2008 Woodie Awards
The quest to rejoin the basketball elite begins for Razorbacks
Off the foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Sports
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I had just finished looking at the preseason Southeastern Conference basketball predictions, and I couldn't help myself.
After seeing Arkansas as the choice to win the SEC Western Division, I brought up YouTube and watched the 1994 version of "One Shining Moment" from the NCAA basketball tournament.
Why 1994?
Well that's because it was the year the Nolan Richardson-led Razorbacks won the national championship.
While watching that video, however, I noticed a very disconcerting fact.
Many of the other teams featured in the clip - Duke, Louisville, Indiana, Maryland - are all still national powerhouses. However, since winning the national title in 1994 and enjoying success under Richardson, the Arkansas basketball program has been on the decline and has fallen out of the limelight. The Razorbacks have, in recent years, struggled to rejoin the ranks of basketball's elite - a place they most certainly belong.
But rest assured - that will change this season.
Not since the mid-'90s has there been this much excitement for Razorback basketball.
And why shouldn't there be?
The Razorbacks return nine players from last season, including six seniors. In a day and age when you see so many players leave school early for the NBA Draft, that's truly a mind-boggling number of returning players.
One of the top returning seniors for the Hogs this season is center Steven Hill. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year last season and a preseason second team All-SEC pick this year, Hill anchors the Razorbacks' presence in the paint.
In addition to the six returning seniors, the Razorbacks have the reigning SEC Newcomer of the Year in sophomore guard Patrick Beverley. The Chicago native is a preseason All-SEC first team selection and is on the watch list for the Wooden Award.
Beverley became a fan-favorite with the Hog faithful last season, as he showed a propensity to hit big-time shots and seemed to always be giving 110 percent.
After seeing Arkansas as the choice to win the SEC Western Division, I brought up YouTube and watched the 1994 version of "One Shining Moment" from the NCAA basketball tournament.
Why 1994?
Well that's because it was the year the Nolan Richardson-led Razorbacks won the national championship.
While watching that video, however, I noticed a very disconcerting fact.
Many of the other teams featured in the clip - Duke, Louisville, Indiana, Maryland - are all still national powerhouses. However, since winning the national title in 1994 and enjoying success under Richardson, the Arkansas basketball program has been on the decline and has fallen out of the limelight. The Razorbacks have, in recent years, struggled to rejoin the ranks of basketball's elite - a place they most certainly belong.
But rest assured - that will change this season.
Not since the mid-'90s has there been this much excitement for Razorback basketball.
And why shouldn't there be?
The Razorbacks return nine players from last season, including six seniors. In a day and age when you see so many players leave school early for the NBA Draft, that's truly a mind-boggling number of returning players.
One of the top returning seniors for the Hogs this season is center Steven Hill. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year last season and a preseason second team All-SEC pick this year, Hill anchors the Razorbacks' presence in the paint.
In addition to the six returning seniors, the Razorbacks have the reigning SEC Newcomer of the Year in sophomore guard Patrick Beverley. The Chicago native is a preseason All-SEC first team selection and is on the watch list for the Wooden Award.
Beverley became a fan-favorite with the Hog faithful last season, as he showed a propensity to hit big-time shots and seemed to always be giving 110 percent.
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