There is still a lot of basketball to play, but February's frenzy always leads to March Madness so talk has started to turn to the NCAA Tournament and who will make the field of 68.
It has been a long time since Arkansas' chances of being in the Big Dance appeared to be as solid as they are this season.
Some prognosticators even have the Razorbacks penciled in as a No. 5 seed with a shot at a No. 4, depending on what happens the rest of the way.
The last time the Hogs were mentioned that high was the 1999 tournament when the starting lineup consisted of Pat Bradley, Kareem Reid, Chris Walker, Derek Hood and Chris Jefferies. Of course, Nolan Richardson was the head coach.
The Hogs beat Siena and then were upset by Iowa.
The next season, they were a No. 11 seed and lost their first game to Miami (Fla.). The next season they went to Boise, Idaho, as a No. 7 seed and lost the opening game to Georgetown.
After that, it was a No. 8 seed in 2006, a No. 12 seed in 2007 and a No. 9 seed in 2008. They haven't been back since.
After a seven-year drought and talk of a No. 5 seed, these are becoming heady times for the Razorbacks Nation.
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Oaklawn Park had hoped to reschedule Monday's Southwest Stakes for Saturday, but after temperatures kept horses off the track until noon Wednesday, officials decided to go with Sunday.
This isn't just a Grade III race with points that help 3-year-olds earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby; it's a rematch from the Smarty Jones Stakes for several horses. But primarily, it is a showdown among the winner of that race, Far Right; Bayerd, who ran second; and Mr. Z, the favorite who detoured in the stretch.
Mr. Z looked like the horse to beat when the field turned for home, but he became distracted and ran so far to the right that it looked like he might be headed for happy hour at Charles Cella's home at the 16th pole. Mr. Z finally relaxed and rallied for third.
Far Right might be a sentimental favorite because he is co-owned by Harry Rosenblum, who lives in Hot Springs but spent many years in the state's capital city.
Rosenblum is a self-taught horseman, and it was his knowledge of bloodlines that led him to pursue a horse many did not want.
Far Right sold for $2,500 as a yearling, but after he finished second in his first two races to good horses, he had Rosenblum's attention. His bloodline is not really strong, but he had a great dosage index, which most of the time means the longer the race, the stronger the horse will get.
Far Right's sire finished second in the Florida Derby, a little something Rosenblum was aware of but not sharing with a lot of folks.
After Far Right ran into traffic problems in the Delta Downs $1 million race and still rallied for third, Rosenblum sold a third interest to his longtime friend and business associate Robert LaPenta.
Bad weather may have forced a delay of the Southwest Stakes, but it couldn't cancel a showdown for a very good field.
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Alex Rodriguez has apologized for using performance-enhancing drugs and says he just wants to get to spring training and win a spot on the roster.
This is the same A-Rod who adamantly and defiantly denied using anything.
The apology came on the same day Anthony Bosch was sentenced to four years for illegally distributing steroids, including to Rodriguez.
It just makes you wonder whether Rodriguez was sorry for using performance-enhancing drugs or for getting caught.
Time will tell.
Sports on 02/19/2015