Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors was doing what is now known as “bracketology” long before it was popular and he’s glad to see the Hogs in the conversations now, but knows it doesn’t mean anything.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Tuesday
John and Tommy discuss Bud Walton losing its luster, interview Anthony Dasher, plus Would You Rather Tuesday!
Notes, how to watch/listen to Arkansas’ game with Georgia
Who: Georgia Bulldogs
What: Arkansas is 10-3 versus Georgia in Fayetteville
When: Tuesday – Jan. 29, 2019 – 6 pm
Where: Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, Ark.
How (to follow):
• TV: ESPNU (Roy Philpott and Daymeon Fishback)
• Watch ESPN Online
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home and 96.3 in Hot Springs (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
• Satellite Radio: Arkansas Broadcast – Sirius (121), XM (190), Internet (961)
• Live Stats: Arkansas Live Stats
FAYETTEVILLE — After stepping out of league play last Saturday, Arkansas returns to SEC action on Tuesday when it hosts Georgia at Bud Walton Arena.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be telecast on ESPNU.
Arkansas and Georgia have met on 37 previous occasions — all since Arkansas joined the SEC for the 1991-92 season. The Razorbacks own a 22-15 advantage in the series, including a 10-3 mark in Fayetteville.
Arkansas was won each of the last two meetings and six of the last eight. However, two of the last three — and three of the last six — have needed overtime to decide the winner, twice by the Bulldogs.
Last year, the teams went to double overtime before the Razorbacks pulled out an 80-77 win at Georgia.
• In each of the last two games, Arkansas’ pressure defense has played especially well down the stretch — one to give the Razorbacks a win and two to give the Razorbacks a chance to win. Versus Missouri, Arkansas led by one, 58-57, with 5:27 left. The Tigers were held without a field goal the final 5:27 and were just 3-of-4 at the free throw line. On the Tigers’ final seven possessions included three turnovers, two missed field goals and two trips to the free throw line (3-of4). At Texas Tech, the drought was the final 7:41 when Tech’ Norense Odiase had a dunk to make it a 12-point game (60-48). From that point, the Raiders did not make another field goal but were 7-of-9 at the free throw line to secure the win. The Raiders last 13 possessions included four turnovers, four missed field goals and five trips to the free throw line (7-of-9).
• In each of the last two games, Arkansas has made a basket at the buzzer prior to halftime. Versus Missouri, Gafford threw up an off-balanced shot that went in as the buzzer sounded to cut the Razorback deficit to two, 34-32, which spurred a second-half comeback win. At Texas Tech, Arkansas trailed most of the first half before Jalen Harris hit a jumper between half court and the top of the key as time expired to give the Razorbacks a 33-30 lead at the break. Harris later hit a layup at the final buzzer to provide the 67-64 final.
• Arkansas will return to the road to play at #19 LSU on Saturday (Feb. 2). Tip-off is set for 5 pm and the game will be telecast on the SEC Network.
Anderson on last possession in loss at Lubbock, direction of team
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson met with the media Monday afternoon and talked about the lack of execution on the final possession against Texas Tech, but says team still improving.
Harris on loss to Texas Tech, matchup with Georgia on Tuesday night
Arkansas guard Jalen Harris visited with the media and talked about the problems in the loss to the Red Raiders last Saturday and the matchup with the Bulldogs at Bud Walton.
???? Monday Halftime Pod — featuring Southeast Hoops’ Blake Lovell
Phil & Tye discuss the Arkansas-Texas Tech, interview Southeast Hoops publisher Blake Lovell, and 3 up 3 down!
Kjerstad, Cronin, Fletcher pick up preseason honors from ‘Baseball America’ magazine
FAYETTEVILLE — Sophomore Heston Kjerstad, as well as junior reliever Matt Cronin and junior Dominic Fletcher added yet another preseason All-America nod to their growing list of accolades Monday afternoon as all three were recognized by Baseball America.
This is the third preseason honor won by Kjerstad and Cronin and second for Fletcher.
Cronin was the lone Razorback on the first team and one of four players from the SEC. Fletcher earned a spot as one of three outfielders on the second team, while Kjerstad earned a spot on the third team.
Arkansas ties with Stanford for the most preseason All-Americans on Baseball America’s list, which was voted on by major league organizations’ scouting departments and was based on performance, talent and professional potential.
On the mound, Cronin returns as one of the top relievers in the nation after setting a UA single-season record with 14 saves. The save total tied for the second-most in the SEC and was the 14th most in the nation.
