Episode Transcript
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[00:00:32] Speaker A: Arkansas has a chance to do something Saturday that hasn't been done in 28 years. The Razorbacks haven't started SEC play three zero since 1997. 98. Just to give you a perspective, that was Pat Bradley, Kareem Reed, Derek Hood. It's been a while since they've done it. They beat Ole Miss the other night to improve to 2 and oh, we'll see if they can get to 30 on Saturday.
A game against Auburn, 5 o' clock tip off against the Tigers down at their arena. Anthony Christensen is going to be there for us. In fact, he's on the road right now to Auburn. Anthony, you stayed in Oxford for an extra night just to keep from coming back all this way and then going back down south again. I wonder, before we start talking about basketball, what was it like being in Oxford last night watching that playoff game And I'm sure probably not a great reaction to the finish.
[00:01:22] Speaker C: Yeah, know, it was, it was fun. You know, we all, we all went out to a couple different places and obviously people were, were excited about the game and you know, when it looks like Ole Miss was going to pull it out for a bit, you know, obviously it was, you know, people were getting loud, people were getting excited. I, I high five to random, man. Despite not having any, any rooting interests, which was fun.
But no, it was, it was fun, you know, and obviously ended very silently.
So a lot of people filed out pretty quickly when the game ended. But, but no, it was, it was a fun, fun experience. You could definitely, you know, I went on a couple morning jogs. You could see all of the, the Trinidad and Tobago flags all around the town, which was kind of cool. And you all, all of that. But, but yeah, fun experience for sure.
[00:02:13] Speaker A: All right, well, we'll move on to basketball. We moved on to basketball a long time here or a long time ago here in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Auburn. This is a five o' clock tip off on espn. Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw will have the call. When you look at Arkansas, let's focus on Arkansas first. I thought against Ole Miss the other night, they did just enough.
Wasn't the cleanest operation, but it wasn't a bad one either. It never felt like at any point in that game that Ole Miss was ever threatening really to win it. There was a moment where they got a steal and they missed a transition three that could have brought him within one.
That maybe you think at that point, if this goes, then you're sweating it a little bit. But, you know, I thought Arkansas felt very in control in that game.
You know, a game that I thought could have been a little bit of a trap because again, Ole Miss is in the playoff, the students aren't on campus. It's just kind of a weird dynamic there. And I know you. You. You felt that yourself. Anthony, what'd you think about how Arkansas did in that game? And are there any lessons you think they can take from. From winning a road game like that into playing another one this weekend?
[00:03:25] Speaker C: Yeah. So, I mean, obviously, like you mentioned, they avoided the trap game, right? I mean, that Ole Miss team is.
Yeah, I think we mentioned it pre game going into. Going into, you know, when we were first about to leave for Oxford was, you know, it's an Ole Miss team that hasn't really met its. Its own preseason expectations and doesn't look like it did last year. But, you know, there's still quality players on that team. You look at, you know, Malik, Dia Eduardo, Eduardo Klaffsky, guys like that, you know, guys who can hurt you. But I think, you know, they took care of business. And I agree. I never really felt like it was a game that Arkansas was ever in any real danger of losing. You know, I say that as a, you know, I'm, you know, sitting up there as a neutral reporter, and I'm not invested in the game from an emotional standpoint. I'm not a coach or a player. So I'm sure maybe it. Maybe it was different from their vantage point from. But for mine, I never really felt like Arkansas was any in any danger to lose that game. Maybe if that. That three goes or, you know, they take the easy points and go for a layup instead. You know, maybe it. Maybe it is a little bit different. But, you know, I think looking back at that game from the perspective of having, you know, everything from last season, you know, Arkansas a lot of times had big leads that dwindled away, and then Arkansas ended up trailing or losing those games in some cases.
