Arkansas survives their first game against Seton Hall but now they move on to an all too familiar foe. North Carolina.
Arkansas Razorbacks basketball fans have seen this situation too many times. The Hogs have a historic season, get into the NCAA Tournament and win their first game only to be face to face with North Carolina.
This game marks the second time in three years that Arkansas will face the Tar Heels in the Round of 32. In 2015, the Razorbacks were playing for their 28th win but would get knocked out by UNC 87-78.
Before the 2015 tournament, it was the 2008 dance and yet again the Hogs and Heels met in the second round only to end in the Razorbacks heading home. 1993 would be even worse for Arkansas fans and newly elected Hog super-fan president Bill Clinton. Arkansas would make it all the way to the Sweet 16 only to be sent packing by UNC.
Razorback Revenge
Two years later, however, Arkansas would get payback for that 1993 loss. Arkansas came into the1995 tournament as the defending champs and Nolan Richardson was thirsty for a repeat. The Hogs made it to the Final Four and could already feel the scissors in their hand as they cut down the nets for the second year in a row.
However, before they could cut the nylon, they had to face that familiar foe who, just two years earlier, had ruined their tournament run. Nolan Richardson and his Razorback team were thirsty for some sweet revenge. The Hogs opened the gates of Nolan’s 40 minutes of hell, defeated the Tar Heels 75-68 and moved on to the championship game.
The Razorbacks would end up going home as the runner-up rather than with the repeat but it was only through payback against the Heels that they made it that far. The Hogs and the Heels is one of those special storylines in the NCAA Tournament history, and tomorrow the story continues.
Welcome To The Jungle
The Razorbacks in the tournament are much like Mowgli in the jungle and lurking within the forest is Shere Kahn that has one thing on his mind. Eat Mowgli.
Arkansas Razorbacks Basketball
North Carolina has become that ruthless hunter to Arkansas. Over and over, they have killed the Razorback’s tournament dreams and they are poised to do so yet again.
Mowgli overcame Shere Kahn by using the one thing that Kahn couldn’t fight with his superior power and strength. Fire. The young man cub overcomes the far more lethal opponent with man’s red flower.
Unlike Nolan, who told his players “if you see me fighting a bear you better help that damn bear”, Mike always said, “You better help me”. Anderson didn’t have that same fight and anger that Nolan did and many fans didn’t like him for it.
After some drama from the SEC Tournament, the head coach went on the Finebaum show and defended his players from attacks by Dick Vitale and other media members. For many fans watching, they saw the fight, something they hadn’t seen in years.
When I tweeted the video of his appearance on the show, the most consistent response by fans was, “you better help that damn bear.” This moment could be the defining moment for Mike Anderson’s career at Arkansas. It very well might be that moment that he sparked the fire the Razorbacks so desperately need.
Thou Art Of The Jungle
Arkansas may have struggled to even make the tournament in recent years but let’s not forget, this is where we belong. The Razorbacks were a tournament staple years ago and look to be on track to returning to that success now.
The Hogs and Heels. A storied dynamic throughout history in the NCAA Tournament and one that we should be ready to renew. The last time Arkansas went to the tournament and lost to UNC, quite frankly didn’t surprise anyone. The Razorbacks were out skilled and lacked the fight to find a victory.
This time, however, the Arkansas Razorbacks return to the jungle from which they once thrived with the fire not seen since the days of Nolan Richardson. It may not yet be burning as brightly but it’s games like tomorrow vs UNC that feed the flames.
Win Or Lose Arkansas Is On The Rise
Arkansas goes into this game as an underdog, which shouldn’t shock anyone. UNC is a great team with more talent than the Hogs have but don’t underestimate Arkansas to give them all they can handle.
In order for them to have a shot, however, the Razorbacks have got to step up their rebounding effort. Arkansas is 330th in the country at defensive rebounding while the Tar Heels rank 1st at offensive rebounding.
It’s a bad matchup for Arkansas in that way but if they can find a way to minimize the Heel’s second chance points, they could have a shot. Either way, I expect this to be a fun game to watch. Both teams like it fast paced and are exciting to watch.
The history and storyline of this game is one of a rising Arkansas team facing it’s long time villain once again. Arkansas may not be back to where they were when these two teams had those memorable battles of the past but tomorrow is more about a beginning rather than an end.
Razorback basketball does appear to be on the rise, whether some fans want to admit it or not. The return of this matchup is a symbolic reminder of what once was and what is to come. Anderson has finally rekindled that Razorback spirit of old and who better to face than our nemesis of old, North Carolina.
The continuation of this tournament rivalry starts at 6:10 p.m. on Sunday at Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. It will be televised on TNT and can be streamed online via the March Madness Live feature at NCAA.com. Woo pig!