Time to Dance!

by John Expat on Mar 14, 2008 6:05 PM CDT in Arkansas Razorback Basketball

AP photo/John Bazemore

A few short hours ago, the Hogs were still perched precariously on the NCAA tournament bubble, thanks to their rather lackluster stretch of games in late February. But, thanks to a very strong 81-75 victory over #17 Vanderbilt, Arkansas solidified its Big Dance credentials beyond any doubt. (They also continued one of their odder runs in recent memory...despite the very up & down quality of this team, they've now beaten the Commodores eight out of the last nine games.)

The defining quality of the Razorbacks this year has been their extremely schizophrenic nature, so it was a happy sight to see the Good Hogs show up for this game. In particular, props are due to Gary Ervin, who hit several big late game baskets en route to 18 total points.

At this point, the Hogs are playing for a better seed, and with Tennessee coming up there's an opportunity for a big win to impress the selection committee (and the opposite, of course, but I'm feeling optimistic at the moment). If the Good Hogs show up again, who knows...anything is possible.

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Anyone care to speculate on how the chaos in the SEC Tourney schedule may or may not affect the Hogs? We know playing two today will likely hurt Kentucky, but I wonder if an empty Georgia Tech gym plays in favor of the Hogs against Tennessee.

As for me, they just moved the Hog game right into my nephew’s wedding. Ouch.

by J. Hawg 3 on Mar 15, 2008 10:15 AM CDT reply actions

And, re Vanderbilt: It’s clear the Hogs match up with the Commodores very well. Weems matches very well against Foster; the Hogs have a lot of horses inside to disrupt Neltner and Ogilvy; and, most important, Vandy does not have a quality point guard.

Hope the Hogs remember that sharing the rock means wins. Let’s beat Tennessee. It could be huge for seeding.

by J. Hawg 3 on Mar 15, 2008 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

J. Hawg,

The game tonight should have a beyond-surreal feeling. How it affects the teams is anybody’s guess.

One local radio station was reporting just a while ago that a lot of fans were still turning up at the Georgia Tech arena expecting to get in.

I’m not sure I’d want to be the person who has to tell a group of Kentucky fans that they can’t get into the game.

Sounds like it’s time for your nephew to reschedule his wedding. It would be the only decent thing to do.

As always, thanks for reading and the comments. Always enjoying hearing what you have to say.

by Stephen on Mar 15, 2008 10:31 AM CDT reply actions

j hawg, last year’s arkansas/msu sec tourney matchup fell during my brother’s wedding. thankfully i found a tv in some random storage building near the reception hall

by thebeave on Mar 15, 2008 1:45 PM CDT reply actions

At the bachelor’s luncheon, it was decided one of the step-brothers will get the feed through his iPhone. From there, a system of relay hand signals has been established.

Should be able to catch the end on the car radio between the wedding and the reception location. It’s not great, but, hey, it’s family. Some times you just have to suck it up.

And, that Kentucky-Georgia game was about the ugliest thing I have ever seen. I can hear the Bluegrass whine already . . .

by J. Hawg 3 on Mar 15, 2008 3:22 PM CDT reply actions

I just want to congratulate Coach P and all the players…Pelphrey was one of my favorite players at UK…will never forget that team. You “all” have a great coach now!…and never forget that!

by kykat on Mar 15, 2008 7:53 PM CDT reply actions