Zach Turner
Ever since the hiring of coach Mike Anderson on March 23, 2011, the majority of Arkansas’ basketball buzz has revolved around what the program once was.
With Anderson on the bench as an assistant and under the tutelage of former Hog coach Nolan Richardson, the Razorbacks were at a peak in the school’s basketball history. Arkansas appeared in three Final Fours in a span of six years including winning the national championship in in 1994.
During that time the Razorbacks were 108-67 in Southeastern Conference play and played in front of crowds that averaged 16,442 fans during the stretch. Since the opening of Bud Walton Arena, Arkansas has been in the top 15 in attendance average in the nation 16 different seasons.
Attendance numbers steadily declined each of the four seasons coach John Pelphrey was guiding the Razorbacks, but since Anderson’s takeover and commitment to a team identity, the attendance numbers are slowly climbing.
Contribute this to whatever factor you choose, there are potentially many. The big name hire in Anderson who is familiar with Arkansas, the style of playing/attempting to replicate the famed “40 minutes of Hell”, economy and ticket prices possibly being more affordable?
I think the answer lies in an entertaining style of basketball being played by a talented bunch of players, that even when overmatched physically, outwork the opposing team.
Discipline is something that lacked in the Pelphrey era, but is evident by Anderson’s team. Since the regular season started, Anderson has not suspended any players on his squad or dealt publicly with off the court issues involving players.
This was a common trend for Pelphrey coached teams, especially in his final two seasons. Even suspending the faces of the team in Rotnei Clarke and Marshawn Powell, a clear sign Pelphrey didn’t have too much of a handle on the program.
With discipline has come belief. Belief in the system and practice techniques that Anderson has installed.
The undersized Razorback squad has the identity of a fearless team that presses the entire game and takes advantage of turnovers, most caused by on-ball traps.
Don’t believe me, check the stats.
Arkansas is first in the SEC in turnover margin with a mark of plus-4.82. The Razorbacks have turned their opponents over 312 times, which ranks second in the nation, only behind the No. 1 ranked Syracuse Orange.
Guys like Mardracus Wade and Julysses Nobles help serve as a backbone defensively for the younger players on the squad, such as leading scorer, freshman BJ Young, as well as leading rebounder, freshman Devonta Abron.
The inexperienced Razorbacks have an unblemished mark of 13-0 this season at Bud Walton Arena, but have failed to win away from Fayetteville, going 0-4. The home court advantage in the SEC is none more evident than the opening weekend of conference play.
With all 12 teams in action January 7, only one accomplished the feat of winning on the road, with Alabama topping Georgia 74-59. With the home teams going 5-1, two of the SEC’s ranked members went down on the road.
No. 14 Florida went down in Knoxville, Tenn., to the Volunteers 67-56 before Arkansas pulled off an upset of No. 15 Mississippi State 98-88. Correlation for the Razorbacks?
That could be attributed to attendance.
Bud Walton was host to 12,744 fans on that Saturday night, the third-highest crowd of the season. Another road loss and a week later against LSU, Arkansas managed to play in front of an season-high 14,800.
Even attendance numbers helped the struggling Razorbacks last season. Arkansas’ highest attendance number came against No. 22 Kentucky with an estimated crowd of 13,472. The outcome?
Arkansas extended the game into overtime and pulled out a 77-76 thriller over the eventual Final Four team and Pelphrey’s alma mater.
With No. 19 Michigan rolling into town for a mid-afternoon, nationally-televised matchup Saturday, attendance numbers are expected to set the season-high mark again.
Add in the football team being presented the Cotton Bowl trophy in front of the home crowd and hosting three five-star recruits on the same day, no telling what will happen.
Regardless of the outcome when the Hogs travel to Kentucky on Wednesday, coming back home to Fayetteville for the first home game against a Big Ten school since 1981, magic could be in store for the Razorbacks against the Wolverines.
Zach Turner is the assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Wednesday. Follow him on Twitter @zwturner.