How 'Bout Them Hogs!!

by Stephen Expat on Mar 15, 2008 9:40 PM CDT in Basketball Comment 7 comments

Absolutely electrifying.

After enduring several strokes and a half dozen heart attacks, we can say that was the most thrilling Razorback basketball game - and the biggest victory - we've seen in a long, long time. That felt like the good 'ole days.

The Hogs just beat the No. 4 team in the country, a team that annihilated them a month ago, on - of all things - a Steven Hill turnaround jumper! A surreal day in Atlanta just got even crazier.

We couldn't be prouder of the team. So many heroes. They showed tons of poise out there today. On the several occasions when it looked like UT was on the verge of putting the game away, the Razorbacks came roaring back.

A few random thoughts:

* Charles Thomas Likes the SEC Tournament Semifinals. In last year's semifinal victory over Mississippi State, he scored 18 points and hauled in 18 rebounds. Today, he was even better, in our humble opinion, leading the team with 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He's looked out of it for much of the year, but today his focus and energy were off the charts.

* It Was a Good Day for the Razorbacks' Frontcourt. In addition to Hill's last-second heroics and Charles Thomas' dominance, Darian Townes continued his recent top-notch play, totaling 16 points. For much of the last few weeks, he has looked almost unstoppable in the post. OK, maybe that's something of an overstatement, but the point is this: he's been damn good. If Thomas and Townes keep this up, next week just may bring the Hogs their first NCAA Tournament win since 1999.

* Battle of the Boards. If you look at the box score, you're struck by how even the teams were: the Hogs shot 55 percent from the floor, the Vols 54. The Hogs made eight three-pointers for a 44 percent clip from behind the arc, the Vols 11 three-pointers for a 45 percent success rate. Additionally, the teams had an identical free-throw line: 20 of 29.

The one big difference: rebounds. Overall, the Hogs grabbed 32 of them, the Vols 21. Dig a little deeper, and you'll see that the Razorbacks had 12 offensive rebounds to the Vols' six. That may have been the difference in the game right there.

* Just in the Nick of Time. Just when we were about to file a missing persons report on Sonny Weems, he hit three huge field goals down the stretch. Stick around for a while, Sonny: Chances are we're gonna need you again.

* Kudos, Again, Steven Hill. We still can't believe that you made that shot, but we couldn't be happier for you. You've always struck us as a helluva guy (and your post-game interview was hilarious). Enjoy your time in the sun. You deserve it.

Now it's onto the championship game. Here's hoping for a repeat of 2000!

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First, there was Ron Brewer v. Notre Dame, 1978.

Next, there was U.S. Reed v. Louisville, 1981.

Then, there was Scotty Thurman v. Duke, 1994.

Now, we’ve got Steven Hill v. Tennessee, 2008.

by Michael on Mar 15, 2008 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Okay, so we race out of the wedding and jump in the car. It’s 64-64. Roughly ten minutes to go. I take the slowest route possible from St. Mark’s to the Arts Center, but my wife says, no way you can kill this much clock. Right, but I’m gonna sit in the parking lot until this game ends. Especially after we go down nine and get back in it from the line. Townes miraculously finding his touch.

We hit the Arts Center with seven to go. “I’ll drop you off at the door.” “No, I’m sitting in the car with you.” There are people sitting in cars all over the parking lot. It is so tight. Damn Tyler Smith. Damn Chris Lofton. But we hang in there; key rebounds; a stop, a stop when we have to have it.

Then the key call: “Ervin drives right, slips down, gets the ball to Hill,” (we cringe in the car). “He spins and HITS!!!” I look at my wife, she’s as slack-jawed as I am. There’s a flurry at the end, and we have no idea just how close Lofton’s shot was. All we know is HOGS WIN!!!!

We get out of the car. Folks are pouring out of cars everywhere. “Can you believe it was Hill?” There are whoops; fist bumps. The whole reception was in the parking lot, listening on the radio.

When I get back home there’s a message from my buddy Janet: “Either of my two daughters can marry Steven Hill.”

Damn. What a win. I am giddy. More giddy than I have been about this team since, oh, I don’t know, 1995. Take care of business tomorrow, get a 7 seed and a spot at Alltel.

I have serious man-love for John Pelphrey.

by J. Hawg 3 on Mar 15, 2008 10:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You sort of got your wish, Stephen. Not an identical shot to Reed’s against Louisville, but one close to as improbable. Great win, and now we have something memorable for this senior class. Let’s hope they keep it going.

To follow the J Hawg III narrative, my wife was eating supper with some friends of her and we were calling each other every few minutes so I could give her updates. When I told her we had won on a turn-around jumper from Hill, she was both incredulous and overjoyed.

Michael, you forgot Charles Balletine against North Carolina in 1984.

by Whit E. Knight on Mar 15, 2008 10:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great comments, guys. Loved reading ’em.

I’m already nervous about tomorrow’s game. Georgia, after incredibly winning two games today, has that “team of destiny” feel about them.

Objectively, they should be bone tired tomorrow, but I’m worried. In many ways, they are similar to the 2000 Hogs that won the SEC Tournament.

by Stephen on Mar 15, 2008 11:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

“Now it’s onto the championship game. Here’s hoping for a repeat of 2000!”

You mean you want Georgia to win four games in four days and win the SEC Tournament?

Might wanna re-word that. lol

by joefan on Mar 16, 2008 2:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Go Pelphrey and Hogs! Beat those Dogs and win the championship. Kentucky will be pulling for you!!

by UK81 on Mar 16, 2008 6:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I should have stayed away. Being in Big 12 country, I would have had to go to my office to see the TN game. (I don’t have an internet connection at home.) After the week I had, I didn’t want to see my office, so I stayed at home. Flipped to ESPN just in time to see Steven Hill rolling on the floor in joy. Caught the highlites on ESPN. So today I was pumped to see them beat this certainly dead tired Georgia team. Nope. When the first play of the game resulted in a turnover and a score by Georgia, I just knew that the “bad hogs” were here today. And they were. Now I am at my office to read the message boards with the idea of misery loves company and to see what everybody thinks about our chances against Indiana. I think we already know the odds against beating North Carolina. Not good. :( But what a hell of an upset it would be!

by KevinHog on Mar 16, 2008 6:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs