John & Tommy discuss the Super Bowl, Bilemma’s buyout, plus Richard Davenport joins the podcast!
ANDY’S NOTES: A new calm during final football recruiting week this year
With Arkansas having a football staff actually able to work more than three weeks before last year’s early signing period it’s created a rather quiet final week to the second national signing day next Wednesday.
Before this early signing period, this was one of the busiest weeks of the year with rumors, guesses and gossip. Not so much this year.
According to various reports, the Razorbacks’ staff has moved on to evaluating and offering recruits for next year.
The guess is Morris and the staff are fairly set with who they’re going to be able to sign in this cycle.
In the rankings, this class is going to finish in the 18-22 range, depending on which service you want to follow. The composite ranking right now is No. 22. They will have double-digit four-star signees for the first time in recent memory.
That is a step towards progress.
Now we’ll see if that translates to any immediate on-field success.
Youth+inexperience=frustration
Mike Anderson’s basketball team keeps fans on an emotional roller-coaster.
With a team that has 11 freshmen and sophomores you get that. Especially when Anderson and his staff don’t chase these one-and-done’s.
I’ve wondered when this fascination with the one-and-done’s causes some teams to crash and burn. It’s really caused some disparity across the landscape of the sport, but it does allow teams with a number of upperclassmen to make a run every now and then.
That creates excitement in March.
Women’s basketball on high now
Mike Neighbors has Arkansas basketball sitting in a tie with Texas A&M for third place in the SEC standings … for right now.
“I know we show up there because it’s alphabetical,” he said at his weekly press conference Tuesday, “but it’s still nice to be there.”
It’s going to be interesting over the next week to see if they stay there. That’s not being negative. In a league as solid as the SEC, well, it truly is a game-to-game proposition in basketball.
They start playing better teams now, beginning with South Carolina, ranked 16th by the media and 18th by the coaches. The Aggies, interestingly enough, are tied with the Hogs in SEC games and one game ahead in the overall loss column and ranked 20th and 24th.
Part of that is the people they have played are just a little better than what Arkansas has faced. Part of it is former Hogs coach Gary Blair has put together a program that gets those extra votes.
The Hogs picked up a couple of votes in the coaches’ poll, none in the media poll. Make of that whatever you want.
They get a Georgia team Thursday night that is 3-4 in the league and 12-8 overall. It’s one this team needs to beat.
South Carolina comes into Bud Walton on Sunday afternoon and that will be a game that could provide a measure of improvement for this team. The Hogs were blasted by Mississippi State early and the Gamecocks will be the best team they’ve faced since then.
Next week is a road game at LSU, then home against Auburn.
That will set up the stretch run to the end.
And give some more indications of how good this team might be.
Much-needed baseball around corner
After a depressing football season, a basketball season that is up and down, many fans are ready to get the baseball season going, which happens in just over a couple of weeks (February 15).
Fans almost expect a deep run come tournament time.
Dave Van Horn isn’t quite so confident. He cautioned at Media Day last week this team may be a little over-ranked right now.
That’s his nature.
The reality is this team is mostly unknown right now. They could meet fans’ expectations if some of the younger players can handle this level right away. Sort of like Casey Martin and Heston Kjerstad did last season.
This team could also make Van Horn look like a prophet.
Haff named to watch list for top softball player for coming season
OKLAHOMA CITY — Arkansas sophomore Mary Haff was named to the top-50 watch list for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award Wednesday afternoon.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, which is entering its 18th season, recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.
The Winter Haven, Fla. native posted a 29-7 record on a 1.51 ERA last season as a freshman.
She was named to the All-SEC Second Team and All-SEC freshman team following last season; in addition to being named a Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top-Three Finalist.
The Haff Rèsumè
• Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top-Three Finalist
• NFCA All-South Region Second Team
• SEC All-Tournament Team
• All-SEC Second Team
• SEC All-Freshman Team
• Three-time SEC Freshman of the Week
The Watch List includes 24 seniors, 16 juniors and 10 sophomores, with freshman ineligible for consideration. Freshmen can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level.
Athletes named to the Watch List represent 36 NCAA Division I universities and 15 athletic conferences, including 13 from the SEC.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 24.
While an athlete does not have to be on the Watch List to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists.
The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 8 and the Top 3 announced May 22. The 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 28.
The Razorbacks are set to begin the 2019 campaign in Lake Charles, La. Friday Feb. 8 against Campbell and McNeese State.
Arkansas will return to Bogle Park Thursday Feb. 21 against Southeast Missouri State.
Razorbacks set to have 11 baseball games televised nationally
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Arkansas will make at least 11 national television appearances on an ESPN affiliated network in 2019, the league office announced Wednesday.
Now in its fifth full year of covering the Southeastern Conference, the SEC Network will feature the Razorbacks for three of its 11 television games with ESPNU picking up five games.
The Longhorn Network will broadcast both of Arkansas’ midweek contests at Texas and ESPN2 will pick up the series finale with LSU live from Baum Stadium.
There will be a potential for more nationally televised games as the season progresses.
