I don’t think I’ll be spoiling the game for you when I say that it has been a long, long time since an Arkansas TEAM fought so hard for every loose ball and every rebound, and contested so many shots. I still think Stan Heath is a good coach, but he never got this kind of effort or focus from his players. It was hard to keep remembering that they were doing this to the #4 team in the country. I see a contract renegotiation in Pelphrey’s future, and hope we can keep as many of these guys for four years as possible.

What an awesome game. The crowd was hyped. We played great. Final score doesn’t even reflect how the game went.

How about Marcus Monk? I was excited when he came to the team, because he seemed like he would inject some much-needed (at the time) leadership, but he seemed a little iffy in his first game. He looked nervous, sat at the end of the bench, didn’t say much, and didn’t play defense. What’d he do tonight? He dunked (twice), rebounded, made all his free throws (!), and blocked out Blake Griffin. They nearly collapsed in the second, after Tony Crocker returned. What was so refreshing is that they didn’t seem intimidated by or scared of Griffin. Sanchez took the ball right at him, and was generally effective. There were just so many excellent performances all around. This game, of course, doesn’t guarantee anything. Texas isn’t going to care that we beat OU. But, this team, win or lose, as long as they keep playing as a team, whill be very fun to watch. I hope they all stay around a long time.

Two things, and I know I’m biased, but I have to mention them:
1. I couldn’t believe how much Griffin got the benefit of the doubt. Obviously, due to his status, he’ll get a little bit, but it verged on ridiculous.
2. It was kind of funny to see the OU players’ reactions whenever they got called for a foul. It’s almost like they believed they were above reproach. The younger Griffin was especially smug.

i was there with my sweet 1992 boston celtic leather jacket on. the crowd was incredible, but the youngsters gave’em lots to holla about.
holy markus monk. we have anyone else with lost eligibility? he played a helluva game. sanchez too. sooooooo much more fun that the stan era. can’t wait for the next bud walton test next week.

I never like to be made out a liar but, as far as I’m concerned, the Hawgs can do it to me every time!

Just finished watching the tape delay. I’d worked all evening so it was just like watching it live. What effort! Fortson, Monk, Washington, Sanchez, Welsh, Clark, the list goes on. Who didn’t contribute?

10-1, after this game. Who’da thunk it?! Not me! ;^)

Awesome game and a total team effort. The Hogs outrebounded them 45-33, outshot them and played better defense. And they showed character and poise by not wilting after either of their runs.

I am looking forward to seeing this team in the flesh at Alltel Saturday.

I fortunately got to see the 2nd half!

I have cable, had ESPN Gameplan and on a whim, after I saw the halftime score, went over to the bank of channels that the ESPN package is on and OMG it was still turned on and I watched the 2nd half!

It’s gonna be kind of odd rooting for UK so that Billyboy wins just enough for us to keep Pel.

So the team played great, there were moments were some players seemed selfish, but it was still a pretty darn good team effort.

Oh my god though, the officiating was just plain terrible though. I hope both coaches send the video to the NCAA because that was just disgusting. At least there were bad calls on both sides of the ball.

I Agree on that CLO. The officiating was the worst I’ve seen (0n both sides) in a long time.

I will say this though; the Hogs played an outstanding game, with outstanding effort.

OU is for real, but I don’t think they realized what they had gotten themselves into until it was too late.
I’d be willing to bet this is the first time anyone has taken the fight right to the Sooners the way the Hogs did last night.
Excellent team defense for almost the entire ball game.

What’s really exciting about this game is that the confidence of our team will grow, puts the Hogs back on the national basketball radar, and will help out our recruiting even more in the future.

These are great days people.

GO HOGS GO!!!!!

Sorry, I couldn’t join this comment thread last night, but I had deferred tasks until the game was over.

The Hogs did everything I could have asked. They were strong inside, much moreso than I thought they could be. They stroked outside shots with confidence. They defended extremely well (especially Fortson on the duck-down to double the post).

Isn’t it a true pleasure to have a point guard again? It makes everything flow better. Frankly, I don’t know if we have had one like this, ever. He found our big men inside for uncontested shots. He found our shooters outside for shots, he kept the ball in his hands and refused to turn it over. Hats off to Mr. Fortson.

And thank goodness Pelphrey has them playing their hearts out. This win was nothing short of huge. The sort of watershed that makes you think the Hogs are back.

monk awesome game