And obviously that didn't happen. You know, the other night against Ole Miss. So I think that was, that was obviously something that is going to be key going down the stretch. I mean you're obvious teams are going to go on runs and your teams are going to, you know, come back and win games. So to be, to be able to sustain that and, you know, maintain a lead even when a team is, you know, playing as well as Ole Miss was during that stretch, I think it, I think Ole Miss had a, I think it was 8 of 10 shots to get back into the game. So to sustain that, to, you know, win a game when a team is, you know, playing as well as it was at that point in time, you know, I think that's, I think that's big for sure.
[00:05:34] Speaker A: Similar arena at Auburn. Going to be a different crowd. I'm sure it's, that's kind of, they've, they've developed a reputation there for being one of the rowdiest, most intimidating arenas and you know that they're going to be kind of out for blood tomorrow. And I'm not talking about just the fans, the players, everybody. Anytime, anytime Calipari comes to town, number one, that's always going to, you know, that's going to draw a crowd. But then what happened to them earlier this week on, I think it was, was it Tuesday night when Texas A and M looked like Auburn had beaten Texas A and m on that 35 foot shot. And then the call gets overturned on the replay review.
People are upset.
This is, I'm very interested to see how Auburn's going to bounce back on Saturday because you could see it going one of two ways. You could see it, you know, using that as motivation and Arkansas's ranking and coming out and really trying to say, hey, you know, we, we are a better team than the record shows right now. But you could also see that, you know, maybe going the other way too.
[00:06:38] Speaker C: Yeah, for sure. And it's, it was a, it was a weird, weird ending. Just kind of watching it unfold on tv. You know, I know they have more, you know, angles, the officials that they get to look at. So, you know, I'm sure, you know, there are things that we just didn't get to see from, from just the general public, I guess, vantage point that they do get to see. So. But yeah, I mean everybody obviously was really upset after that. And you know, Auburn's a team that's coming in that really kind of needs results. Right. I mean they dropped three of four. They're owing to an SEC play and you know, those two games were two games they really could have or even maybe should have won.
You know, it took Georgia to overtime when it looked like, I believe Georgia was up four points with 10 seconds to go or something like that. And you know, Auburn fought back and found a way to get that team to overtime, but just didn't get over the hump. And then obviously what happened against Texas A and M happened.
So, yeah, it's a team that's kind of desperate for, for a good result.
You know, it's a team that has a lot of quality, right? I mean, that Auburn team, you know, they've got a lot of good players on that team. Keisha Hall, Todd Pettiford, you know, I'm a big fan of, you know, Elijah Freeman and everybody on that roster. It's just a matter of putting everything together.
And, you know, that's part of, I guess, the danger of playing the schedule Auburn did. I think Auburn played. I think it's four of the top 11 teams rated by Ken Palm right now. And you know, a lot of those games won, weren't particularly close.
You know, they lost to Houston by one, but then a lot of those other games were, you know, 28, 29 points against, you know, Michigan and Arizona and those teams in the world. So it's, it's a big spot for Auburn, I think, I think it's a game that you don't want to say it's a must win this early in the season. I think covering Arkansas, we saw the teams can, can bounce back like Arkansas did last year, but there's not as many big time opportunities this season as there were last season. So it is, it is a very big spot for, for Auburn. Excuse me.
[00:08:39] Speaker A: For sure, yeah, the one point loss to Houston was, it was technically a neutral site game, but it was in Birmingham. And then since then they lost by 30 to Michigan in Las Vegas, lost by 29 at Arizona and lost by 28 to Purdue at a neutral site in Indianapolis, which is basically a Purdue home game.
What do you make of this team? Because you look at their SEC results, like we said, you know, they could have beaten Texas A and M the other night, but they didn't. You look at the rosters and you would think that Auburn probably should beat Texas A and M, especially with that being on their home floor.
The weekend before they lost to Georgia, an overtime game where it felt like, and correct me if you think I'm wrong, but it felt like Georgia probably should have won that game in regulation and the right team won in overtime based on how the game you had Played out for probably about 38 minutes.
