Hogs Basketball Made 1st Half an Aggie Joke – Final 81-75

Basketball, Featured, Razorbacks | February 25, 2015 by Sporting Life Arkansas | 1 Comment

Nolan Richardson was honored with a banner, not a court, but for the first half of the game against the Aggies 40 minutes of Hell was back and Bud Walton Arena echoed the sounds of 1994. Even Texas A&M’s coach Billy Kennedy called it “the best atmosphere I’ve played in this league to date.”

Better than Rupp?

“The first 10 minutes of the game…” Kennedy called the most intense he’s experienced as a coach in the SEC.

Here are complete postgame interviews with both coaches:

Coach Mike Anderson Postgame Sound
“What a game. Tonight was an NCAA Tournament atmosphere. Our students were early and loud, our fans gave us energy and we came out like it was a big time game. Give a ton of credit to Texas A&M. That’s a very good basketball team and they showed that in the second half by not going away.”

Worthy Of A Hog Call (#WPS)
In the final game of its three-game banner series, Arkansas honored Naismith Hall Of Fame coach Nolan Richardson at halftime by hanging a banner in the rafters of Bud Walton Arena. In the program’s very first season in Bud Walton Arena, Richardson led the Razorbacks to the National Championship in 1994 and returned to the title game a year later in 1995. Over his 17 seasons as head coach, Richardson led Arkansas to 12 NCAA Tournaments, including a trio of Final Fours.

Quick Hits
• Arkansas is in sole possession of second place in the SEC at 12-3.
• The seven-game SEC win streak is the program’s longest since 1993-94.
• Arkansas has won 10 of its last 11 games.
• Arkansas’ 12 SEC wins are its most since 1994-95.
• Won 11 straight games in the month of February.
• Won 47 of its last 50 games at Bud Walton Arena and is 67-7 under Coach Anderson.
• Extended with streak to 28 games when leading at the half.
• Improved to 19-0 when forcing 15+ turnovers, including eight of 20 or more.
• Just six opponents have had a positive assist/turnover ratio against Arkansas.
• Entering the game sixth nationally in assists, Arkansas dished out 20+ helpers for the 10th time.
• Arkansas owns an 18-4 record over its last 22 SEC games.
• First time in program history Arkansas has had 12 steals and 12 blocks in an SEC game (via @HogStats).
• Arkansas blocked double figure shots for the second straight game with a season-high 12 blocks.
• Sixth time (6-0) this season Arkansas has made double figures three-pointers.
• Bobby Portis has reached double figures 23 straight games.
• Portis has scored 20 points a team-best 10 times compared to once all of last year.
• Six of Portis’ 10 20-point games have come in SEC action.
• Arkansas improved to 19-3 when Anthlon Bell reaches double figures.

Up Next
Riding its first seven-game SEC win streak since 1994, the Hogs (23-5) will take on No. 1 Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. The Razorbacks swept the season series from the Wildcats last season and own a three-game win streak in the series. Tip is slated for 3 p.m. CT on CBS Sports with Kevin Harlan and Bill Raftery on the call.