11:30 – Connor O’Gara
12:30 – Curtis Wilkerson
Hogs are the Best Basketball in the SEC; Another Sweet 16! Baseball Sweeps UK. Call or text, 877-377-6963
Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: Survive and Advance
Tye & Tommy on the win over New Mexico State, baseball sweeping Kentucky, Tom Murphy and more!
The Morning Rush is LIVE!!!
The Morning Rush is live on a Hot Take Monday as the Hogs head to the Sweet Sixteen!!
Van Horn says Hogs not playing in Kansas City after sweeping Wildcats
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn has decided not to play Omaha due to weather plus series sweep over Kentucky.
Razorback Baseball locks down Kentucky, sweeps SEC opening weekend
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas silenced the Kentucky bats once again Sunday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium, prevailing 3-1 over the Wildcats to sweep the series.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins tossed the Hogs’ third quality start of the weekend, going six shutout innings with four hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. With Wiggins’ quality start, all three Razorback starters have three on the year.
Arkansas struck first for the third time in the series, posting a two-spot in the third inning. Senior shortstop Jalen Battles led off with a single up the middle, and senior center fielder Braydon Webb unleashed a 442-foot bomb to left-center field for his second home run of the series and third of the week.
The Hogs pushed the lead to three runs in the fourth when Battles laid down a bunt to score junior second baseman Robert Moore from third base. They threatened to score again in the fifth and seventh innings but ended up leaving five men on base in those two frames.
Senior lefty Evan Taylor took the mound in the seventh inning for the second time in the series. He allowed a pair of hits, including a solo home run by leadoff hitter Ryan Ritter, but it was the Wildcats’ only run of the game. They left at least one runner on base in all nine innings.
Right-hander Brady Tygart was tasked with recording the final six outs for Arkansas, and the freshman worked around a hit batter and a single to do just that. He earned his second save of the season, inducing five fly ball outs and one strikeout.
The Razorbacks will not play Nebraska-Omaha on Wednesday as previously scheduled due to poor weather conditions in the forecast. Head coach Dave Van Horn said there is a possibility of a replacement midweek game or two at home, but it is unlikely the Hogs can secure an opponent in time. If they do not, their next game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday in Columbia, Missouri, where they will open a three-game set with the Missouri Tigers. Each contest will stream live on the SEC Network+.
Razorback players after stopping Kentucky to sweep opening SEC series
Jaxon Wiggins, Braydon Webb and Brady Tygart on sweeping three-game series against Wildcats with Sunday win.
Hogs back in Sweet 16 for second year in a row after 53-48 win
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Arkansas is back in the Sweet 16.
It’s the first time the Razorback have been there in back-t0-back seasons since 1995 and Saturday night’s 53-48 win over New Mexico State may have been the hardest.
And ugliest.
The Razorbacks and Aggies put on a defensive clinic with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Both teams struggled to score in the first half until, a 10-0 Arkansas run finally provided some separation. The Hogs held the Aggies to just 24% shooting in the first half, including 2-for-15 from 3-point range.
The defense allowed Arkansas to take a nine-point lead into the break, but defense was the theme of the night, including the second half.
New Mexico State battled back to open the second frame, applying defensive clamps of their own and holding Arkansas to just three made field goals over nearly the first 12 minutes of the half.
While the Razorbacks were struggling to score, the Aggies chipped away at the lead to finally take their first lead of the night 33-32 with an and-1 from Johnny McCants.
The Razorbacks’ response changed the game for good. Jaylin Williams immediately answered McCants’ three-point play with a pair of free throws to put Arkansas back in front.
Two more free throws from JD Notae pushed the lead to three and a 3-pointer from Stanley Umude kept it rolling. Au’Diese Toney’s breakaway dunk capped the 9-0 run and swung momentum the Hogs’ way with 6:06 remaining.
For the second straight game, free throws made the difference down the stretch. Toney’s slam that capped the 9-0 rally would be the last Arkansas field goal of the night, but the Hogs iced it from the charity stripe making 9-of-10, including 4-for-4 from Chris Lykes, to seal the victory.
Notae led all scorers with 18 points while also matching the school record for steals in an NCAA Tournament game with a career-high eight.
Williams notched his second double-double in as many games and his 14th of the season with 10 points and an NCAA-Tournament, school-record 15 rebounds. Umude added nine points and eight boards.
However, the star of the game was Au’Diese Toney’s defense versus WAC Player of the Year Teddy Allen. Allen entered the game averaging 19.8 ppg and scored 37 in the first-round win over UConn.
However, Toney held Allen to just 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting (2-of-6 from deep) with five coming inside the final 1:10 (a 3-pointer at 1:10 and a dunk with two seconds left).
