John & Tye discuss the NIT win, callers on Gafford’s impact, plus Andrew Hutchinson of Hawgbeat joins the show!
Hogs get off to fast start in NIT, downing Providence with relative ease
It probably shouldn’t be a complete stunner that Arkansas jumped on Providence early and, for a change, didn’t let go of the rope.
It’s a credit to Mike Anderson and his coaching staff that the Razorbacks were considerably more interested in this game than the Friars … and it showed early.
The Hogs never trailed in an 84-72 win in the opening round of the NIT that never felt as close as the final margin.
Oh, sure, Providence cut the Arkansas lead to single digits on a few occasions, but you never got the idea they were going to make it all the way back, much less get the lead.
Without their leading scorer and rebounder during the regular season, some guys stepped up. Mason Jones led the Hogs on a balanced scoresheet with 18 points, Reggie Chaney scored 14, Isaiah Joe 12 and Gabe Osabuohien 11.
Osabuohien, with his best game of the season, also led the team in rebounding with eight, had a block and a steal. He even hit a 3-pointer. Maybe he needed to move a few feet back like the NIT has done with the 3-point arc.
The Hogs hit their first five 3-point shots and jumped out to a 20-9 lead just seven minutes into the game. Providence made a little six-point run and Arkansas responded with four straight layups.
You wonder if Anderson isn’t better in situations like this. It’s when he seems to do his best coaching. Of course, he’s never had a team anywhere loaded with top-tier recruits, but he’s shown to produce pretty decent results with blue-collar type players.
Joe, who had some eye-popping 3-point numbers during the regular season, was the closest thing to a star on the roster.
What these Hogs did was play with energy from the start, didn’t appear to be sitting back and waiting on one guy to take control … they just did it by committee.
Now we’ll find out if they can put two of these type of games together.
They will play at Indiana on Thursday night. The Hogs slipped past the Hoosiers at Bud Walton Arena in the third game of the season, 73-72.
For at least one game, a team playing in a tournament many have said is a complete waste of time, appeared to be happier about being there than Providence. How the Friars got a higher seed is still baffling, but being on the road didn’t’ exactly seem to bother the Hogs on Tuesday night.
We’ll see if an environment that likely will be larger and more vocal than the small, intimate gathering in Providence.
How this team handles that will be interesting.
Franklin, Kjerstad’s homers pace Arkansas’ 11-4 whipping of Texas
AUSTIN, Texas — Arkansas came out swinging Tuesday night, scoring six runs in the second inning and four runs in the third inning en route to an 11-4 victory over Texas.
It was the Razorbacks’ seventh win in a row and 13th win in their last 14 games.
Five of Arkansas’ (18-2, 3-0 SEC) first 10 runs came off the home run ball and it all started with a grand slam by freshman Christian Franklin in the second. Franklin finished the game 2-for-4 with a season-high four RBIs and the grand slam was the Razorbacks’ first of the year.
Two batters later, sophomore Heston Kjerstad launched his third home run of the year to straight-away centerfield, a solo shot that traveled 435 feet to finish off the six-run frame. It was Kjerstad’s only hit of the game, but his third hit in his last nine at-bats as it silenced the Texas crowd at Disch-Falk Field.
Along with Franklin’s two hits, Dominic Fletcher and Matt Goodheart both turned in two hits in the game. For Goodheart, it’s his third two-hit game in his last four starts.
Since game one against Missouri last Friday, Goodheart is 6-for-13 (.462) with two doubles. Also, both of Fletcher’s hits were doubles, marking a career-high for doubles in a single game.
With a six-run cushion after just one inning of work, starting pitcher Patrick Wicklander was able to go easily into the fourth inning with only one hit allowed and a couple of walks.
The Longhorns finally saw their offense come alive in the bottom half of the fourth inning, scoring four off of Wicklander, two from a home run by catcher Caston Peter, cutting into what was once an 11-0 lead to 11-4.
