Like it is

SEC competes, comes up short vs. Big 12

Texas Tech's Aaron Ross (15) shoots a basket over Arkansas' Athlon Bell (5) and Moses Kingsley (33) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016. Arkansas won 75-68. (AP Photo/Sarah Bentham)
Texas Tech's Aaron Ross (15) shoots a basket over Arkansas' Athlon Bell (5) and Moses Kingsley (33) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Tech in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016. Arkansas won 75-68. (AP Photo/Sarah Bentham)

A few observations on Arkansas' 75-68 overtime victory over Texas Tech, and the SEC-Big 12 Challenge.

For much of the game, the Red Raiders were able to either lead or hang with the Hogs because of rebounding, especially offensive rebounding.

Texas Tech, like Arkansas, does not block out, but the team was doing what Nolan Richardson always said you had to do, "Go get the ball." The Razorbacks finally started challenging, and when they started going and getting it, they pulled ahead in overtime for the victory.

The halftime box score should have been kept. I've never seen one like it before. Dusty Hannahs led the Hogs with 21 points, and the next leading scorer was Manny Watkins with three. The entire team other than Hannahs had a total of eight points.

If any people suggest to Moses Kingsley that he should consider entering the NBA draft after this season, they should have their lips sewn together.

Kingsley has made a huge leap in progress but most likely would be undrafted in this summer's NBA draft.

One more season with another step forward, and he could very well be a first-round pick. That means a guaranteed contract and enough money for most people's lives.

In the past two games, Mike Anderson has started with a four-guard lineup (which obviously isn't great for rebounding), and the Hogs have won both games. Watkins on the court raises the basketball IQ.

Against Texas Tech, he had 9 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 0 turnovers.

The Red Raiders were very athletic, and several times they made the Hogs pay for lazy cross-court passes.

While Hannahs' first-half play gave the Hogs a chance to win, the Red Raiders had an unsung hero in Zach Smith, who finished the game with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 steal. The 6-8 sophomore's vertical jump is so good that he banged his head against the backboard a week earlier while going for a rebound.

Smith's parents, Reggie and Linda-Werner Smith, both played basketball at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His dad was part of UALR's NCAA Tournament team that beat Notre Dame in 1986. Mom also lettered in volleyball.

As for the SEC-Big 12 Challenge, it definitely proved why the football powerhouse has only three teams ranked in the basketball polls: Texas A&M, Kentucky and South Carolina.

But Florida (14-7, 5-3), one of only three winners from the SEC in last week's challenge, made a case to get more attention with a quality victory over No. 9 West Virginia.

Overall, the SEC was 3-7 against the Big 12. A&M beat No. 14-ranked Iowa State, and the Razorbacks won.

LSU played No. 1 Oklahoma off its feet but couldn't put the Sooners away.

The state of Oklahoma produced the only road winners, with the Oklahoma State Cowboys winning at Auburn, 74-63, and Oklahoma holding off LSU, 77-75.

Kentucky, arguably, is still the SEC's best team, although LSU might be just as talented. Kentucky lost at Kansas 90-84 in a game that was well worth the price of admission.

The victory was Kansas coach Bill Self's 201st at Allen Fieldhouse against nine losses. That's a .957 winning percentage.

Probably the most disappointing loss for the SEC was Tennessee, which fell at TCU 75-63. The Horned Frogs are in last place in the Big 12 with a 1-7 conference record and are 10-11 overall.

The Vols have been slammed with issues, which is why Rick Barnes was hired, and Barnes had a habit of winning when he was the Texas coach and had to go to TCU.

A majority of the coaches didn't like the idea of interrupting their conference schedules with the challenge, but it was an overall success, especially for the Big 12.

Sports on 02/02/2016

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