The Razorbacks advance to the Sweet 16 to take on top-seeded Gonzaga. The Hogs will travel to the West Coast regardless to play inside the Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Warriors, on Thursday, March 24.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 26, New Mexico State: 17
• The teams got off to a slow start as Arkansas led 3-2 at the first media timeout (15:37).
• Defense continued to dominate on both ends as the score was tied, 9-9, with 7:49 left.
• The Hogs forced four turnovers over 5:27 and held the Aggies to 1-of-9 shooting to take a 17-11 lead at the final media timeout (3:54).
• Overall, Arkansas went on a 17-2 run – including seven straight by JD Notae, to lead 24-11. The run ended with an Aggie basket at 1:36.
• Despite a 4-point play by the Aggies with one second left, Arkansas held New Mexico State to 17 first-half points – the fewest points by an Arkansas opponent in an NCAA game. (The previous record was 18 by Wyoming in 1941 – Arkansas’ first NCAA Tournament game.)
• Also, despite the 4-point play, Arkansas out-scored the Aggies 19-7 to close the first half.
• Notae led Arkansas with 121 first-half points and Jaylin Williams led the team with 10 first-half rebounds.
• Arkansas held the Aggies to 24% shooting from the field.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 27, New Mexico State: 31
• New Mexico State opened the second half on a 13-4 run to tie the game at 30-30 with 11:45 to play.
• Neither team scored over the next 3:26 until a Jaylin Williams layup at 8:19. The Aggies took their first lead (33-32) since 9-7 at 9:21 in the first half on an old-fashion 3-point play.
• Arkansas answered with 7-0 run to lead 41-33, starting with two Jaylin Williams’ free throws and ending with an Au’Diese Toney dunk at 6:06 which was the last field goal the Hogs would make. The Hogs held the lead the rest of the way.
• Arkansas only made five second-half field goals (5-of-24) but was 16-of-18 at the free throw line in the second half.
Game notes
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was JD Notae – Au’Diese Toney – Stanley Umude – Trey Wade – Jaylin Williams for the 18th game (16-2).
• Arkansas won the opening tip and is 20-7 in such games.
• New Mexico State’s Teddy Allen scored the game’s first points, jumper at the elbow at 19:11. Stanley Umude answered with a 3-pointer at 18:53.
• Davonte Davis was the first Razorback sub.
• Arkansas improves to 47-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and is 11-10 in second-round games.
• Arkansas is 3-0 all-time versus the Aggies with wins on Dec. 4, 1957, in Fayetteville and Nov. 28, 1998, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• Arkansas leads the NCAA in both free throws made (613) and attempts (808). The Hogs were 22-of-25 at the line versus New Mexico State It marked the 12th time this season Arkansas has made at least 20 free throws and the 13th time the Hogs have shot over 80% at the line.
• Arkansas forced 19 turnovers thanks to 12 steals. It was the eighth time the Hogs had double-digits steals this season.
• The Razorbacks make their 13th all-time Sweet 16 and second consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16 . It is the first since to make back-to-back Sweet 16’s since making a record three straight in 1993, ’94 and ’95.
• Jaylin Williams broke the school record for rebounds by a Razorback in the NCAA Tournament with 15 boards. Five different Hogs were tied for the record with 14, including Justin Smith who matched the mark last season.
• JD Notae’s eight steals set a career-best mark, passing his previous of high of seven vs. Mercer, and matched the Arkansas record for steals in an NCAA Tournament game held by Darrell Hawkins (1993 vs Holy Cross) and Alvin Robertson, who did it twice (1984 vs Virginia and 1983 vs Purdue).
• Chris Lykes was 4-of-4 at the free throw line inside the final 10 seconds. He is 44-of-47 (.936) at the line inside the final three minutes and overtime this season. Earlier this year, he was 10-of-10 at the line vs Kansas State (all in the final 1:46) and 4-of-4 at the line inside the final 21 seconds versus Cincinnati.
• JD Notae’s 18 points were his best performance in an NCAA Tournament game.
• Arkansas is 21-1 this season when leading at the half (line loss was Vanderbilt) and is 55-3 in such games in the Musselman era.
• Musselman is 2-9 as a collegiate head coach when scoring less than 60 points in a game, 2-1 at Arkansas. (Arkansas is 2-0 this season including a 58-48 win over Tennessee in Fayetteville.)
• Musselman is 41-1 as a collegiate head coach when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points, including 21-0 at Arkansas. Also, Muss is 10-0 all-time (8-0 at Arkansas) when holding opponents to fewer than 40 points.
• Jaylin Williams now has 342 rebounds this season which is seven shy of the school’s single-season mark of 349 by Derek Hood (1998-98).
Musselman on team’s defensive effort, going back to Bay Area
Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman lived in the San Francisco Bay Area of California for years and will play Gonzaga there.
