The odds were against the Razorbacks heading into tonight's game against Georgia. Arkansas started 0-5 in conference play for the first time since Nolan Richardson's first season. Freshman phenom Boogie Fland's season ended after having surgery on his hand. The Hogs had every excuse to lose, but they didn't.
Arkansas battled back from a 12-point deficit at halftime to win 68-65 over the Bulldogs.
Without Fland, the Razorbacks' offense looked lost on offense in the first half. They shot 9-27 from the floor, including 1-11 from the three-point line, with the lone tre coming right before the buzzer from stretch center Zvonimir Ivisic. It was a bloodbath, with the Hogs going into the locker room down 38-26.
While we have no idea what was said in the Razorbacks locker room, whatever it was lit a fire underneath them like we haven't seen all season; the Hogs outscored Georgia 42-27 in the second half, powered by 23 second-chance points.
On top of that, Arkansas shot 25 from the charity stripe, making 22 baskets! As a team that's struggled at the free-throw line, it's a massive accomplishment, especially in only one half.
With 1.8 seconds left and the game tied, Arkansas's leading scorer, Adou Theiro, was fouled. Theiro has had as much trouble from the line as anyone on the team, but he came in clutch tonight, knocking down his first to take the lead. When he missed the second attempt, Thiero grabbed the rebound and immediately scored a buzzer-beater layup to go ahead by three.
It was a spark Arkansas fans have been desperate to see. It was the fight we John Calipari has been preaching in one post-loss press conference after another. And after everything that's happened, fans have a glimmer of hope that the 2024-25 season won't be a complete embarrassment.