Hall Closets

Well, something had to give last weekend when the Razorback cagers traveled southeast to Mississippi State for an 11 a.m. game. The last time the Hogs tasted victory down in the Hump Dump was over a decade ago in 2015, when Mike Anderson wore the cardinal and white whistle. Believe it or not.

On the other hand, John Calipari, while head coach of the University of Kentucky, never lost down in Starkville to the Bulldogs, sporting a smooth 10-0 record at that arena going into Saturday’s pre-noon tipoff.

So what seemed like a simple-enough task for the visiting team became infinitely tougher when it was announced before the game that KK and DJ were nursing injuries and would not dress out, much less log any minutes in this critical conference match up. Methinks that Coach Cal saw this game as an opportunity to rest a few fellas with nagging injuries, since the Bulldogs haven’t shown much moxie while sporting a sub .500 record, and there is rarely any rest for the weary and/or wicked for that matter in the mighty, mighty SEC, so you might as well get some while you can.

After a nail-biting, first few minutes of the game, the Razorbacks were able to pull away and win easily, 88-68. Being limited to only seven ballers, Coach Cal called on seldom-used reserve, Isaiah Sealy, to shore up the lineup, and the freshman from Chickendale stepped up, hugely, scoring six points, doling out two assists and blocking three shots. The young man played with total poise and grace and never got that glassy-eyed look that some newcomers get early in their careers. Cal lauded him in his postgame presser, saying he had the best week of practice and should turn out to be quite the player before he’s finished with his college career. And as if to hammer that point home, they ran a perfectly timed alley oop play for the lad only moments after he checked into the game.

“Yeah, Darius told me he was gonna throw me one,” Sealy said after the game. “So it was just getting there and making it happen.”

Being able to insert another player in the lineup is huge for this team. Once KK and DJ heal, they’ll be nine deep and that is a sufficient number to successfully compete in March Madness. Cal says he has done it with only six before but prefers more players at his disposal. Most important of all, Arkansas was able to pick up a road win that will hopefully help wash away some of the bad tastes left in their mouths after the recent home loss to Kentucky and kick off a long string of dubs leading up to the Big Dance.

As usual, Acuff, Jr. led the team in scoring with 24 points, eight assists and five boards (and will most likely win the Freshman-of-the-Week in the SEC, yet again), followed by Brazile’s 19 and Meleek Thomas’s 17. But it was defense that paved the way for this blowout. The Bulldogs suffered 11 turnovers and shot a dismal 20% from the suburbs – not necessarily winning numbers by any stretch.

The Hogs travel to The Red Stick to face a down-and-out LSU team on Tuesday night in what should be a relatively easy dub at the woefully dated Pete Maravich Assembly Center, but that is not always the case in this conference, regardless of circumstances, so get your pompoms ready.

And on perhaps the brightest note – the Arkansas baseball team kicks off its season on Friday against Oklahoma St. in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown held in Arlington, Texas, and will also face former SWC foes – TCU and Texas Tech – in the event.

GoHogsGo!