With 75 games on the network throughout the spring, SEC Thursday Night Baseball will be in full swing on ESPNU and SEC Network, featuring a preseason Top 25 team in all but two weeks of the regular season.
In addition, SEC Network will continue its tradition of airing a Bases Loaded whip-around special set for the final Friday of the season and will join forces with ESPNU to televise the final weekend of SEC action, May 16-18.
The schedule finishes the year with the SEC Network airing the entirety of the SEC Baseball Tournament, with the championship game on ESPN2.
The first chance fans will have to watch the Razorbacks on network television will be on March 19-20 on The Longhorn Network, when they face former Southwest Conference rival Texas at in Austin, Texas. Both games of that series are slated to start at 6:30 p.m.
The SEC will continue its Thursday Night Baseball tradition throughout the season on ESPNU and the SEC Network, featuring a top-tier conference matchup nearly every week of the regular season.
Arkansas will have three Thursday night matchups coming against Auburn (April 4), Mississippi State (April 18) and LSU (May 9). Both the Auburn and LSU games will begin at 6:30 p.m., while the Mississippi State game will have a first pitch set at 8 p.m.
Six more games will complete the television schedule for the Razorbacks including Ole Miss (March 29-30), at Vanderbilt (April 12-13), Tennessee (April 28) and LSU (May 11).
In addition to the nationally televised games, all remaining home games at Baum Stadium will be broadcast on SEC Network+ via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
2019 Arkansas Baseball National Television Schedule
| Date | Time (CT) | Game | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tues, March 19 | 6:30 p.m. | Arkansas at Texas | Longhorn Network |
| Wed, March 20 | 6:30 p.m. | Arkansas vs. Texas | Longhorn Network |
| Fri, March 29 | 8 p.m. | Ole Miss at Arkansas | ESPNU |
| Sat, March 30 | 3 p.m. | Ole Miss at Arkansas | SEC Network |
| Thu, April 4 | 6:30 p.m. | Arkansas at Auburn | ESPNU |
| Fri, April 12 | 7 p.m. | Arkansas at Vanderbilt | SEC Network |
| Sat, April 13 | 8 p.m. | Arkansas at Vanderbilt | ESPNU |
| Thu, April 18 | 8 p.m. | Mississippi State at Arkansas | ESPNU |
| Sun, April 28 | 4 p.m. | Tennessee at Arkansas | SEC Network |
| Thu, May 9 | 6:30 p.m. | LSU at Arkansas | ESPNU |
| Sat, May 11 | 1 p.m. | LSU at Arkansas | ESPN2 |
Hogs set to host back-to-back conference games, starting Thursday
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas hosts back-to-back Southeastern Conference games this week welcoming Georgia on Thursday and No. 16-18 South Carolina on Sunday.
In The Lane
Georgia (12-8, 3-4 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 31
Time: 7 p.m.
Broadcast: SECN+ (https://es.pn/2RNH6Ap)
Live Stats: http://statb.us/e/233641
Promotions: Hoops and Heels Night, Razorback Neighbor Night with Rogers and Bentonville, Pregame Chalk Talk with Coach Mike Neighbors and postgame autographs with the team.
Arkansas (16-5, 5-2 SEC) is coming off a three-win week with road victories at Tennessee and Florida and a home win over Alabama. Senior Malica Monk had a great week averaging 21.3 points per game.
The North Little Rock native posted a season-best 25 points in just three quarters in the win at Florida and she played 115 of a possible 120 minutes during the stretch.
Sophomore Chelsea Dungee and junior Alexis Tolefree, along with Monk, continue to average double figures for the season. Dungee leads Arkansas with 17.0 ppg, followed by Monk with13.6 ppg and Tolefree with 11.1 ppg.
Also stepping up is junior Jailyn Mason. A steady player all season long, Mason is averaging 8.7 ppg over the last three contests. She averaged 34.7 minutes per game with five steals, 10 assists and 20 rebounds tying sophomore Taylah Thomas as the leader on the boards last week.
The Razorbacks’ recent success has the team receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll for the first time this season. In addition, they have moved into the bracket in Charlie Creme’s forecasted field of 64 postseason teams.
This week’s games mark the halfway point of the SEC season. Arkansas follows up Georgia and South Carolina with a road game at LSU as the season continues. Road games at No. 19/15 Kentucky, No. 20/24 Texas A&M and a return contest at Georgia are on the horizon for the Razorbacks.
Looking Ahead
The No. 16 Gamecocks (14-5, 6-1 SEC) travel to No. 19 Kentucky on Thursday before facing Arkansas in a 4 p.m. tip on the SEC Network on Sunday.
South Carolina’s only SEC loss was at No. 7 Mississippi State. They have won two in a row since then.
???? Wednesday Halftime Pod — featuring Hogville’s Kevin McPherson
Phil and Tye discuss the Georgia win, TNA, plus Kevin McPherson joins the pod!
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday
John & Tommy discuss the Georgia win, free throw shooting, their beefs and more!
