GREENVILLE, S.C. — This time last year, Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford were playing before crowds of hundreds in junior college gymnasiums.
Come tip-off for Friday’s 12:30 p.m. NCAA Tournament game between Arkansas (25-9) and Seton Hall (21-11), they will be playing in March Madness before millions of fans on TNT.
The Razorbacks went through their final workouts Thursday in preparation for that game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how great this feels,” said Macon, who was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team. “I have been working all my life to put on an Arkansas jersey and play in the NCAA Tournament and now my dream is coming true.”
Barford, who led the nation in scoring at Motlow (Tenn.) College with 26.1 points per game last season, echoed the same sentiment.
“You watch it all the time on TV and your dream of the day when you are going to be the one playing in it, making plays and helping your team win,” Barford said. “This is what it is all about.”
Macon (13.4 points per game) and Barford (12.6) have joined with senior Dusty Hannahs (14.6) to form an imposing offensive backcourt at Arkansas.
The trio has combed to make 458 field goals, knock down 160 3-pointers and 307 free throws.
“What these guys have added to our team, you just can’t say enough,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. “Dusty has some help outside this season, and now Jaylen and Daryl are playing defense the way you have to on this level, which is harder than it is in junior college.
“All three of them can shoot the ball from outside, but have done a great job of getting in the lane and finishing as well and that really helps our team.”
None of the three have ever played in an NCAA Tournament game.
“This is what you work for, for it to be you and your team in the tournament and not just home watching it,” Barford said. “It’s really exciting and I can’t wait to get things started.”
Hannahs was on the bench two years ago when the Razorbacks beat Wofford and lost to North Carolina at the NCAA Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla. He was redshirting that season after transferring from Texas Tech.
Hannahs knows how important it was to add Macon and Barford to the roster this season. Those two trips to the Big Dance were sandwiched around a 16-16 season that left lots of pressure on Anderson and the Razorbacks.
“It’s just real big,” Hannahs said. “I feel like there was a lot of pressure on the team this year and we had a lot of adversity, but we pulled together and we were able to do this, not only for ourselves but for our state, was big.”
Macon, who starred for Holmes (Miss.) Community College after prepping at Little Rock Parkview, said the adversity and success Arkansas has gone through has the team ready for the postseason.
“I think we have about seen everything that you can this season in terms of style and players and for the most part we have been successful in winning 25 games,” Macon said. “I believe we are fully ready for this next challenge.”