Nonetheless, the freshman hurler was able to keep the damage minimal and give way to the bullpen in the fifth as Kole Ramage and Zebulon Vermillion combined for just one hit allowed and one walk in the final five innings.
Wicklander finished with four earned runs allowed and three strikeouts on 77 pitches in his fourth start of the year.
Ramage earned his fifth win of the season, taking over the team lead, and second in as many outings, as he stymied Longhorn hitters in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Ramage retired all nine batters he faced and struck out three on 29 pitches.
Vermillion closed the game’s final two innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and striking out three of his own, one shy of a career-high.
The win for Arkansas over Texas (15-8, 2-1 Big 12) is its fifth-straight over the Longhorns dating back to 2012 and first win in Austin since 2005 in the NCAA Austin Regional. During that five-game win streak, Arkansas has outscored Texas, 49-17, including three games with 10 or more runs scored.
Razorback quotables
“We got off to a really good start offensively. We took some good swings in the first. We felt like we were going to get to him. In the second inning, I just thought our hitters did a tremendous job of battling. We had a lot of 3-2 counts, took some walks, fouled off pitches and squared some balls up pretty good. Wicklander was really good for the first couple of innings and then he just lost his command a little bit in the third and the fourth. We would have liked to have gotten another inning or two from him, but he was getting behind in the counts and wasn’t able to land some pitches, but his stuff was good, his velocity was good, and he got us off to a good start, which is what we wanted.” — Coach Dave Van Horn on the the win over Texas and the performance from Patrick Wicklander
“That ball was crushed. It was interesting because we were talking about the batter’s eye during the rules at home plate. They said you had to hit it over the batter’s eye and what a shot it takes to get it over it. It was just to the right of it. I think the ball hit in that tree or something. It was a no doubter. It wasn’t really wind-aided. It was going to go no matter what, but he got all that one. He’s been a little frustrated on the power numbers. He’s been getting his hits, batting average has climbed a little bit, but at the same time he hasn’t hit the ball out of the ball park like he can. That was a big swing for us.” — Van Horn on Heston Kjerstad’s monster home run in the second inning
“Coming out of the bullpen, I knew I kind of had every pitch going. I felt really good in the bullpen. I just came out and attacked these hitters. They were getting a little aggressive because they were coming off that inning where (Patrick) Wick(lander) kind of got a couple hits off of him, so I just had to come in. Tried to start them off with a little bit off speed just to kind of get them on their toes and just keep attacking to get them out.” — Kole Ramage on his perfect three-inning outing
“There’s nothing like it, hitting a home run, especially a grand slam. I hit one in high school, but to hit one – especially against Texas – it means a lot.” — Christian Franklin on how it felt to hit a grand slam
Up next
Arkansas will finish the series against Texas on Wednesday at Disch-Falk Field with first pitch, once again, slated for 6:30 p.m. on the Longhorn Network.
???? Tuesday Halftime Pod — featuring Rivals’ Nikki Chavanelle
Phil Elson & Tye Richardson hit on the possible pressure on the 2019 baseball team, interview Nikki Chavanelle, plus Arkansas faces off against Oregon State once again!
Neighbors previews opening Women’s NIT matchup with Houston
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors met with the media for the first time since the SEC Tournament to preview playing the Cougars at Bud Walton.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday
John & Tye discuss Gafford going to the NBA, Mike on the decision, plus Pat Bradley joins the show!
Razorbacks wrap up 14th-place finish at Valspar Collegiate on Monday
PALM CITY, Fla. — Due to the threat of inclement weather Tuesday, the Valspar Collegiate played the final two rounds Monday and 35th-ranked Arkansas placed 14th with a 54-hole score of 869 (291-288-290) at The Floridian (par 71, 6,921-yards).
However, two teams — No. 2 Duke and No. 20 USF — did not finish their third and final round Monday each having four holes left. The two squads will return to the course early Tuesday to complete their 54 holes.