Over his 48.1 innings, Cronin struck out 59 batters, which was the sixth-most on the staff and he held opponents to a .154 batting average, which was the lowest on the team for the second-consecutive season.
Fletcher returns to captain the outfield after another stellar year both defensively and at the plate.
The junior notched his second-straight year with a .280 average or higher and 10 or more home runs becoming the first Razorback since Rodney Nye (1998-99) to hit 10 or more homers in his first two seasons.
He finished his sophomore season with 23 multi-hit games and 11 multi-RBI games, which were both higher totals than his freshman season.
Fletcher’s best performances came in the postseason as he hit .346 in the College World Series with nine hits, two home runs and eight RBIs.
He was one of only two players in the CWS to record a four-hit game (vs. Texas Tech) last year and he was the first Razorback to do so since Jeff King in 1985.
After winning the 2018 SEC Freshman of the Year award, Kjerstad comes into his sophomore season as one of the most highly touted players in the nation.
Kjerstad was named a freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the NCBWA, while also making the All-SEC Second Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team.
The Amarillo, Texas native started all 69 games for the Hogs in left field and finished second on the team with a .332 batting average, while leading with 87 hits, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. His hit total, home runs and RBIs were all Arkansas freshman records.
Arkansas will open the 2019 season against Eastern Illinois on Feb. 15 at Baum Stadium.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday
John Nabors, Tommy Craft, & Nick Mason discuss the Texas Tech loss, Hunter Yurachek’s mindset, best/worst of the weekend and more!
Arkansas comes from behind to down Florida, 83-73
ESPN SEC NETWORK VIDEO
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Arkansas senior Malica Monk and sophomore Chelsea Dungee combined for 50 points helping the Razorbacks erase a 15-point Florida lead in an 83-73 Southeastern Conference victory in Gainesville on Sunday.
Monk dropped in a season-best 25 points and Dungee matched that with her ninth game with 20 or more after neither player scored in the first quarter.
In fact, almost no one scored in the first quarter as the Gators jumped out to a 19-7 lead after the first 10 minutes.
The Second Quarter
Arkansas rallied outscoring Florida 30-16 in the second frame to lead at the break. The Gators were up, 26-12 when Arkansas put together a 7-0 run that ignited the Razorbacks.
Dungee was fouled and hit a pair of free throws. Then Monk drained a 3-pointer from the right side. Monk bolted back on defense and got a steal that she drove the length of the court and laid in capping the run.
Down by just six points, the Razorbacks finished the frame with a 17-9 run including a dramatic 3-pointer from Mason at the buzzer giving Arkansas a 37-35 lead at the break. Dungee and Monk scored nine points each followed by five from Mason, four from Taylah Thomas and two from Alexis Tolefree.
Florida kept the game close for the early part of the third quarter until Monk got another layup for the 51-50 lead with 4:31 to play in the frame. Arkansas would go on to lead by as many as nine points before finishing off the 10-point victory.
The win is the third of the week for Arkansas who picked up a win at Tennessee on Monk’s last second shot on Monday. The Razorbacks defeated Alabama on Thursday and got their second road win on Sunday. The Razorbacks’ 5-2 league record moves them into a T-3rd in the SEC standings.
Monk and Dungee scored 50 of Arkansas’ 83 points. Jailyn Mason was in double-figures for the seventh time this year with 12 points. The Razorbacks shot 47.6%, their fourth-best shooting percentage of the season and went 18-for-23 from the line. Arkansas forced 15 Gator turnovers, keeping the streak of double-digit turnovers by opponents in every game alive. The Razorbacks only turned it over eight times, the eighth time Arkansas has had 10 or fewer miscues.
Notes
• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
• Arkansas is 10-28 all-time against Florida.
• The win snaps a five-game losing streak to Florida and a five-game losing streak in Gainesville, with the last road win coming with a 83-74 victory on Feb. 19, 2009.
• Arkansas scored just five first quarter points – the lowest first period point total of the season.
• Arkansas erased a 15-point Florida lead winning the second quarter, 30-16. Malica Monk and Chelsea Dungee each scored nine points in the second stanza.
• Arkansas has forced double figure turnovers by their opponent in every game this season. The Gators had 15 turnovers.
• Arkansas won the third quarter for the 12th time this season, 28-21.
• The win is the fourth in a row in SEC play – the first four-game league winning streak since 2012.
• Arkansas won three games in seven days (at Tennessee, Alabama and at Florida).
