On Saturday, Arkansas did the thing. After months of jawing between fanbases, John Calipari brought the Hogs into his former house, in the famous Rupp Arena, filled to the brim with the members of the infamous Big Blue Nation, and beat the dog out of Kentucky. That... was fun.
Be that as it may, the season is far from over. Arkansas is still only 2-6 in conference play with 10 games left, six of which are against ranked opponents. One game doesn't prove they have what it takes to make the NCAA Tournament, let alone make a run. It's imperative that the Razorback basketball team carry this momentum into Austin on Wednesday and get their first back-to-back SEC wins. Unlike another Arkansas team this year.
Arkansas basketball must avoid repeating Arkansas football's mistake
Just a few months ago, Hogs fans were on another emotional high, except that one was during football season. In October, Arkansas held an eventual College Football Playoff team to 14 points, beating the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers. I, for one, couldn't sleep that night, as many Razorback fans couldn't. However, that elation was short-lived.
Two weeks after defeating Tennessee, Arkansas was hammered at home by No. 8 LSU. Not only did the Tigers crush Arkansas on the field, but they crushed any hope that the Hogs would turn the season around.
Although LSU football was ranked and Texas basketball isn't, some similarities can't be ignored. Like football, Arkansas basketball has left its fans wanting early in the season but just delivered a performance, demonstrating its potential. And again, like the football team, the Hogs are heading south to face a rival school. Allowing the momentum to be thwarted, as seen during the football season, would be a mistake, but it's not the only reason the game is important.
As much as Saturday's game meant to John Calipari and the former Wildcats-turned-Hogs, Wednesday's game means just as much to Arkansas fans. It's been decades since the Hogs and Horns met on the hardwood as conference rivals, and the fanbase would love to beat them in the first meeting since. And it's only amplified by the fact that former Hog Tramon Mark now plays for Texas. Not only would a loss hurt Arkansas's chances to make the NCAA Tournament, but the fan morale would be at an all-time low.
Arkansas cannot afford to let Kentucky be its Tennessee. Luckily, the Hoop Hogs won't have nearly as long to sit in the glory. Arkansas football had a bye week after beating the Vols, allowing them to soak it all in. With only a four-day turnaround, the basketball team has to change course much faster. And, as stated above, the Longhorns aren't ranked like LSU was. Hopefully, that can be the difference between a win and a loss on Wednesday.