However, the team results should not be affected. Ninth-ranked Wake Forest won the 15-team event that featured 14 of the nation’s top 35 teams with a score of 827.
Auburn, ranked 13th, was runner-up (833), followed by No. 31 South Carolina (836), top-ranked Oklahoma State (838) and No. 3 Vanderbilt (841).
William Buhl turned in a career-best 16 birdies, the fourth-best total over three rounds. Tyson Reeder tied a career-high with 40 pars over 54 holes, which also tied for the tournament lead, while Wil Gibson carded 37 and Luis Garza had 36.
Buhl climbed 12 spots in the final round to finish 33rd (tied), shooting a 2-under-par 69 with six birdies in the afternoon session. Buhl finished with a 54-hole total of 1-over-par 214 (71-74-69). He has seven rounds in the 60’s this season and 14 rounds or par or better this season.
Reeder and Perico tied for 51st, each with a three-round score of 219 and each shooting a final-round 74. Perico posted rounds of 73-72 after 18 and 36 holes, respectively, while Reeder opened with rounds of 72-73.
Luis Garza, playing as an individual, tied for 61st (75-71-75=221) and Mason Overstreet was one stroke behind Garza, tying for 63rd (80-69-73=222).
The 2-under-par 69 in round two for Overstreet marked his fifth round in the 60’s this season and 21st for his three-year career. Wil Gibson rounded out the Razorback contingent, finishing 80th with a score of 230 (75-77-78).
The Razorbacks will have one final tournament, the 3M Augusta Invitational April 6-7, before competing in the 2019 SEC Championship (April 24-28).
???? Monday Halftime Pod — featuring Pig Trail Nation’s Kevin McPherson
Phil Elson & Tye Richardson hit on Gafford heading to the NBA, interview Kevin McPherson, plus dream matchups in sports!
Gafford not playing in NIT disrespects teammates, coaches, UA, fans
Daniel Gafford made his decision final through Mike Anderson on Monday that he’s going to the NBA, which wasn’t a surprise.
What did raise some eyebrows was his decision to not help his team advance as far as they can in the NIT, which starts at Providence on Tuesday night at 8 p.m.
In making that call he removes himself from the protection of being a kid. He made a grown man’s decision that will provide him with a couple of million dollars … and leave his teammates still rowing a boat drawing water while he waves from the beach.
Gafford’s move is gutless, selfish and completely disrespectful not only to his teammates, but to his coaches, the University of Arkansas and the many Razorback fans that have fawned over him for the past two years.
Mike Anderson on Monday didn’t throw Gafford under the bus. No coach can do that publicly and they deal more with what is and not what could be.
“I’m supportive of what Daniel wants to do,” Anderson said Monday. “I’m supportive of what he wants to do. That’s Dan’s decision and I’m fine with it.”
Let’s be clear here … he has many that are fine with him declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft and I’m one of them. That’s not a surprise to anyone and more power to him while he spends two to three years in the development league.
The problem from this corner is not finishing what he started. It’s the same argument with players in other sports not playing in their team’s postseason games and it’s a slap in the face.
Whether he makes it in the NBA or not will be determined later by other people. It’s easy to wonder how that second contract is going to work out when you’re 6-foot-11, can’t shoot, aren’t overly impressive rebounding and has the best part of your game being dunking.
Exactly why somebody 6-11 dunking is impressive to anybody is beyond me. It’s a simple matter of physics. Standing on the floor you’re 95 percent of the way there. I could dunk with that kind of head start and my vertical leap might be six inches with a trip to the emergency room afterwards.
“He could have left last year and had an opportunity, but he came back, developed and got better and I think he’s going to be a first-round draft pick,” Anderson said. “He came here with a dream and he’s going to have an opportunity to realize it.”
Gafford issued a statement through the UA’s communications department where thanked the appropriate people and “it has been a fun ride.”
