Holy Razorballs! Razorbacks win!
Let’s start with the understatement of the decade: The Arkansas Razorbacks came to play tonight.
In a game where no one expected the Razorbacks to be competitive, Arkansas kicked Oklahoma and their national player of the year candidate Blake Griffin in their collective nads, and never trailed from the outset to beat the #4th ranked team in the country 96-88.
Arkansas took control of the game early, setting the tempo and jumping out to a 20+ point lead in the first half.
Oklahoma pulled to within 4 points in the waining minutes of the game, but Michael Washingon scored the next 7 points for the Razorbacks to help seal the victory. Mike Wash came up huge for the Razorbacks scoring 24 points, and pulling down 11 rebounds despite playing most of the second half in foul trouble, and Stefan Welsh continued his hot streak for the Razorback contributing 19 points on 3-5 shooting from 3 point range, and the team that most of the media picked last in the SEC west is 10-1, after handing the #4 team in the country their first loss of the season.
Courtney Fortson just missed his second triple-double of the season, scoring 12 points, and dishing out 10 assists, while also pulling down 8 rebounds, and did a masterful job setting up his teammates at key points in the game with good shots and easy baskets.
The Razorbacks only subbed three players all game, as starters Welsh, Washington, Fortson, Clarke, and Sanchez split time with only Marcus Britt, Brandon Moore, and former star receiver for the Razorback football team Marcus Monk.
Monk also turned in a great game, scoring 12 points, and grabbing 6 rebounds, but his main contribution was on defense where he was able to spell Washington and Sanchez, both of whom spent a lot of time in foul trouble, defending national player of the year candidate and Big 12 preseason player of the year Blake Griffin.
Even the Razorback fans brought it tonight, filling Bud Walton area with an estimated 19,400 Hog-calling freaks after mostly lackluster attendance for most of the non-conference schedule.
Announcers for the TV broadcast of the game Blake Eddins and Scott Inman believe Arkansas will have to be considered for Associated Press top 25 votes after their performance against the Sooners.
Next up is a trap game for the Razorbacks, as the Razorbacks will need to take care of business against North Texas in Little Rock, a game sandwiched between two top 25 opponents in Oklahoma, and then #9 in the country Texas on January 6th.
We’ve been trying to tell you guys. This team is special. They showed great character tonight holding off a great team, and really grabbing the momentum early and never faltering under the pressure of playing a national power that no one expected them to beat. I can’t wait to see what else this team has in store for us.
Player of the Game: Mike Wash. Dude was a beast inside after struggling against Northwestern State. He held Blake Griffin in check for most of the night, and gave the Razorbacks the lift they needed in the second half to seal the win.
Step-up Player of the Game: Almost every game this season, the Razorbacks have had a player rise to the occasion to contribute in a way they haven’t before, and tonight Marcus Monk, who joined the team just two weeks ago after trying his hand at the NFL earlier, played huge. 12 points, 6 rebounds, and some great defense against the Griffin brothers made Marcus Monk absolutely invaluable.
Comments
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jones
December 31, 2008
I wasn’t around for mid-nineties hog basketball, but according to the TV commentaters it felt like mid-nineties hog basketball in the Bud last night. Even from my couch, I could tell a major difference. It was fun to watch.
I don’t have any fingernails left this morning.
BG
December 31, 2008
The Razorbacks blew a lot of people’s minds tonight…including mine! Man was that a fun game to watch!
***GO HOGS***
Beebs
December 31, 2008
One hell of a game. I’m so proud of these guys.
rcu
December 31, 2008
The last 10 minutes of that game was so intense; i’ve never yelled at the TV so much. I actually woke up my daughters who came in the living room and watched the end of the game with me.
Sus
December 31, 2008
reminiscent of 90s-Nolan-era Razorback basketball!
sg
December 31, 2008
Well I’ll damn be! I won’t say this is unbelievable, but it’s pretty darn close to it. I thought the Hogs would give them a game, but to lead by 20+ points and squeak out with a win — that’s amazing. Fortson almost dropped his second x3×2 on them and Washington played like a man of his stature should. Wow.
Keep your heads up boys, and keep playing with a chip on your shoulder. This year isn’t even close to being over.
Total Bastard
December 31, 2008
This game gives me hope that we will return to the glory of the early to mid 90s. Those years, it didn’t matter who the opponent was, when they came to Our House, we were gonna kick their ASS!
I remember as a kid, some games you wouldn’t really even bother listening to or watching because unless it was a GREAT opponent, we were going to blow them out.
Viva La Pelphrey!!
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