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Twitter reacting quickly to hiring of Morris at UA

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Before the publicity folks in Fayetteville could even get the word out, Chad Morris was recruiting … for Arkansas.

He even picked up one commitment from one who’s already on the Razorbacks:

Yes, some in the Razorback Nation were not happy when Morris became the frontrunner after Gus Malzahn dropped out, although we now know Morris was whom he referred the Hogs to.

When the announcement was made, Malzahn was one of the first with congratulations.

 

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday

Morning Rush Hour 3

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 2

Morning Rush Hour 1

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs start slow but rebound for 92-66 win over Rams

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Despite a slow start, Arkansas improved to 6-2 Tuesday night, as the Razorbacks defeated the Colorado State Rams, 92-66.

Arkansas got off to a slow start for the second consecutive game, spotting the Rams 10 points before the Razorbacks could figure out anything on the offensive end.

Arkansas would take care of the ball, not turning it over in the first period, to settle in and take control of the game.

Freshman Daniel Gafford would sub in and make an immediate impact.

The big man recorded a block, then scored 7 of Arkansas’ next 10 points, including five straight, to assist in a 19-0 Razorback run.

During the run that lasted over six minutes, Gafford went 3-of-4 from the field with eight points, two rebounds and a block that sparked it all.

Arkansas’ entire bench would pitch in on the action to help spark the large run. Sophomore C.J. Jones and freshman Darious Hall both had six points during each of their first substitutions, going a combined 5-for-5 from the floor.

At one point in the first half, the trio was outscoring Colorado State’s bench 20-0. Arkansas’ bench would finish the game outscoring the Rams’ 47-17.

After being down by as many as 11 early, the Razorbacks would take an 18-point lead into the break, after closing the half on a 10-0 run.

Arkansas continued its run, scoring five straight to open the second half, to complete at 15-0 run. The Razorbacks had four runs of seven points or more in the game, bringing the season total to 19.

The Razorbacks would control the second half and ride it out to a 26-point win, their fourth win this season of 25 points or more. Arkansas led by as many as 29 in the game.

The Razorbacks shot well from the floor, shooting 52.2 percent (35-67) from the floor, while turning the ball over just five times.

After scoring in double digits just twice as a freshman, Jones has scored 10-plus points four straight games, tying his career high with a 19-point performance Tuesday. It is his fifth double-digit effort this season. Jones has broke or tied his career high in scoring in three of the last four games.

Senior guard Jaylen Barford finished with 19 points, as well. Barford also pulled down five rebounds for his fifth game this season with at least four boards.

Gafford would finish with 14, while senior guard Daryl Macon would have a game-high seven assists to go along with nine points.

Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena on Saturday, as the Razorbacks play host to the No. 14 Minnesota Golden Gophers as 5:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.

Game Notes
• Arkansas turned the ball over zero times in the first half, marking the first time since January 24, 2015 at Missouri that the Razorbacks did not turn the ball over in a half. Arkansas finished with three turnovers in a 61-60 win over the Tigers.

• Arkansas dished out 22 assists Tuesday night, marking the 44th time in the last seven years Arkansas has eclipsed the 20-assist mark. Arkansas is 41-3 during that span, including 29-1 in non-conference play.

Gafford, Jones on rebounding from slow start

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks Daniel Gafford and C.J. Jones talk about bouncing back from slow start for win over Colorado State on Tuesday night.

Eustachy on team fading after hot start against Hogs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy talked about the youth on his team not being able to hold momentum after hot start against Hogs.

Internet reacts to Morris hire at UA

Pete Morgan
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Look no further than your local ‘Twitter’ feed and you will see several members of the social media and internet sphere reporting that Arkansas has hired SMU’s Chad Morris to be the next head football coach.

With the anticipation of the new hire drawing a mixed bag of emotions from the Hog faithful, it is not surprising to see a variety of reactions from sports enthusiasts in and out of our state.