Just not enough fun to keep playing. The guess here is that playing in the NIT would bring a possible injury into the equation, which is slightly below that of getting run over by a car crossing Razorback Road.
“Growing up in this state, I dreamed about playing at the University of Arkansas,” Gafford said in the release. “It has been an honor to wear that jersey and represent this state.”
But apparently not enough to avoid a slap in the face to those who were his biggest fans.
He’ll get his money. How he projects in the pro game is a different conversation for others to have.
But his first check should be to the University of Arkansas to reimburse them for his scholarship. Others have done it to sincerely show their respect and appreciation for what the university did to get them to the next level.
In Gafford’s case, we’ll see.
But it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to count on it.
Arkansas needs to get used to life quickly without Gafford
Almost as soon as Arkansas’ NIT bid was announced speculation began on the status of Hogs sophomore big man Daniel Gafford.
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson made the news official Monday morning that Gafford is declaring for the NBA Draft and skipping Arkansas’ NIT game at Providence Tuesday night.
Gafford’s decision to declare for the draft isn’t a surprise after he returned to Fayetteville even after discovering he was considered a lock to be drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft. He’s only heightened his current draft potential with a dominating campaign.
Losing the All-SEC forward for the NIT is a big blow for a team that has endured a roller coaster of inconsistency with one of the top players in the country.
It may be exactly what it needs to prepare for next season, however.
As the debate on Coach Mike Anderson’s job status has heated up the past few weeks one of the big questions to consider is, “Will next year be better?” We will get a glimpse of that answer Tuesday night. Going on the road without its star player will show how much this inexperienced team has grown up and what could carry over to next year.
Barring transfers (And there are rumors swirling about that, too.) the Razorbacks would return virtually the same roster minus Gafford and add heralded redshirt freshman guard Justice Hill.
The problem Gafford’s departure presents is he is the only low-post scoring threat Arkansas has. He also is the team’s leading scorer with nearly 17 points per game. It’s doubtful that forwards Reggie Chaney, Gabe Osabuohien or Adrio Bailey can step into those shoes.
That means that more scoring will be needed on the perimeter. Freshman Isaiah Joe impressed this year by setting the record for most made three-pointers by a Hogs freshman. Joe is averaging 14 points per game and could be a candidate to pour in close to 20 per contest next season with more touches. The key could be sophomore Mason Jones, who has been streaky at times. He is averaging 13.6 points per game with 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assist per contest.
Anderson needs them to form a duo similar to what former Hogs guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon combined for last season as they led the Hogs to the NCAA Tournament while both averaging close to 20 points per game knocking down big shots.
Junior Jalen Harris has become an effective floor leader averaging 5.5 assists per game, but he would need to score more next year to make up for Gafford’s lack of production. Perhaps, Hill could also add scoring punch at the point spot.
Freshmen guards Desi Sills and Keyshawn Embery-Simpson have shown flashes and seem ready for bigger roles next year after gaining a lot of experience. They could also help add potency to the Hogs offense.
Bailey and Chaney haven’t scored or rebounded well enough to be confident about next year. Those players’ development should be Anderson’s top priority. He needs someone on this team averaging close to a double-double. Those two should be able to grab close 10 rebounds and 10 points per game on garbage baskets in the paint without Gafford.
Gafford averages 8.7 rebounds per game. Jones’ 3.9 boards per game is second. The big men and defensive-minded Osabuhohien will have to rebound better.
With Gafford a glaring weakness in the post, I wouldn’t bank on Arkansas being a force in the SEC next year. If this team doesn’t make the big leap it needs to be an NCAA Tournament team that could spell the end of the Anderson Era.
That makes Tuesday night more important than just an NIT game. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for a team that Anderson desperately needs improve drastically to win big immediately.
Anderson previews game with Providence in NIT with no Gafford
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson opened his press conference Monday with news Daniel Gafford was not playing in NIT, a decision he respects.
