Hogs guard Jalen Tate talked with the media after the 75-73 win about the work of Jaylin Williams and Desi Sills in practice paying off.
Sills on how he worked his way through slump for big night against Tigers
Razorbacks Desi Sills (22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) on how his teammates kept encouraging him through rough stretch in games.
Listen live to Hogs-Auburn here or on ESPN Arkansas radio stations
• Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (10-4, 2-4 SEC) vs. Auburn Tigers (8-6, 2-4 SEC)
• What: This will be the second meeting between the two programs this season
• When: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 8 p.m.
• Where: Fayetteville, Ark. – Bud Walton Arena/Nolan Richardson Court
• TV: SEC Network (Roy Philpott and Mark Wise) WATCH HERE
• ONLINE: HitThatLine.com LISTEN HERE
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
After back-to-back road games, Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena to host Auburn on Wednesday (Jan. 20). Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised on SEC Network.
Pregame coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. and you LISTEN HERE or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman will have all the coverage.
• Arkansas leads 21-5 versus Auburn in games played in Fayetteville.
• Arkansas defeated Auburn, 97-85, in the teams’ SEC opener on Dec. 30 at Auburn. Desi Sills scored a career-high 23 points and JD Notae added 21. Overall, five Razorbacks scored in double figures with Connor Vanover adding 17, Moses Moody 16 and Jalen Tate 12.
• Despite back-to-back road losses, Arkansas ranks 35th in the NCAA NET and the Razorbacks are one of five SEC teams in the NCAA NET top 35.
• This is just Arkansas’ third home game since SEC play began. Arkansas was the only team in the SEC to play four of its first six conference games on the road. By contrast, LSU has played four of its first six at home. Arkansas and Texas A&M are the only SEC teams that have played four league games so far versus NCAA NET Quad 1 opponents. Arkansas is the only one to play three on the road.
• Moses Moody is the only player in the SEC among the top 15 in scoring (6th), field goal percentage (11th), free throw percentage (5th) and rebounds (15th).
• Auburn made 15 3’s in the teams’ first meeting. Auburn is 17th in the NCAA in 3’s made and 11th in 3’s attempted. The Tigers rank 11th in the NCAA in blocked shots.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Neighbors replaces Vanderbilt with powerhouse Uconn in Bud Walton
Mike Neighbors hinted earlier this week that he might have a big name addition to Arkansas’ schedule with Vanderbilt cancelling it’s season.
He delivered.
Connecticut will come to Bud Walton Arena on Jan. 28. The game will tip off at 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
“We entered this season knowing cancellation of games could be a possibility, so we started early conversations with our friends in the game that had a similar desire to play the best competition possible with covid protocols in mind,” Neighbors said in a press release Wednesday afternoon. “When Vanderbilt opted out of the season Monday, we were lucky enough that UConn had a common open date as ours. A few texts and a couple of calls later, we got it all set.
“We are so proud of our team for wanting to play against the best teams in the country. They embrace the challenge of playing against the team that has set the standard for play in our game over the last 25 years.
“We are thrilled for our fans, too. They get to see another high-quality matchup inside Bud Walton Arena. Thanks to our administration for providing our student-athletes the opportunity to make a game of this magnitude happen so quickly.
“Coach Auriemma has been nice to me since my first year in college basketball and we can’t thank him and his staff enough for making this game happen.”
UConn, currently ranked third in the Associated Press Poll, represents the second top-five non-conference game on the Hogs’ schedule this season after hosting Baylor on Dec. 6.
Arkansas won its game against the Lady Bears, 83-78.
With the addition of the Huskies to their schedule, the Razorbacks have now played every national champion since the turn of the century except for Notre Dame (Baylor, 2019, 2012, 2005; South Carolina 2017; UConn 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000; Texas A&M, 2011; Tennessee, 2008, 2007; Maryland, 2006).
The Huskies are currently undefeated, sporting a flawless 8-0 record so far this season.
The Hogs and the Huskies have only squared off one other time, a 100-64 road win for UConn back in November of 1998. Both teams were ranked in that matchup as well — Arkansas came into the game ranked 18th, while the Huskies were ranked third.
There is an Arkansas connection for UConn, as starting guard Christyn Williams hails from Little Rock, playing her high school ball at Central Arkansas Christian.
The trip to the Natural State for the Huskies will be a homecoming for the 5-11 junior.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Trusting the Process S1E3 with Steve Sullivan of KATV
Tye & Sully on his path to Arkansas, friends in the industry, the great AR high school players he’s covered and more!
Henry on Diamond Hogs prospects prior to season getting started
Hawgs Illustrated’s Clay Henry talked Hogs baseball with play-by-play announcer Phil Elson and Matt Jenkins on Halftime on Wednesday.
Fulmer didn’t step down on his own as Vols’ athletics director, says King
Nashville Sports Radio’s Bill King said Phillip Fulmer has messed up the entire athletics department and it’s doubtful he made choice to retire.
Bryant dominates media’s prep Super Team for second straight year
By SCOTT McDONALD
The Russellville Courier
The third annual Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Super Team was released this week and for the second year in a row, the Bryan Hornets lead the team with four selections.
As usual, the 27 member Super Team is loaded with seniors who excelled during the 2020 high school football season that wrapped up in late December.
Last year the entire team was made up of seniors but this year there are four juniors that join 23 seniors.
Leading the way is Bryant quarterback Austin Ledbetter, who was the starting quarterback for the Hornets over the last two years and went 26-0, leading them to their second and third straight Class 7A state championship.
