Hogs ride storm, but another miracle washed away

WALLY HALL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

NASHVILLE -- It was the swarm storm. Again.
Down 13 with 13:15 to play, Nolan Richardson went for the suffocating heat that forces opponents into bad decisions, bad plays and blown leads.
The Hogs were on the Hurricanes like an overcharged battery.
Every Miami dribble was challenged until it looked like the Hurricanes might tilt faster than a 1957 pinball machine.
With his star Joe Johnson getting a much needed blow, Richardson called for the pressure that had destroyed Georgia, Kentucky, LSU and Auburn on successive days in the SEC Tournament.
As Darrell Royal said, if a dog is going to bite he'll do it as a puppy and the Hogs became the big dogs in the playoffs that gave them the right to be in the NCAA Tournament.
Carl Baker put a miss back and Teddy Gipson nailed a three and the Arkansas crowd, which was strong in its support, gave their warning to Miami.
Only this wasn't an SEC team, but a squad seasoned by close games and challenges.
In the first half the Hogs had forced Miami into 13 turnovers and had gotten 11 points, but at the intermission the Hurricanes did a little more than cool down and sip water.
They made adjustments.
Not to their offense, but for Arkansas' defense.
They made mistakes, but they didn't kill themselves in critical times even in the last minute when the Hogs made one last charge.
Miami eased through one heat wave to go back on top 64-51, but Richardson again went for the jugular.
A quick hit by Gipson and a three by Johnson cut it to 64-56 with 5:12 to play, but then something began to take a toll on Arkansas.
While Miami was getting tired and playing right into the Razorbacks' hands, the Hurricanes refused to give up transition baskets.
That forced the Hogs into a half-court offense.
When your defense is your offense, running plays isn't going to be a strong suit.
And when they did set up and get Johnson open, someone else would drive in and try to force a shot.
They didn't quit though.
Even when Richardson pulled Johnson with less than two minutes to play and the Hogs down 13, it looked like the towel had been thrown in. But a quick shower of threes cut it to 72-69 with :24 to play.
Dead-legged and gasping, Miami couldn't get back and the Hogs attacked openly and easily.
Down the stretch, though, Miami did what it had to do to put the game away -- make free throws.
The better team with the seasoned players won.
Yet, this group of Razorbacks players made a mark by overachieving and making it to the NCAA Tournament and gained some experience it wouldn't have received in the NIT.
Plus, they gave their faithful fans one more trip, one more time to cheer.
The Razorbacks had a slow start just as they had three times in Atlanta, but there just wasn't enough time for one more miracle.
Arkansas would have had to miss the bus to shoot worse than it did in the opening half, but it was no surprise the Razorbacks trailed only 37-27.
No matter how badly the Razorbacks shoot, their defense is still their offense and that gives them a shot, no pun intended.
Only Johnson had more than one field goal (two) as the Razorbacks missed 16 of their first 20 shots, but they made three of the last five in the first half, including a buzzer-beater by Brandon Davis.
Miami bulled to a 25-9 lead with 10:05 to play, and that's when Richardson clicked the heat switch again.
He had put the pressure on after the Hurricanes jumped out 16-4, and it was instantly obvious Miami could be in a world of hurt against the quicker, more aggressive Hogs.
While the Razorbacks were having trouble finding the range (they were 0 of 9 on threes the first half), they were uncommonly good on free throws, making 13 of 18.
More important, Richardson had cleared his bench in the first half. After Johnson with 19 minutes, Alonzo Lane logged 13 minutes as the second most playing time.
On the other side of the court, though, Miami's starting five was beginning to show signs of the wear and tear.
John Hemsley and Vernon Jennings had to play 19 minutes, and all of the starters played at least 13.
The stage was set for Hawgball, and it came close enough to scare Miami, but not enough for a fifth time in a row.

This article was published on Saturday, March 18, 2000

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