[00:09:30] Speaker C: Yeah, I would, I would agree with that for sure. And this Auburn roster, I kind of feel like it's still figuring things out. I mean, that's a, that's a team that lost all of its starting five from last season. I mean, that's a team that last season was very old, very experienced, I believe, and I apologize if this isn't correct. But I want to say I saw a graphic at some point that, that said that Auburn's average age was, was older than some NBA starting fives, which is kind of crazy to think about from last season. And then you come into this season, you've got, you know, a lot of new faces to hard Pettifords kind of the face of the team entering the season. And he hasn't, while his numbers have been, you know, all right, they haven't been what people I think were expecting for a guy who would have gotten drafted had he stayed in the draft. And then you have, you know, a lot of good players on the team and I think they're just kind of start trying to, still trying to, I guess, figure it out. I mean, Keyshawn hall has been excellent. I mentioned Elijah Freeman coming up from the Division 2 ranks at Lincoln Memorial. And you got a guy like Kevin Overton who, you know, pretty much all he's done in his college career has, has been winning, you know, at Texas Tech and Drake before.
So there's a lot of quality on the roster and I just kind of think they're still trying to figure it out. And you know, we've seen them play well at times, but the wins against St. John's wins against NC State, you know, are good wins, but maybe not as quality as they would have been had it just looking at where those teams were projected coming into the season. So it's, it's a tough spot. And I do, I like a lot of the roster, you know, the players on the roster, I just kind of think they're still trying to, I guess, figure it all out, if that makes sense.
[00:11:23] Speaker A: Feels like this team, they use a lot of the results from last year as fuel, as motivation for him. We saw against Texas Tech, we heard it against Tennessee, the rebounding, I said it the other day, I wouldn't even be surprised if maybe the losses to Ole Miss last year was used a little bit as a motivation for the returning players. And you know, it's about half of the players that are playing right now.
Auburn, Arkansas nearly beat him last year when the Tigers were number one. Arkansas had a late lead and then Auburn ended up getting off the hook at the end. You were there. What do you remember about that game and how if, let's say that, you know, these losses last year are being used as motivational tools, which I don't know if they are or not, but let's say they are.
Like, how far can that go for a team?
[00:12:06] Speaker C: I mean, it can go far, right? I think we've already seen that. I mean, the Texas Tech win was obviously a big deal for, you know, all the returners on the roster and even the, even the new guys, particularly the freshmen, talking about how they, they wanted that game for those, for those returning guys. So I think that's, that's a big, a big thing for a lot of, a lot of the players. Right? I mean, that Tennessee game, like we mentioned, you know, they, they got just flat dominated last season and they used that and I guess kind of studied the rebounding and, and you know, not just matched Tennessee's physicality, but bettered it, I thought, in that game.
So I do think there's a lot there, you know, maybe for, for this game. I'm not sure what the motivational tactic would be because, you know, last year's Ivanamiravisic was oh of 10 from the field in that game. And obviously he's at Illinois now and you know, Chad Baker Mazara is not on Auburn's lineup either. And you know, obviously he, he's a, he's a guy who I, I guess was trying to think of the right way to put it. Not.
Doesn't seem like he's the most well liked person with regard to Arkansas men's basketball, I'll put it that way. Yeah, but he's, he's gone, he's, he's at USC now. You know, he's having a good season there. And so I'm not sure what motivation tactics there are other than, you know, you've got another, you know, big SEC road game at and what this, this will be a great environment. That's one of the best, one of the best home floors in, in the sec. I, I thoroughly enjoyed going to Neville arena last year and you know, I know I, I try not to get too into environments and stuff because that's not why I'm.
Yeah. From last year's perspective, you know, I, I remember that being a game that maybe.
And at that point of the year it was Arkansas was still kind of on the bubble and.
[00:14:19] Speaker A: I think we're losing. Anthony.
[00:14:22] Speaker C: Oh, can you hear me?