In his senior year, Ledbetter was 173 of 269 for 3,086 yards and 41 touchdowns while only throwing five interceptions. He also ran 43 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
Ledbetter, who signed with the University of Arkansas to play baseball, finished his career at Bryant as the school’s all-time leading passer in yards (6,957) and touchdown passes (88).
The two running backs named to the team are Dumas senior Kylin James and Pulaski Academy junior Joe Himon. James was the state’s leading rusher in 2020 as he ran for
2,425 yards and 26 touchdowns. He has signed with UCA.
Himon ran for 1,925 yards and 23 touchdowns while he also racked up 1,068 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
The two wide receivers chosen are Conway senior Bryce Bohanon and Bryant senior Hayden Schrader.
Bohanon caught 66 passes for 1,459 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has signed with Tulane.
Schrader hauled in 70 passes for 1,444 yards and 20 touchdowns as he was the top target for Ledbetter.
The sole tight end selected is Jonesboro senior Connor Clark, who hauled in 75 receptions for 1,0024 yards and seven touchdowns. He has signed with UCA.
The offensive linemen named to the team are seniors Terry Well of Wynne, Jayden Williams of Conway, Makilan Thomas of Little Rock Central and Sam Widmer of Shiloh Christian while Jack Struebing of Springdale Har-Ber is the lone junior.
Wells and Williams are both headed to the SEC next fall as Wells has signed with Arkansas and Williams signed with Ole Miss. Thomas is headed to Arkansas State.
Defensive linemen selected were seniors Jordan Hanna of Greenwood, Rodricho Martin of Bryant and DJ Withers of Joe T. Robinson along with junior Braxton Johnson of North Little Rock.
Hanna had a whopping 139 tackles and 13 sacks for the Bulldogs and will be attending Arkansas as a preferred walk-on.
Martin had 65 tackles and eight sacks. Johnson had 68 tackles and eight sacks and Withers had 13 sacks. Withers has signed with Kansas.
Linebackers selected are seniors Futa Shinkawa of Pulaski Academy, Cole Joyce of Bentonville and Marco Avant of Jonesboro.
Shinkawa had 124 tackles with 6.5 sacks. Joyce racked up 102 tackles and has signed with Central Florida. Avant had 90 tackles with four sacks and is headed to Arkansas.
Defensive backs chosen are seniors Ty Dugger of Harding Academy, Josiah Johnson of Pulaski Academy and Dreyden Norwood of Fort Smith Northside along with junior Jayden Jasna of Greenwood.
Dugger was a force on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats as he lined up at receiver as well. Johnson led his team with 161 tackles. Norwood signed with Texas A&M.
Bryant senior Brock Funk was selected as the state’s top placekicker. He was 70 of 76 on extra points and made 5 of 6 on field goals. He has signed with UCA.
North Little Rock senior Liam Selhorst was named the state’s top punter. Selhorst averaged 39 yards a punt while also handling the placekicking duties for the Charging Wildcats.
Mountain Home senior Logen Walker was selected as the top kick returner. He had 1,210 kick return yards, averaging over 100 yards per game He also had 46 receptions for 861 yards, and 10 touchdowns, setting the Bombers’ single-season school record for receiving.
Two players were picked for the All-Purpose slots, both seniors and both quarterbacks.
Rivercrest’s Kam Turner completed 154 of 243 passes for 3,039 yards and 38 touchdowns to go with 199 carries for 1,762 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Turner also had a 73-yard touchdown reception, racked up 75 tackles on defense while he picked off four passes and returned three fumbles for touchdowns. He even returned one punt for a touchdown.
Landon Rogers of Little Rock Parkview managed the Patriots offense by running and passing. He scored 28 touchdowns, 22 rushing and six passing. He has signed to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
OFFENSE
QB: Austin Ledbetter, Sr., Bryant
RB: Kylin James, Sr., Dumas
RB: Joe Himon, Jr., Pulaski Academy
WR: Bryce Bohanon, Sr., Conway
WR: Hayden Schrader, Sr., Bryant
TE: Connor Clark, Sr., Jonesboro
OL: Terry Wells, Sr., Wynne
OL: Jayden Williams, Sr., Conway
OL: Jack Struebing, Jr., Springdale Har-Ber
OL: Makilan Thomas, Sr., LR Central
OL: Sam Widmer, Sr., Shiloh Christian
DEFENSE
DL: Jordan Hanna, Sr., Greenwood
DL: Rodricho Martin, Sr., Bryant
DL: Braxton Johnson, Jr., North Little Rock
DL: DJ Withers, Sr., Joe T. Robinson
LB: Futa Shinkawa, Sr., Pulaski Academy
LB: Cole Joyce, Sr., Bentonville
LB: Marco Avant, Sr., Jonesboro
DB: Jayden Jasna, Jr., Greenwood
DB: Ty Dugger, Sr., Harding
DB: Josiah Johnson, Sr., Pulaski Academy
DB: Dreyden Norwood, Sr., Fort Smith Northside
SPECIAL
K: Brock Funk, Sr., Bryant
P: Liam Selhorst, Sr., North Little Rock
KR: Logen Walker, Sr., Mountain Home
All-Purpose: Kam Turner, Sr., Rivercrest
All-Purpose: Landon Rogers, Sr., Little Rock Parkview
Goode doesn’t want to see Arkansas get in NCAA trouble like other schools
Former Razorback and NFL player Brett Goode told Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft on Halftime he wouldn’t want to see Hogs cheating.
