Like it is

Richardson lulls Tigers into Hogs' type of game

WALLY HALL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

ATLANTA -- John Brady was testy after LSU lost to Arkansas.
If the unpleasantness was because he knew he played totally into Nolan Richardson's hands, he wasn't admitting it.
"We did some things wrong, and they made us do some things wrong," Brady said, summing up the game.
When asked what he called his style of basketball, as opposed to Richardson's 40 minutes of hell, Brady snapped: "I don't have coined phrases for basketball."
Richardson -- who was charming, insightful and humorous -- manipulated and toyed with Brady and the Tigers. Then when they least expected it, he slammed the door in their face.
For the first 20 minutes, Richardson let Brady control the tempo.
It was like Richardson said, you are the walk-it-up-the-court-and-pass-it-10-times-before-shooting genius, and there's no way we can compete with all that brilliance.
So the Tigers strolled to a 38-32 halftime lead.
They had no idea they had leveled the playing floor for the Hogs, who were sluggish and slow to react in the early going.
It was, after all, their third game in three days, and even young legs get tired.
For a little more than five minutes of the second half, it looked like more of the same, only the Hogs had quietly pulled to within 44-43.
Brady and the Tigers never knew what hit them.
In the next 1:50, the Razorbacks grabbed control of the game.
They dictated momentum and just about everything but who would play for LSU.
Blake Eddins hit a three-pointer with 13:59 to play.
Carl Baker made a steal, drove down for a dunk, drew a foul and completed the three-point play with 13:33 to play.
Brandon Dean converted a three-point play with 12:58 to play, then Dean nailed a three-pointer with 12:09 to play, and the Hogs led 55-44.
In that short span, LSU had five possessions, and its total shots were zero. Zip. Zilch.
Richardson had pulled the trigger, and the Tigers never heard a thing. They were hit between the eyes, and all they could do was turn over and over and over.
It was vintage Hawgball, as has been the SEC Tournament this weekend for the Razorbacks.
The last two games the Hogs have played haven't just been the best of the season, but the best back-to-back efforts in five years.
In three games here, the Hogs have forced an incredible 76 turnovers while suffering only 35.
"We've been playing 40 minutes of hell here," Richardson said. "Sometimes that has been two minutes of hell and 38 minutes of trying to figure out what the hell we are doing. That's what was happening early in the season."
The only LSU players who didn't commit a turnover were the ones who didn't play.
When the Tigers finally stopped the Hogs' run at 17-0, it was time for Phase II of the game plan.
It was Joe time.
Joe Johnson proved he not only is the best freshman in the league, but maybe the best player.
Johnson is a pro. A genius with the ball who is fearless and unstoppable on this level.
He scored the next eight points for the Razorbacks. But more than his game-high 21 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals, he took the game over because he can play any position on the floor.
However long Johnson stays on the college level, fans should appreciate it. He is the best player to ever wear the Razorbacks uniform.
In the final seven minutes, the toll of playing three games in three days began to hit the Hogs, and LSU tied it at 65.
Johnson made a free throw, missed the second, and with less than a minute to play LSU controlled its destiny.
The Hogs were leg dead, but the Tigers went brain dead.
Jabari Smith passed the length of the court to Jermaine Williams, who was stripped by T.J. Cleveland -- his seventh steal of the game -- for the Tigers' 25th and final turnover.
It led to a field goal by Dean, and it was game, set and match.
Richardson and Brady had a little war of words earlier this season, but Saturday Richardson had the last word, and it was defense. Which is, as always, the Razorbacks' best offense.
Join Wally and Ron Crawford live at 6 Central tonight, (501) 374-9255, Comcast Cable, Channel 18.

This article was published on Sunday, March 12, 2000

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