FAYETTEVILLE — When word came out that Arkansas would honor its 1994 National Championship team on March 2 at Bud Walton Arena, it seemed like it would be happening at a great time.
While the Razorbacks have a lot of youth this season, one would have thought that the program would be at a place late in the 2018-19 season where it would be playing its best basketball, could take out old rival Ole Miss and have a chance to make it a spectacular afternoon at the so-called Basketball Palace of Mid-America.
Instead, Arkansas (14-13, 5-9 SEC) will likely come into the game with a .500 record and riding a six-game losing streak as it must go to Kentucky on Tuesday to face a top-five team playing its best basketball of the season.
The Razorbacks suffered their sixth home loss this season - the most for an Arkansas team under eighth-year coach Mike Anderson - when they fell 87-80 to a below-average Texas A&M squad that came into Bud Walton Arena with an 11-14 mark, but that leaves as winners in four of its past five games.
It was the Razorbacks’ 12th loss in its last 20 games since starting the season 6-1, and certainly did not bring any joy to a frustrated fan base that longs to go back to the days of old.
This season’s team, while not lacking talent and skill, isn’t anywhere near the level of the one that won the school’s only basketball national title 25 years ago.
It does not have the experience, the toughness and, honestly, just not enough "dudes" as that glorious team had back in the day.
Corliss Williamson, Scotty Thurman, Corey Beck, Dwight Stewart, Clint McDaniel, Roger Crawford and the rest were poetry in motion on a basketball court, but sometimes beat their foes before the game by just showing up and looking tough.
Arkansas downed Duke 76-72 on April 4, 1994, in a game that truly announced the Razorbacks as an elite program and that many thought would be a power for years to come under legendary, Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson.
The Razorbacks did return to the national title game the next season, and while they made it back to the Sweet 16 in 1996, they have since failed to reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in the past 23 years.
Since Richardson was let go following the 2002 season, the Razorback brass have trotted out Stan Heath, Dana Altman (who gave the job back after having it for just 26 hours), John Pelphrey and Anderson in a quest to get back to its glory days.
It has not worked, although many thought hiring Anderson, who was Richardson’s right-hand man during those banner years, was Arkansas’ best shot at returning to those days.
I am sure that Razorbacks fans will turn out Saturday in the best numbers they have this season to honor their gladiators of the past. Who knows, maybe some of that greatness will rub off on the current bunch for a day.
It will at least be a day to celebrate those heroes of old.