Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991 TAG: 9103230017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Well, in one year, one of the Hogs killed a coyote, killed a 450-pound domestic pig and ate seven rattlesnakes.
That was in 1977, when Ragnar the Razorback mascot really was a wild boar. The latest in Arkansas intimidation is Nolan Richardson's second-ranked basketball team.
The Razorbacks, seeking their second straight Final Four bid, meet Kansas in a battle of wills for the NCAA Southeast Regional championship this afternoon at 4:40 at the Charlotte Coliseum.
The 12th-ranked Jayhawks (25-7), who impressively eliminated second seed Indiana on Thursday night, will be trying to stop an Arkansas team that has won six 1991 tournament games this month - three in the Southwest Conference and three in the NCAA - by an average 29.7-point margin.
"You have to be able to stay in the game with Arkansas to have a chance to win," said Kansas coach Roy Williams. "It's not that difficult to prepare for Arkansas. What is difficult is having to play them."
The Razorbacks' pressing and double-teaming defense can unravel the best of opponents. That's why Richardson doesn't really care what type of offense the opponent is running.
"Our game plan never changes," Richardson said. "I've always thought your worst enemy can be yourself. We don't spend hours breaking down tape. I think habits, good habits, are our key to success.
"It doesn't matter so much who the others guys are and what they are doing. If we do the right things defensively, we'll stop the other team."
What Arkansas does with its defense creates a high-octane offense. Arkansas (34-3) averages 100.1 points per game. If Kansas is to have a chance at visiting the Hoosier Dome for next week's Final Four, the Jayhawks likely will have to do it by using the back door behind an overplaying defense.
"I'm sure we're going to have some problems with them," Williams said. "But we've won 25 games, too. I just hope we present problems for them as well.
"We're going to attack their press, because I believe in doing that. Their attitude is that if they can pressure you for 40 minutes, you're going to wilt. . . . We respect everyone, but we fear no one."
The Jayhawks are the sentimental favorites here because of Williams' North Carolina roots and the Jayhawks' steadfast use of a team system the third-year head coach learned from his former Tar Heel boss, Dean Smith.
Williams, an Asheville native, had 19 relatives in the stands Thursday night. But that won't get the Jayhawks through the Arkansas press or around Hoggish, 286-pound center Oliver Miller, and it won't guard the quick and multi-talented Razorback scorers, either.
Kansas center Mark Randall was a teammate of Arkansas guards Todd Day and Lee Mayberry on U.S. national teams last summer. He is reminding his Kansas teammates something they already know about the Razorback junior duo.
Kansas, in beating New Orleans, Pitt and Indiana, has gotten off to large early leads in tournament play. A start like those would be helpful, but likely not decisive, against the Razorbacks.
"I've seen Arkansas play part of games on TV a few times this season," Williams said. "I watched their opener against Vanderbilt because one of my good friends, [Vanderbilt coach] Eddie Fogler, was playing them.
"I turned it off. I didn't want to see that (107-70 Arkansas win) happen to one of my friends. It was a horrible night for Eddie. They kicked him every which way but loose."
If Kansas doesn't play the type of error-free basketball it used to beat Indiana, Arkansas will be in Hog heaven.
"It's simple," Richardson said. "They've got to stop us. We don't have to stop them."
by CNB