NCAA noisemakers?

BOB HOLT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Now that the Arkansas Razorbacks have made it to the Big Dance, they plan to stick around for a while.
Winning the SEC Tournament last weekend for the first time -- despite going in with a 7-9 conference record -- doesn't make the Razorbacks happy just to be in the NCAA Tournament, the players say.
"We're glad for the opportunity to win the SEC Tournament, but we're not satisfied with our season by any means," said sophomore guard Brandon Dean, the SEC Tournament MVP. "I don't think we'll have a letdown or any lack of focus. I think everybody is looking forward to going to the NCAA Tournament and winning as many games as we possibly can."
The Razorbacks (19-14) drew the 11th seed in the South Regional, where they will play Big East co-champion and sixth seed Miami (21-10) at approximately 9:10 p.m. Central on Friday in Nashville, Tenn.
"We've done taken our share of losses already," said forward Alonzo Lane, one of six freshmen who has started for Arkansas. "So, we're looking forward to doing more winning in the NCAA Tournament. We feel this is our time to shine right now."
The last time Arkansas went into the NCAA Tournament as a such a low seed and relying so heavily on young players, the Razorbacks advanced to the Sweet 16.
In 1996, Arkansas was the 12th seed in the East Regional and with a starting lineup that included four freshmen -- Pat Bradley, Derek Hood, Kareem Reid and Marlon Towns -- the Razorbacks beat fifth seed Penn State and fourth seed Marquette before losing to No. 1 seed Massachusetts.
This season's Razorbacks believe they can make an NCAA Tournament run, too.
"We're not just going there to make an appearance, we're going there to make a statement," freshman forward Carl Baker said. "We're representing the SEC as tournament champions now, and we feel like we've got the strongest conference, so we've got to go show it.
"We want to shock a lot of people, just like we did in the SEC Tournament."
Arkansas had to win four games at the SEC Tournament -- over Georgia, No. 19 Kentucky, No. 10 LSU and No. 24 Auburn -- to play its away into the NCAA Tournament after a 15-14 regular-season record.
"We've played against some of the best teams in the nation," All-SEC freshman guard Joe Johnson said. "We figure we're ready for any challenge."
Sophomore guard T.J. Cleveland said the Razorbacks are through celebrating their SEC Tournament championship and concentrating on Miami.
"The season isn't over, we've still got a ways to go," Cleveland said. "We have to do some damage in the NCAA Tournament, because we barely got in."
The Razorbacks carry a five-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament after not winning more than two consecutive games during the regular season.
"You know [the Razorbacks] are excited and they're enthusiastic now that they've got this opportunity in the NCAA Tournament," Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith said. "That makes them double dangerous at this point."
Coach Nolan Richardson has said all season he expected the Razorbacks to be good when they finally got it together, he just didn't know when that would happen.
"I wouldn't want to play us right now," Richardson said. "And I'm saying that if we're playing the way we're capable of playing."
Just as Richardson didn't go into the SEC Tournament telling the players they had to win it, that the key was to improve, he is taking the same approach to the NCAA Tournament.
"I know our kids are riding high and everybody's patting them on the back and thinking they're real good, but I don't think they're that good yet," Richardson said. "We're still going to talk about improving, and that's all.
"I've already told them, 'If you do what you've got to do, you're going to improve and go where you need to go.' "
Advancing in the NCAA Tournament doesn't figure to be easy for the Razorbacks, but after their run through the Georgia Dome, anything seems possible.
"I definitely think we're a team not to be overlooked," sophomore guard Teddy Gipson said. "If we keep playing like we did in the SEC Tournament, there's no telling how far we can go."

This article was published on Thursday, March 16, 2000

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