I'm not a sportswriter, but I am a sports fan, most especially a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Happiness and satisfaction should never hinge on how your favorite team fares in collegiate athletics because the outcome of a game is nearly meaningless compared to the important things in life. But that said, I do love it when the Razorbacks win.
If you grow up in Arkansas, you learn to follow and pull for the Razorbacks. It is a part of our state fabric. As the only statewide team we have and the only one that truly tugs at our heart, the Razorbacks serve as a common bond for Arkansas people and bring us together, no matter where we live in the state and regardless of our station in life.
Arkansas just finished a successful year in basketball, tying for third in the Southeastern Conference regular season and making it to the championship game in the SEC Tournament. Only six weeks before the valiant effort we saw by the Hogs against North Carolina in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the team had been written off by many. Few thought in early February that Arkansas would even be a part of March Madness this year. Then the team won 9 of its last 12 games against strong competition. What a difference a little time can make when players and coaches keep fighting and believing in themselves.
In the wake of the narrow loss to North Carolina, the combination of heartbreak and pride Razorback fans felt means Arkansas basketball still matters to most people in our state. The way the Razorbacks played was persuasive evidence that the basketball program is on the right track and capable of being nationally competitive and good enough to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the country. Those who weren't here to witness and enjoy the long ago glory years of Razorback basketball got a clear glimpse of how fun and exciting it can be when our team is on the national stage and in the national conversation.
Four times since 1978 Arkansas has been to the Final Four. Earlier this season, it seemed almost unfathomable that we would ever get there again. But given what we witnessed down the stretch, Coach Mike Anderson and this year's team have laid the foundation for future success, restoring hope and optimism among the fan base. Good, maybe even great, seasons are ahead. The Hogs have the potential to once again become a consistent Top 10 to 20 college basketball program and to be in the hunt for championships. It's now realistic to envision a path for Arkansas back to a Final Four.
Even in its darkest hours, this year's basketball team never gave up on the season and never quit when they were far behind in a game. They stayed together and stayed in the moment. They chose perseverance, character and guts over surrender. No team in America played harder or with more heart than they did when their backs were against the wall. Credit goes to all the players but notably to Dusty Hannahs, Manny Watkins and Moses Kingsley, the three seniors who were fierce competitors and provided strong leadership. The success they had this year and what they did for the Razorback basketball program will not be forgotten.
A major-college head basketball coach is only as good as his last game. Expectations are relentless and losses bring disappointment. Criticism of Mike Anderson was prevalent midway through this season as Razorback fans wondered out loud if our basketball program would ever return to the heights we used to take for granted back in the day. But to his credit, Coach Anderson rose to the occasion. He kept the faith, righted the ship and guided his team to a strong and compelling finish. Now he and his coaching staff have earned the opportunity to build on the momentum from this season and to reach for even greater success on the court in the years to come.
With the players who are returning along with a fine incoming freshman class, the Hogs are poised to have a very good season next year. Glancing even further ahead, the recruiting class that will arrive for the 2018-19 season is being heralded as one of the best in the country. Most of the outstanding high school players who are committed to joining the Razorback basketball team the next two or three years are from Arkansas or have a strong connection to the state. Instead of going somewhere else and being from Arkansas, they have chosen to be Arkansas by staying at home to represent our state and university.
The future for Razorback basketball looks bright. Let the good times roll. Go Hogs!
Woody Bassett is a lifelong Fayetteville resident and a local attorney. Email him at wbassett@bassettlawfirm.com.
Commentary on 03/30/2017