FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas men's basketball coach Mike Anderson borrowed a line from his mentor describing his reeling Razorbacks trailing underdog Texas-Arlington by 17 points, including down 11-0 for openers, but finally prevailing 71-67 last Friday night at Walton Arena.
"A wise man told me, 'A raggedy ride is better than a smooth walk,' " Anderson said.
For this particular Arkansas team, Anderson's "wise man" reference to former national champion Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson actually extends beyond a raggedy ride beating a smooth walk.
The raggedy ride beats a smooth ride, too, for lessons learned before the 3-0 Razorbacks play their first road game tonight at Minnesota of the Big Ten.
Arkansas had just enjoyed a limousine ride at Walton Arena, a 90-65 victory over Southern Illinois that included taking a 56-25 first-half lead by hitting an amazing 9 of 12 first-half three-pointers.
Although routing Southern Illinois was initiated by the defense that Anderson dotes upon, shooting so well seemed to make everything come easily.
So easily subconsciously to make it seem it will come easily the next time, too, especially with the underdog Mavericks arriving with a 1-2 record.
It didn't.
"As much as we talk about guys not underestimating teams, I think sometimes guys look at their records," Anderson said. "I think we came out with the wrong mindset. I thought we came out thinking this was going to be an easy game. I thought they came out and out-efforted us in the first half. In the second half, our energy level was totally different."
And still, Anderson said with admiration, the Mavericks wouldn't go away.
In the first half, Arkansas cut the 17-point deficit to four yet. But at halftime, the Razorbacks again trailed by the 11 points that Texas-Arlington led opening the half.
In the second half, the Hogs took command up seven and apparently pulling away. Texas-Arlington came back to tie the game twice. It wasn't until Jaylen Barford's two free throws made it 71-67 with 25 seconds left that Arkansas sealed the deal.
Starting guard Barford and guards Anton Beard and Manuale Watkins off the bench played the pivotal roles on a night that the Hogs' stars didn't shine.
Senior center Moses Kingsley, on about every honors watch list you can name including preseason SEC player of the year, and nationally renowned three-point shooting guard Dusty Hannahs paid for their accolades.
Though blocking four shots, Kingsley otherwise was frustrated on a foul-plagued night, finishing with five points and three rebounds.
Hannahs only hit 2 of 10 from the field while scoring 11 points.
They were marked men, Texas-Arlington Coach Scott Cross said, noting the Mavericks who marked them: 6-9 senior Jorge Bilbao on Kingsley and 6-2 senior Drew Charles on Hannahs.
"Jorge is probably our toughest guy," Cross said. "He lives for the challenge of guarding great guys. Drew Charles, another glue guy, was on Hannahs. Drew is another who lives for the challenge."
From the raggedy ride, Kingsley and Hannahs learned of forthcoming challenges they wouldn't learn from a limousine.
Sports on 11/22/2016