Nationally, at least one pundit is confident that Chad Morris is a good hire:


However, how are some of the members of the Hog Nation feeling about the possibility of the current Mustang coach leading our boys in cardinal and white? Some of the Hogs faithful are not sold:


Not all are so negative in the Natural State. Some are sticking moderate with pros, cons, and a few thoughts on our new athletic director, Hunter Yurachek:


And there are even several people posting their excitement and enthusiasm for Morris being rumored to be our new Head Hog:


Solely for some neutral perspective outside of the state and the SEC, this football fanatic from Central Florida chimed in leading his followers to believe that is confident in Morris’ capabilities:


Furthermore, some are even asking for early Christmas presents from the new AD and possible coach hire:


Finally, just for laughs, enjoy a video of the likely new coach:


Regardless of what we feel as fans, we must unite behind this new hire and show him (and the recruits) how passionate and dedicated we are for our student-athletes and our program.

 

Reports tab Morris, ‘smashmouth spread’ to Hogs

Andy Hodges
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Multiple reports from ESPN and others are saying the decision has been made that SMU coach Chad Morris will replace Bret Bielema at Arkansas.

There is a press conference scheduled for Wednesday morning with new athletics director Hunter Yurachek and Chancellor Joe Steinmetz.

Morris is a legendary Texas high school coach that has blended several offensive styles into what he calls his version of the “smashmouth spread.”

At SMU her inherited a program that one one game and has slowly turned it into a 7-5 team while recruiting with SMU’s strict academic requirements that are not relaxed for athletics.

Morris’ offense was being developed in the mid-2000’s and a lot of it came after watching what Arkansas was doing with DArren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis.

He had just replaced Art Briles at Stephenville High School and tried to implement a power-I scheme and, well, it wasn’t working at a school that was an original spread team.

Morris had several brainstorming sessions with Malzahn, developed his offense. He won a state title at Stephenville, moved to Lake Travis and won back-to-back titles.

When Malzahn left as offensive coordinator at Tulsa, he was replaced by Morris, then went to Clemson where his offense turned things around for Dabo Swinney.

The best way to describe it is a run game using old-school wishbone schemes in a multiple spread attack.

 

Victoria, Rippee collect all-region volleyball honors

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — In recognition of their standout efforts this season, redshirt senior Pilar Victoria earned a place on the AVCA All-South Region Team and sophomore setter Rachel Rippee was awarded the first regional honor of her career with an honorable mention nod.

Arkansas now has at least one all-region performer in seven-consecutive seasons. Victoria and Rippee are now eligible for AVCA All-America consideration.

With Tuesday’s selections, the program has 40 all-region certificates spread among 25 student-athletes. Victoria becomes the 12th Razorback with multiple honors while Rippee is the program’s first all-region setter since the 2013 season.

Named an All-SEC performer last month, Victoria is the NCAA leader with 634 kills and 705.0 points and is the only player in the country to eclipse 600 kills and 700 points this season.

She is first in the SEC and ranks second nationally with 5.47 kills per set and 6.08 points per set, both figures representing single-season program records.

The newest member of the program’s 1,000-kill club, Victoria tallied double digits (kills) in 29 of 30 matches with at least 20 kills in 16 matches including four 30-kill performances.

Victoria is third in the SEC with a team-leading 15 double-doubles including the program’s first 20-20 effort — 26 kills and 20 digs at Ole Miss — since 2010. She was second on the team with 312 digs and 2.69 digs per set, both career highs.

Victoria served up 33 aces, the first 30-ace season by a Razorback since 2010. She also collected three or more blocks in 10 outings and matched her career high with six blocks at LSU.

From her setter position, Rippee ranks second in the SEC and 21st in the NCAA with 11.23 assists per set. She directed the offense to 17 matches with a .250 or higher hitting percentage including seven outings with a .300 or higher efficiency.

In a straight-set win over Mississippi State, Rippee set the team to a season-high .430 hitting percentage that tied the sixth-best mark in program history. While also averaging 2.16 digs per set, she finished the season with 12 double-doubles.

Rippee finished the season with 1,303 assists to become just the fourth setter in program history to reach 1,300 assists in a single season and the first to do so since 2003.

She also became the fourth Arkansas setter with 50 assists in a three-set match in the team’s sweep of Yale.

Twice named SEC Setter of the Week, Rippee moved into sixth place on the program’s career assists list and currently sits in sixth place with 2,295 assists through two seasons in Cardinal and White.

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