By Nate Allen
FAYETTEVILLE - For the first time in their since 1993-94 Walton Arena history, the Arkansas Razorbacks host the nation’s No. 1 team when the Auburn Tigers visit tonight.
The Razorbacks still played at Barnhill Arena when Jerry Tarkanian’s Larry Johnson’s led No. 1 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels beat them there in 1991. It was 1984 in Pine Bluff when Arkansas beat Dean Smith’s No. 1 Michael Jordan led North Carolina Tar Heels.
So the UA campus has basketball buzzed since the Razorbacks Saturday night at Walton defeated Mississippi State leading into tonight’s 6 p.m. SEC clash at Walton vs. Auburn that Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman urges Razorbacks fans attend wearing white.
"Remember, White-Out,” Musselman said Monday afternoon. “It's really cool looking across at Bud Walton. We've got some tents up already. Some students out there camping out. That's cool to see.’
Musselman’s unranked but hot Hogs, 18-5, 7-3 in the SEC after an 0-3 SEC start, have won eight straight.
Coach Bruce Pearl’s torrid Tigers, leading the nation at 22-1 and the SEC at 10-0, have won 19 consecutively since their lone loss, 115-112 in overtime to UConn Nov 24 at the Paradise Island Tournament in the Bahamas.
Pearl’s obviously have waxed hotter longer than the Hogs but did last Saturday in Athens, Ga. needed a final seconds basket from SEC Player of the Week Wendell Green to edge, 74-72 those same SEC last-place Georgia Bulldogs that the Razorbacks rolled, 99-73 last Wednesday in Athens.
At his press conference Monday in Auburn, Ala. Pearl remarked that “This is a team that beat Georgia by 26 that we beat by two. And then Bud Walton will be on fire.”
Last season sweeping Auburn home and home, the Razorbacks needed their Walton Arena fans emotionally on fire rallying the Razorbacks from a 19-point second-half deficit for a 75-73 victory that rescued the Razorbacks from losing three of their last four and “defined” their resurgence to become a 25-7 NCAA Elite Eight team.
Arkansas’ JD Notae only scored two points in that game which Pearl knows he can’t count upon again. And the 6-2 guard now starts in a big lineup of versatile 6-6 guard/forwards Au’Diese Toney, Stanley Umude and Trey Wade and 6-10 center Jaylin Williams.
“They’ve got the leading scorer in (JD) Notae,” Pearl said. “They’re probably as big and athletic as any team in our league and playing as good defense as anybody in the league really holding people.”
Musselman takes no risk sprouting a Pinocchio nose touting Auburn’s assets. They start up front with 6-10 power forward Jabari Smith a national player of the year candidate and projected NBA lottery pick with 7-1 center and SEC leading shot-blocker Walker Kessler and 6-11 Dylan Caldwell, the SEC’s third-leading shot-blocker.
“They’re going to do a great job against us blocking shots and rim protection, because that’s who they are,” Musselman said.
Luring Auburn’s shot-blockers into foul trouble seems a key except that the Tigers sport the nation’s deepest team.
Musselman doesn’t fret Auburn’s depth causing the Razorbacks fatigue as he does it allowing Pearl plenty of situational subbing and fouls to give.
Auburn’s backcourt has more than backed up its forecourt.
“It’s not a surprise what they’ve done,” Musselman said.
Musselman said Pearl has “fearless” point guards in Zep Jasper and Green and one of the SEC’s premier defensive guards in former Little Rock Parkview star Allen Flanigan and another athletic guard in via University of Georgia transfer K.D. Johnson.
It was surprising that Auburn almost got upset by Georgia but that doesn’t affect Arkansas in any direction, Notae said.
“That ain't something that we think about,' Notae said Monday. “It's college basketball, every game's gonna be hard to win.”