Lykes, Williams, Toney after surviving, advancing in NCAA Tournament
Arkansas players Chris Lykes, Jaylin Williams and Au’Diese Toney following a 53-48 win over New Mexico State on Saturday.
Diamond Hogs shut down Kentucky again, win first SEC series
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas baseball team assembled a complete team win Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium, using timely hitting and a quality start from freshman pitcher Hagen Smith to down the Kentucky Wildcats 9-3 and win their first Southeastern Conference series of the season.
Smith tossed six innings for the third time in five starts, recording his third quality start and team-leading fourth win. He surrendered five hits and three earned runs to go along with three walks and seven strikeouts.
The lefty had no shortage of run support, as the Razorbacks struck early and often. With two outs in the first inning, graduates Michael Turner and Chris Lanzilli reached base on a double and a walk, respectively, before scoring on junior second baseman Robert Moore’s double, which marked his fifth RBI in as many at-bats on the weekend.
The Wildcats scratched back in the top of the second with four singles and two runs to level the score, but the deadlock did not last long. Senior center fielder Braydon Webb launched a solo home run into the left field bullpen to put the Hogs back on top, and freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall hit a two-out, two-run bomb to center field, stretching the lead to three runs.
Senior shortstop Jalen Battles recorded yet another two-out knock in the third, scoring Lanzilli from second on a hot shot to third base. In the fourth, the Hogs picked up a pair of unearned runs, walking twice with the bases loaded after a fielding error with two outs.
Kentucky brought the deficit back to five runs in the sixth inning on a solo homer by designated hitter Hunter Jump. Arkansas senior designated hitter Brady Slavens got the run back in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice fly.
Senior right-handed pitcher Zebulon Vermillion took care of the last nine outs and earned a save for the Hogs, retiring nine straight hitters after walking the first one he faced.
The Razorbacks will go for the sweep of the Wildcats at noon Sunday. Sophomore right-hander Jaxon Wiggins will get the ball for Arkansas against a starter to be announced for Kentucky, and the game will stream live on the SEC Network+.
Listen to Hogs trying to make a second straight Sweet 16 on ESPN Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It keeps getting tougher to survive and advance.
No. 4-seed Arkansas will face No. 12-seed New Mexico State on Saturday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.
The Razorbacks are trying to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year after last year’s Elite Eight run.
To get there they can’t let the Aggies’ Teddy Allen go for 37 points like he did in their open-round win on Thursday night.
New Mexico State surprised UConn to move on.
Tipoff is set for 8:20 p.m. and the game will be televised on TNT.
“You just want to survive and advance,” Hogs coach Eric Musselman said later.
Now it will be a challenge on a short preparation time period, but Musselman has been there before. Coaching in the professional leagues he’s had to get a team ready with less than a full day.
And he’s done it for players that were pretty good like they face in Allen.
“(Allen) is really good but I have also game planned for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade,” Musselman said. “He presents a lot of problems because of his ability to draw fouls. He has unlimited range.”
Arkansas earned a No. 4 seed in the West Region after finishing fourth during the SEC regular season and reaching the SEC Tournament semifinal.
• This is the third time Arkansas and New Mexico State have met. The Razorbacks own a 2-0 advantage.
• Arkansas earns its 35th NCAA bid and 2nd straight. Last year, Arkansas advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 before falling to eventual national champion Baylor.
• The Razorbacks own a 46-33 all-time record in NCAA action.
• This is the sixth time in program history Arkansas has earned a No. 4 seed and the 13th time to be among the top-4 seeds since the NCAA began its current seeding process for the 1979 championship. The previous No. 4 seeds came in 1999, 1993, 1990, 1983 and 1982.
• Arkansas is 18-8 in NCAA Tournament first round games.
• Arkansas 1-1 all-time in Buffalo. On Jan. 1, 1944, Arkansas lost to a George Mikan-led DePaul team, 59-30, at Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium and beat a pesky Vermont team Thursday night, 75-71.
NCAA Tournament, Round 2
Arkansas vs. New Mexico State
Current Records: No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks (26-8) vs. No. 12 seed New Mexico State Aggies (27-6)
Date-Time: Saturday, March 19 at approximately 7:40 p.m.
Where: Keybank Center (20,500), Buffalo, N.Y.
TV/Streaming: TNT (Brad Nessler, Brendan Haywood and Evan Washburn).
Radio: There is no online streaming. Listen to Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and central Arkansas, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home and on satellite radio at Sirius 136 and XM 203.
Sportsbook Info (via BetOnline.ag)
Spread: Arkansas -6.5 (-113), New Mexico State +6.5 (-107)
Total: 139 – Over: -110, Under: -110
Moneyline: Arkansas -290, New Mexico State +245
