Last Friday night’s preseason exhibition basketball game versus top-ranked Kansas University at Bud Walton Arena and Saturdaze pre-noon football road game against Mississippi St. University provided Razorback fans a rare treat – the opportunity to call the Hogs twice within 24 hours.
And did we ever.
A homeboy from way back (what’s up D?) and I loaded up around dusk and headed over to watch the latest version of Hog hoops and came away most impressed, as the Razorbacks thumped a scaled-down rendition of the Jayhawks. This squad of ballers John Calipari has managed to slap together in no time – like lickety split – is extraordinary. The man basically pulled a Houdini, convincing 13 elite players to come to the U of A, either as freshmen or via the portal.
They are a dazzling array of talent at all five positions, and this collection of cagers is as impressive as some of Nolan’s finest. Only time will tell if they are able to gel and morph into a cohesive unit with the necessary mindset to compete for a Natty. Unity is imperative in team sports, and you can ask former Razorback coach Eric Musselman all about it. He lost control of the team last year and mailed in the second half of the season. Calipari, on the other hand, is the consummate professional and the current Dom of NCAA coaches.
I am also elated to report, that for the first time in too long, Arkansas has a legit PG who goes by Boogie Fland. A true freshman outta the Bronx, NY, who originally signed with KY, he is hiccup quick with great handles, vision, and an extra gear. While not the first Razorback PG from the Big Apple, as Kenny Hutchinson and Kareem Reid preceded him, if Fridaze game is any indication, Fland definitely has a chance to be the best. Hopefully, he’ll stay around a couple or three years, but do not be surprised if he’s a one-and-done-kinda superstar.
Other than Fland and D.J. Wagner, who led the team with 24 points, the biggest news of the night was the play of Zvonimir Ivišić. The 7’2” sophomore outta Croatia showed loads of strength and agility, battling it out against KU’s frontline and even draining a late-game 3 from the top of the key. This big kid is a force to be reckoned with – altering and blocking shots and cleaning the glass.
Long ago Brent Musburger uttered the phrase “from way downtown” to describe a long-range jumper, probably a 3-pointer, and this phrase caught on like the plague. But it did not ring true for everyone, particularly the late and great Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.
Why? Cuz, according to him, downtown is where the big buildings reside – under the goal and in the paint. Where giants battle it out like sumo wrestlers, scrapping for position with all their might. Downtown is where you do the dirt – scratch, claw or whatever it takes. Downtown is gritty and grimy. Downtown is where flagrant fouls are committed, and weak jumpers end up in Row G. Downtown ain’t nowhere near a 3point line – that’s the suburbs. Downtown is dark, crowded and physical, while the burbs offer up wide open and sunny spaces with tons of room to roam, dribble and/or shoot.
This Razorback roster is swole up with talent – all the way from downtown out to the fringes of the city. And unless it’s the Red Drank talking, again, the future looks ablaze.
Then, on Saturday afternoon, the football team capped off the weekend by beating up on poor MS St. in a much-needed SEC road win and are one dub away from elevating their status back to bowl eligible. Led by Taylen Green’s five touchdown passes and big Braylen Russell’s 175 yards rushing, the Hogs never trailed in just the kinda game the offense needed going into the homestretch.
So, everybody stand up, and let’s call those Hogs.
Wooooooooo…