[00:14:25] Speaker A: Yeah, I can hear you. Go ahead.
[00:14:26] Speaker C: Oh, okay.
But yeah, if they had won that game last year, I think that would have taken them firmly off the bubble. But since they lost, it was still kind of in question. So, yeah, last year it was a. It was a fun, A fun game to go to. Fun environment. I really like Auburn as a town, but yeah, a lot, a lot to look back on, I guess.
[00:14:46] Speaker A: Tell everybody about Bentonville Glass here while we get Anthony. Hopefully we can get his phone signal working a little bit better. They've been serving their community since 1971. They're committed, professional and versatile. If you're looking for a quality leader or looking for skilled craftsmanship, you can come by Bentonville Glass, 507 South Main in Bentonville or bentonvilleglass.com. you know, Auburn was one of the big stories in the off season. The weird timing of Bruce Pearl taking or retiring as their basketball coach, handing it over to Stephen Pearl.
I think all this went down in like September, certainly after football season began. The timing of it felt very odd in the moment. And I think you always worry, Anthony, when you're making a coaching change like that and then you're doing it at such an odd time and you know, it being the dad and the son taking over for the dad. And there haven't been a whole lot of instances where that's really worked out.
You open yourself up to a lot of skepticism, a lot of criticism, and especially if it doesn't work.
How much do you think what's happening with Auburn this year being 9 and 6012 in the SEC?
Certainly not, you know, living up to the preseason expectations.
How much of that is the coaching search or do you think there's something else going on there or not the coaching search but the coaching's change, or do you think there's something else going on there?
[00:16:08] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's. I think it's certainly an aspect of. Of all of that. Right. Like, I mean, you're asking Stephen Pearl, who's always kind of been, I think the presumes coach in waiting for whenever, you know, Bruce did end up retiring and you know, it was weird timing.
I'm not sure how much of that was. Was planned or anything along those lines. And you know, if Bruce felt like his time was up, you know, I'm not going to be the one to judge him for making a decision that, you know, if he felt he wasn't the manager to lead the roster, then if he felt he made the right decision, then, you know, that's. That's for him to decide. But, you know, it's, it's a tough spot to ask, you know, a first year guy to come into. Obviously things that were built up as, you know, over Bruce Pearl's entire tenure, but especially after last year, you know, being the number one overall seed and reaching the Final Four and you know, potentially winning a national title last year and you step into that as your, as their first year as a head coach with a pretty much entirely new roster and you have, you know, the schedule that they have with, you know, just so many of the top teams in the country on there. So it's, it's a tough, it's a tough place to, to walk into, you know, a tough situation to walk into as your first time as a head coach. So I think there's certainly something in that.
But. But yeah, I think, I think there's something with, yeah, all of that and the roster being, you know, new like we mentioned. I still feel like they're kind of figuring some things out. And you know, and that's not to mention just the knowing that, you know, while the SEC isn't what it was last year, it's still, you know, among the best leagues in the country.
So I think, I certainly think that maybe there is some, some aspects of, you know, the timing of the retirement, it being Stephen Pearl's first year in charge and, and all of that. You know, I'm not sure exactly how much of, maybe some of the struggles come down to that, but I, I do certainly think that it, that it is some of that and you know, they've looked good at different points, but yeah, I, yeah, I still feel like they're, they're putting things together. Like we mentioned earlier, I haven't seen.
[00:18:24] Speaker A: A betting line yet for this game. We're recording this a little more than 24 hours before the game is played. And a lot of times the betting lines, you don't see them until about that 24 hour window. You think Arkansas to be favored to win?
[00:18:36] Speaker C: I feel as though it'll be a, I feel like Auburn is going to be a slight favorite just based on, you know, the Ken Palm line or projection, I guess I should say. I think the, the ESPN analytics has it as an Auburn, as Auburn being favored.
You know, and obviously there's a lot of things that go into that, the home court being one of them. But I guess just on paper with how you look at how the, the respective seasons have gone, I think, you know, just from I, I think the neutral point of view, I think Most people would think Arkansas would be the favorite, so.