Key shots down stretch, defense lifts Hogs to second straight SEC win
FAYETTEVILLE — With the game tied 52-52 and 6:23 left in the game, Isaiah Joe and Mason Jones hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Arkansas never looked back in a 70-60 victory over Georgia on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
The 3-pointer by Joe was his only made field goal in the game. Jones not only led the team with 23 points, but he tied for the team lead with six rebounds and led the team with four assists.
The Razorbacks won their second straight SEC game despite being out-rebounded by 24 (56-32). However, Arkansas only committed four turnovers – the third-lowest total ever by the Razorbacks – and blocked 14 shots – the most by the Razorbacks in an SEC game and fourth-most all-time.
Arkansas got a basket at the buzzer by Jalen Harris to take a two-point lead at halftime (31-29). Arkansas rode that momentum to start the second half, leading by five (36-31) after a Gabe Osabuohien 3-pointer.
The Bulldogs fought back and took a one-point lead, 41-40, after a Nicolas Claxton 3-pointer at the 13:47 mark. The Razorbacks answered with a run of their own and led by seven (52-45) after a Daniel Gafford Dunk with 8:32 left. However, Georgia rallied to tie the game at 52-52 n a 3-pointer by William Jackson III.
From that point, Jones and Joe took over. Georgia temporarily got to within four, but Harris had a layup and Reggie Chaney blocked a shot on one end before racing down to convert a layup on the other to give Arkansas a 62-54 lead with 2:08 remaining.
Arkansas made 7-of-10 free throws inside the final 1:34 to secure the win.
Harris scored 13 points and had two blocked shots while Gafford added 11 points and four rejections. Chaney contributed six points, six rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots.
Arkansas returns to the road to play at #19 LSU on Saturday (Feb 2. Tip-off set for 5 pm and the game will be telecast on the SEC Network.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 31 – Georgia 29
• Georgia got off to an 11-2 start, but the Razorbacks answered with a 12-3 run to tie the game, 14-14 at 9:55.
• The Razorbacks took their first lead, 22-21, on a Mason Jones layup at 5:27. The Bulldogs regained the lead, but Jones answered with a jumper in the lane as the shot clock expired to put Arkansas back on top, 24-23.
• Jones ended a 2:57 scoring drought by the Razorbacks with a fast-break layup. Despite the drought, Arkansas only trailed by one, 27-26.
• Jones tied the game, 29-29, on a 3-pointers with 23 seconds left.
• Jalen Harris had a steal and lay-up with two seconds left to give Arkansas a 31-29 halftime lead.
• Mason Jones led Arkansas with 15 first-half points.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas held Georgia to 28.2 percent shooting.
• Arkansas had nine of its 14 assists and nine of its 14 blocked shots in the second half.
• Arkansas’ starters were Isaiah Joe (G) – Jalen Harris (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) – Daniel Gafford (F). This has been Arkansas’ starting lineup in 18 of its 20 games.
• Georgia controlled the tip. The Bulldogs’ Nicolas Claxton scored the first points of the game, a layup at 19:40. Adrio Bailey scored the first points for Arkansas, a jumper at the 18:19 mark.
• Arkansas owns a 23-15 advantage in the all-time series with Georgia, is 11-3 versus the Bulldogs in Fayetteville and has won seven of the last nine including three straight.
• Isaiah Joe and Gabe Osabuohien each took charges, giving them 15 and 14, respectively, this season to rank 1-2 on the team. Arkansas has taken 40 charges through 20 games and had 47 in 35 games last season.
• Desi Sills hit a 3-pointer to cut Arkansas deficit to two, 12-10. It was his first 3-pointer made since he scored a career-high 14 at Texas A&M (Jan. 5), snapping an 0-for-7 drought from long-range.
• Jalen Harris hit a basket at three straight buzzers. At Texas Tech, he hit a 3-pointer inside the mid-court line to end the first half and give Arkansas a 33-30 lead. He also hit a layup to end the game to provide the 67-64 final in the Red Raiders favor. Versus Georgia, Harris got a steal and layup with two seconds left to give Arkansas a 31-29 lead at the break.
• As a team, Arkansas made a basket at the buzzer to end the first half in each of the last three games. In addition to Harris’ two buzzer beaters at the half, Daniel Gafford made a basket at the buzzer versus Missouri to make the score 34-32 in the Tigers favor.
• Mason Jones has led the team in scoring seven times this season, led the team in rebounding three times and led the team in assists six times. This is the second time Jones has led the team in scoring and rebounding in the same game and the fourth time he has led the team in scoring and assists in the same game.
Anderson on defensive effort, team’s improvement in win over ’Dawgs
Hogs’ coach Mike Anderson with the media after the 70-60 win over Georgia on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena after bouncing back from the loss at Texas Tech on Saturday.
Jones on 23-point effort in Razorbacks’ bounce-back win
Arkansas’ Mason Jones (23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) with the media on the team improving defensively and his late free throws that provided free chicken for UA students.
Crean on Bulldogs’ problems in 70-60 loss to Arkansas
Georgia coach Tom Crean said his team had chances, but just blew too many open layups in the 10-point loss at Bud Walton, despite out-rebounding the Razorbacks, 56-32.
