Stretch run preps Hogs for NCAA

Miami obviously is good or else the Hurricanes wouldn't have shared the Big East co-championship with Syracuse and be the sixth seed in the NCAA Tournament South Regional.
But Arkansas, which plays Miami on Friday night, figures to be well prepared for the Hurricanes -- or any other team -- because of the Razorbacks' schedule of late.
Of the Razorbacks' last 10 games, nine were against nationally ranked teams, including eight against other SEC teams in the NCAA Tournament -- two against Kentucky, LSU and Auburn and one against Florida and Tennessee.
"We been playing the cream of the crop in the SEC," Arkansas freshman guard Blake Eddins said. "We're ready for anybody."

RICHARDSON READY TO HIT 500
Arkansas' game against Miami will mark the 500th game for Nolan Richardson as the Razorbacks' coach.
"I can't believe I've been here 500 games to tell you the truth," said Richardson, who is Arkansas' all-time winningest coach with a 356-143 record. "Isn't that amazing? I thought I'd be gone at the end of 50. Now it's 500 times. I'm happy I've lasted that long."

HOGS UP WITH THE CHICKENS
Arkansas held its last on-campus practice at 6 a.m. Wednesday before flying to Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday night. The Razorbacks will practice tonight in the Gaylord Entertainment Center, site of their Friday night game against Miami.
Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson said he wanted to give the players more time off between Wednesday's and Thursday's practices so they could rest.
"Hopefully then we'll show up with the same energy we had in Atlanta [at the SEC Tournament]," Richardson said.

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY
After Arkansas played five games in eight days, capped Sunday by a victory over Auburn in the SEC Tournament championship game, the Razorbacks are glad to be opening in the NCAA Tournament against Miami on Friday night rather than playing Thursday.
"Having an extra day will help us get our legs back under us and get a little more focused," freshman guard Joe Johnson said.
The Razorbacks took Monday off, then resumed practice on Tuesday.
"I think we really needed that day off after playing so many games last week," senior guard Chris Walker said. "After a day to rest up, we should be ready for the NCAA Tournament."

ANOTHER LATE NIGHT
Arkansas is getting as much late night air time as Jay Leno and David Lettermen.
At the SEC Tournament in Atlanta last week, the Razorbacks had two games -- against Georgia and Kentucky -- that didn't end until nearly 11:30 p.m. Central time.
They've got another game against Miami on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament South Regional. Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 9:10 p.m. Central, but realistically the game probably won't start until 9:30 or later.
"We played late in Atlanta for two games and did well, so playing late seems to work to our benefit," senior guard Chris Walker said. "I hope people will stay up late to watch us on Friday, too."
Freshman forward Carl Baker said he doesn't mind playing a late-night game. He said that when players have an early game, it's often tough to sleep well the night before.
"But if you've got all day to be in the hotel, you're bound to get some sleep," Baker said.

SAME 5 FOR 4
Arkansas has used 22 starting combinations in 33 games this season, but the same five players -- freshman guards Joe Johnson and Blake Eddins, senior guard Chris Walker, sophomore guard Teddy Gipson and freshman forward Alonzo Lane -- have started the last four games.

VANDY LOSS ISN'T SURPRISING
Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson wasn't surprised that Vanderbilt lost its NIT game to Wake Forest, 83-68, Tuesday night in Nashville, Tenn.
The Commodores, who ended their season at 19-11 and were 9-9 against SEC opponents, had expected to receive an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
But Vanderbilt apparently was knocked out of the 64-team field when Arkansas won the SEC Tournament to earn an automatic bid. The NCAA selection committee awarded at-large bids to five other SEC teams: Kentucky, LSU, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee.
"I really thought we'd get seven teams in and Vandy would make it, too," Richardson said. "They should have been in, but their dreams were burst, and you could see that.
"I watched [the Vanderbilt-Wake Forest game] and you could tell [the Commodores] were just going through the motions. Those guys are a senior team and they didn't care about the NIT."

This article was published on Thursday, March 16, 2000

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