to everything, to the small details. It worked out very well.”

Wagner said it was positive that he, Thiero and Ivisic already had experience with Calipari and many of his coaching staff members.

“I feel like it definitely helps,” Wagner said. “We have some people on the team who can pick up on our experience from last year pretty quickly because they are already familiar with the system and know the coaching staff.”

“For us it’s really just about continuing where we left off. We are all still learning, but it makes it easier for us to be familiar with everything.”

Calipari said the former Kentucky players help set the tone in practice.

“The guys who were with me can tell the others what I won’t accept,” Calipari said. “You’ll tell them, ‘Look, I played for him. He doesn’t accept it straight away. So you can do it, but it won’t work.’

“The other thing is they know how consistent I am. I won’t change. I’ll notice it every day. I’ll notice. Don’t think I don’t notice.”

“In most cases I hold them back way too much because I notice too much and won’t let things pass. But it’s important to have them here. That means they are clarifying about me.”

Wagner played in 28 games last season, including 27 as a starter, although he was slowed by a left ankle injury. He suffered the injury Nov. 28 during Kentucky’s 95-73 win over Miami in the seventh game of the season.

In the previous game, Wagner scored a season-high 28 points against Marshall. He finished the season with an average of 9.9 points per game, after averaging 14.5 before the injury.

As a high school student in Camden. NJ, Wagner was a McDonald’s All-American.

“He played great,” Calipari said. “Then he got injured and never really recovered.”

“I think he’s healthy. I think he’s more athletic than before. … He now knows how to read his body – ‘When I need to take a step back or when I can be uncomfortable and it’s good for me.’

“But I expect a lot from him. You want his guidance. When you walk into my gym, the voice you hear is his. That’s the voice you hear, which means he belongs on his team.”

Wagner said his ankle is finally fully healed.

“I don’t really like using what happened to me last season as an excuse,” he said. “I was still able to play. But it’s good to be back 100% healthy.”

Wagner said a year ago that he couldn’t have imagined playing for Arkansas but that he enjoyed it.

“I feel like it was a good move for me,” Wagner said. “I really like Arkansas. It’s a good place with nice people.”

“I feel comfortable having the same coaching staff, some of my old teammates. This makes the transition much easier.”