Check out an audio preview of tonight’s contest by listening below with Morning News sports writers Nathan Allen and Ryan Malashock
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OK, so there’s a basketball game today in Bud Walton Arena, as Arkansas squares off Georgia in a matchup of last place teams in the SEC. But really, the main event will take place before the game and at halftime, as Arkansas’ 1994 national championship team is finally honored.
Should be a memorable day in Fayetteville, as Nolan Richardson and his assistants and players receive official recognition from the university. They’ll all sign autographs beforehand from noon to 2 p.m. and they’ll participate in a halftime ceremony.
All but two players made it back, and former assistant Mike Anderson (now Missouri’s coach) will be the only coach missing. As for the game, well, John Pelphrey’s Razorbacks have only pride left to play for; that, and they won’t want to disappoint Arkansas’ former stars.
Georgia (11-17, 2-11) at Arkansas (13-13, 1-12)
When: 3:05 p.m.
Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville
TV: KHOG (Cox channel 7, Cox HD channel 707)
Radio: 107.9-FM, 92.1-FM, 105.3-FM, 97.9-FM, 1290-AM in our readership area
Line: Arkansas by 9
Series: Arkansas leads 14-10 (Georgia has won past three meetings)
Last Meeting: Georgia beat Arkansas 66-57 on March 16 in the SEC Tournament championship game in Atlanta
About Georgia
The Bulldogs might be the worst team in the Eastern Division, and they have lost their coach, Dennis Felton, to a midseason firing. But they won’t be intimidated by Arkansas in any way. Georgia lost 11 straight games at one point this season.
But under interim coach Pete Herrmann, the Bulldogs have won two of their past four contests, upsetting Florida and Vanderbilt at home. Oh, and Georgia has beaten Arkansas three straight times, including in last season’s SEC Tournament title game.
Players To Watch
Arkansas
Stefan Welsh, 6-3, 185-pound junior guard
The Razorbacks’ junior leader has struggled recently with his scoring. He continued his shooting slump Wednesday at Alabama by missing 7 of his 8 shots, including all five of his 3-point attempts. Welsh hasn’t nailed a 3 in his past four games.
Georgia
Dustin Ware, 5-111, 182-pound freshman point guard
Ware has benefitted more than any Bulldog since the coaching chance. Herrmann likes playing with him at the point, and Ware has produced as of late. Ware has 44 points and 19 assists over his last four contests.
Gameday Links
• We have plenty of coverage on today’s celebration in the Morning News, provided by Robbie Neiswanger, Alex Abrams and myself. First off, here’s a ‘Where Are They Now?’ on all of the players, coaches, trainers and managers involved. Robbie wrote our main story on this weekend’s celebration. I looked into the famous game-winning shot by Scotty Thurman in the ‘94 title game. Alex had stories on Razorback fan Bill Clinton and Saturday morning’s basketball clinic put on by the ‘94 coaches and players. Also, Hawgs Illustrated’s Dudley Dawson was at Saturday night’s banquet.
• Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution blogged on the fact that these are the two teams that met in last year’s SEC Tournament final.
