Harrison Stanfill
The most important member of the Arkansas Razorback basketball team finally showed up to play Saturday afternoon — the fans.
The Palace of Mid-America was absolutely rocking. It was like the old days again.
The crowd was in on every possession. They made a villain out of Zack Novak, booing him every time he touched the ball and even a genuine roar whenever he put up an airball.
They made a hero out of BJ Young by taking up for him after the hard foul from the aforementioned Novak. It has been a long time since I have seen a basketball game like the on Saturday.
Going into my senior year at this fine University I have sat through some, how should I put this, terrible basketball games.
I have seen Bud Walton Arena, the Palace of Mid-America, turned into a ghost town. There was a product on the court that the fans did not believe in.
Now all of this is starting to change, the crowds are getting bigger, the players are more exciting, the style of game is what the fans were longing for and the faces on the bench (and behind it) look familiar.
It smells like the 90’s again in Bud Walton Arena and the fans are starting to notice. There is a new energy around this basketball program,
I believe it all started with the Connecticut game. The young Razorbacks went on the road to UConn to take on the defending national champions and they gave them a run for their money.
Even though Arkansas would ultimately end up losing the game by 13, in the fan’s eyes it was a lot closer. A feisty Arkansas team gave UConn their best shot.
UConn could never get rid of the Hogs and the fans watching appreciated the effort. Arkansas kept coming at them and kept putting the pressure back on the Huskies to make shots and try to seal the deal.
You can’t fool the fans, especially in basketball. What the fans saw in Arkansas that night was a young team, without their best player and leader, never give up on the game they were playing.
They saw a team that wasn’t happy with just competing and a coach who was not going to accept a moral victory. The fans completely respected them.
The team has a different swagger about them this year and you can see it on the court.
Marvell Waithe is playing like he has been on this team since he was a freshman.
BJ Young thinks he can score every time he touches the ball (not since Joe Johnson has Arkansas had a freshman this ready to ball).
Mardracus Wade has stepped into the position of 3-point specialist.
Devonta Abron has not backed down one time this year to anybody.
Rickey Scott can get to the hole whenever he wants.
Michael Sanchez has crazy hair.
This is not the same team that was on the court a year ago. While most of the players are the same, the difference in philosophy has transformed this team into what the fans have been longing for years — an actual team that loves to play basketball.
With the fans back in the Bud this team will continue gain steam. It can be like the old days again, when Arkansas was one of the most feared places to play in college basketball.
Harrison Stanfill is a guest columnist for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Monday.