Yeah, I, I can see, I can see it both ways. I guess it's the easy way to put that.
[00:19:21] Speaker A: There's three games in the SEC tomorrow where a ranked team goes on the road to play an unranked team and a couple of them you kind of have to do a double take to, you know, like Tennessee goes to Florida, Florida's not ranked, but Florida got that big win over Georgia the other night.
Arkansas goes to Auburn and then Georgia goes to South Carolina.
Not a Great week for SEC basketball games. You know the other matchups, LSU's at Vanderbilt, Oklahoma at Texas A and M, Missouri who's two and oh, they go to Ole Miss. Ole Miss looking for its first SEC win.
Texas goes to Alabama and Mississippi State is at Kentucky. What game jumps out to you? Maybe other than Arkansas?
[00:20:00] Speaker C: Auburn I think, you know, I think the Florida game is an interesting one. You said Florida, Tennessee, right?
[00:20:10] Speaker A: Yeah, Tennessee's at Florida. It's going to be an early Tennessee tip off. Noon local time there in Gainesville.
[00:20:16] Speaker C: Yeah, that's, that's a really interesting one because in Florida got, you know, a really nice win against Georgia, which Georgia I'm still kind of wishy washy on. Obviously I think they're, what is it, 13 and two now and you know, have one of the best offenses in the country but you know, the non conference schedule wasn't very good. And you know, I think coming into SEC play Georgia's best win was, was Cincinnati on paper, if I'm not mistaken, which. That Cincinnati team stinks.
Oh, you know, Georgia's, Georgia's kind of an interesting one to look at. I mean a good team. I'm just not sure where. I think exactly where, where exactly. I think Georgia falls in the SEC pecking order. But that Georgia, or excuse me, Florida Tennessee game I think is going to be really interesting because obviously Florida got the win over Georgia and played really well in the second half. I'm not sure how much of that comes down to, you know, Santo surreal ejection. I'm sure some of it obviously does because he's a very good player. But you know, Florida got the job done and looked good in the second half and but the first half, you know, the backcourt did not score. I think they were of seven from the field combined.
So again, all the Florida question marks come in the backcourt, not the front court because I mean Tommy Hauk has been phenomenal. Got Ruben Jimielu and you know, Alex Condon, Micah Hangblock and You have all that quality in the front court. You need the back court start, you know, playing as well as you know or you think that is capable of. Because, you know, we've seen Boogie Fland and Xavian Lee play well in the past. Be that at different times for Florida, not at the same time, I don't think yet. And you know, at Arkansas and Princeton, respectively. So, you know, Florida's in an interesting spot with that game. And then Tennessee after losing to Arkansas, you know, really put it on Texas, which Texas is not good this year, at least not yet.
But, you know, we know that Tennessee team is good. You know, Nate Amen didn't have a great game against Arkansas, but he's still a quality player. And you have, you know, a lot of, a lot of quality players on that team. Jacoby GILLESP, you know, JP Estrella, all those guys.
So I think that's the one that jumps out the most to me is as two teams with a lot at stake, especially on the Florida side of things. Florida really needs, I think, you know, a quality win to go along with that, that Georgia win. So that's the one that I've got my eyes on with. With the exception of obviously the Arkansas Auburn game.
[00:22:42] Speaker A: Anthony, good stuff. Arkansas plays Auburn at 5 o' clock Saturday. 5 o' clock Central Tip Time for the Razorbanks and the Tigers. You can watch it again on ESPN. We're gonna have plenty of coverage on our website, wholehogsports.com hope you come to our website this weekend too and read our baseball coverage. Baseball preseason practice begins Monday at Baum Walker Stadium. We talked to Dave Van Horn about his team this morning. We'll have a lot of baseball coverage on our website this weekend too. Hope to see you there. Have a great weekend, everybody.
