AP Photo/Beth Hall
Just when we so-called experts were busy assuring the masses that SEC basketball was a dreadful dedication this season, all of a sudden, out of nowhere league team have turned into world-scarers, at least, world-beaters, at best.
Or, to put it clearer: Pig-Soooooooooooey.
Arkansas and John Pelphrey’s cringe-worthy red sports coat topped off the SEC surge last night as the Razorbacks rallied from eight down in the second half to topple No. 7 Texas 67-61 at a wild Bud Walton Arena.
It was the second Top 10 team that Pelphrey’s pupils have hauled off and popped in a week. Arkansas shocked superman Blake Giffin and visiting Oklahoma 96-88 just last Tuesday.
And that’s not all. Last Friday night, Lexington native Darrin Horn took his South Carolina Gamecocks to Waco and upset Baylor 85-84. Two days after Christmas, LSU held off a strong Washington State team 64-52 in Baton Rouge. Despite its loss at Kansas on Saturday, Tennessee owns wins over Georgetown and Marquette.
And you can’t discount Kentucky taking Louisville down to the final 2.8 seconds before losing at Freedom Hall on Sunday.
Through Monday’s games, computer whiz Jeff Sagarin’s numbers placed the SEC a lowly sixth among all college basketball conferences. Only Tennessee, at No. 24, cracked Sagarin’s Top 30. (Kentucky was 50th, one behind South Carolina in Sag’s Tuesday ratings.) Even with its two impressive wins, Arkansas is no better than 76th in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings.(UK is 28th.)
But the SEC does seem to be improving. Just ask Big 12 members Baylor, Oklahoma and now Texas.
Links:
- In the Northwest Arkansas Times, Nate Allen writes that Arkansas serves notice with its second Top 10 upset in a week.
- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Wally Hall writes that an ugly game was a thing of beauty for the Hogs.
- In the Times, Brandon Marcello writes that Michael Washington and Courtney Fortson bounced back from tough starts to propel the Razorbacks.
- In the ADG, Rob Keys writes that Texas paid for leaving Welsh wide open.
- In the Morning News, Harry King lauds Welsh’s defense on A.J. Abrams.
- Chris Bahn wraps up the win for Arkansas Sports 360.
- Razorback Expats has never been prouder of a Hogs team.
- At the AOL Fan House, Chas Rich writes that Arkansas restores the Home Hog Advantage.
John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. You can e-mail him at jclay@herald-leader.com.
I think you have a little trouble including LSU in that group, as they just got beaten by 30 last night at Utah.
Every team has a bad game. Was just trying to include the SEC’s best wins thus far. You’re right, though, getting trashed by Utah is not good. Just ask Alabama football.
I watched part of that game. The Hogs played tough. I’m glad the Cats only play them once this season!
According to ” It is a done deal Darrell Bird “, Pelphrey will coach at UK once no contract Billy G, not Billy D, can not make it to the final four.
I’ve been wondering how long it will take UK fans to start clamoring for Pelphrey if he really does turn around Arkansas. I gotta admit that it sounds nice, but how knows if it would work in reality and it’s still early for Billy G.