• Arkansas won the fourth quarter for the 14th time this year and is 11-4 when winning the final frame.
• Malica Monk has scored 20+ points three times this year.
• Chelsea Dungee has scored in double figures 18 times this year and had 20+ points in nine games.
Razorbacks roll past Golden Lions in women’s matches Sunday
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ women’s tennis team swept Pine Bluff Sunday afternoon in the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
The Hogs earned the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. The team quickly went up to 3-0 as Miruna Tudor defeated Malaik Muhammad. Laura Rijkers clinched the match for Arkansas, with Lauren Alter putting the match away at the No. 1 position.
The second match of the day consisted only of singles play, with the Hogs quickly going up once again. Tatum Rice put Arkansas within one, while Rijkers earned her second clinch of the day.
The team will return to the court Friday afternoon, hosting Oklahoma State at 1 p.m.
For more information on Razorback women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.
Match One | Arkansas 7, Pine Bluff 0
Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,2)
1. Martina Zerulo/Jackie Carr (ARK) def. C. Fenwick/Ta’Miya Strickland (UAPB) 6-0
2. Lauren Alter/Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Karissa Fenwick/Malaik Muhammad (UAPB) 6-0
3. Miruna Tudor/Shwetha Prabakar (ARK) def. No player/No player (UAPB), by forfeit
Singles Results – Order of Finish (6,4,2,3,5,1)
1. Lauren Alter (ARK) def. Ariel Zena Graves (UAPB) 6-3, 6-3
2. Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. C. Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
3. Jackie Carr (ARK) def. Karissa Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
4. Miruna Tudor (ARK) def. Malaik Muhammad (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
5. Shwetha Prabakar (ARK) def. Ta’Miya Strickland (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
6. Thea Rice (ARK) def. No player (UAPB), by forfeit
Match Two | Arkansas 5, Pine Bluff 0
Singles Results – Order of Finish (6,4,2,3,5)
1. Martina Zerulo (ARK) vs. Ariel Zena Graves (UAPB) 6-0, unfinished
2. Tatum Rice (ARK) def. C. Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
3. Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Karissa Fenwick (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
4. Shwetha Prabakar (ARK) def. Malaik Muhammad (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
5. Miruna Tudor (ARK) def. Ta’Miya Strickland (UAPB) 6-0, 6-0
6. Thea Rice (ARK) def. No player (UAPB), by forfeit
Hogs drop opening match to Ohio State in ITA Weekend Kickoff on Sunday
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Arkansas dropped its match to No. 2 Ohio State Sunday afternoon 4-1 in Columbus.
The Razorbacks were making their first appearance in the second round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend tournament since 2007 after defeating Cornell 4-3 Saturday.
“We were competitive,” said coach Andy Jackson. “At that level that is encouraging. In the end, Ohio State was too good today.”
The No. 2 Buckeyes took the doubles point in after taking courts two and one in succession.
In singles play, Ohio State played four players that held national rankings. On court one, No. 3 JJ Wolf (OSU) def. Oscar Mesquida 6-3, 6-3 as the Buckeyes took a quick 2-0 lead.
Ohio State took a 3-0 lead as Jose Dominguez Alonso was beaten by Hunter Tubert (OSU) 6-4, 6-1. The Razorbacks would pull within 3-1 as Adam Sanjurjo def. No. 36 John McNalley (OSU) 7-5, 6-3 on court two.
Ohio State clinched the match shortly after as No. 13 Kyle Seelig (OSU) def. Alex Reco 6-4, 7-6(7-5).
The Razorbacks return home Sunday, Feb. 3 to host a doubleheader against Tulsa and Omaha. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,2)
1. Wolf/Joyce (OSU) def. Mesquida/Sanjurjo, 6-3
2. Kobelt/Trotter (OSU) def. Verboven/Paya (AR), 6-2
3. Tubert/McNally (OSU) vs. Reco/Howard-Tripp, 5-3, unfinished
Singles Results – Order of Finish (1,6,2,3)
1. No. 3 Wolf (OSU) def. Mesquida (AR), 6-3, 6-3
2. Sanjurjo def. No. 36 McNally 7-5, 6-3
3. No. 13 Seelig (OSU) def. Reco (OSU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
4. P. Dominguez Alonso (AR) vs. No. 122 Trotter (OSU), 2-6, 7-5, unfinished
5. Paya (AR) vs. Joyce (OSU) 7-6(7-5), 3-6, unfinished
6. Tubert (OSU) def. J. Dominguez Alonso (AR), 6-4, 6-1
