Razorbacks WANT to Win SEC, Don't Have to, Though

Dave Van Horn keeping bigger goal in site and that's not in Alabama

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
May 17, 2023 9:06 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It really shouldn't come as any kind of surprise Arkansas has had a bigger goal than winning the SEC. I've told you that since back in March when folks were questioning Dave Van Horn's decisions.

That includes the final regular season series of the season that starts Thursday night in Nashville, Tenn., against Vanderbilt (6 p.m., SEC Network). The SEC Tournament is the next week in Hoover, Ala., and they would like to win, but it's not the ultimate goal.

"We're going to do everything we can to win," Van Horn said in his Zoom press conference Wednesday afternoon before the team left Fayetteville. "I'm sure Vanderbilt is going to do the same thing. I'm sure Florida is going to do the same thing. We'll just see how it clears come Sunday evening and then go from there. We'll try to continue to get better at the tournament and then get ready for the next weekend."

Baseball is not football, which is the sport many fans use as a point of comparison. In college football, every single game matters because one loss can keep you from winning a championship. The other sports are a little different and coaches build throughout a long season for the end, which is when championships are decided.

That's exactly what Van Horn has tried to do throughout this year. It starts back in the fall as he and his staff have proven to be very good at projecting down the road of a season. Throw in a couple of injuries along the way and it can be hair-raising for coaches.

He's done all that (and more, maybe) this year, losing his top pitcher before things could really get started. He's had several more along the way and second baseman Peyton Stovall being lost for the rest of the year with surgery is the latest. Van Horn moved freshman Peyton Holt right in and he is performing without a drop at the position.

But first there is a three-game series with Vanderbilt and the regular-season overall SEC lead at stake, then there is a conference tournament the next week.

"(Our goals) do go behind that, but obviously we want to win it," Van Horn said. "I mean, it's so hard to win. You can have a great team and be in fourth or fifth place at this time of year. Things have fallen into place for us with the guys that have made it happen."

He's said that at various times all season long with decisions to play backups and anybody else in non-conference games later in the year. That was done all for a bigger goal and nothing that ends in Alabama.

"Our program is one that looks to the future," Van Horn said Wednesday. "What I mean by that is, two or three weeks down the road, I hope we're still playing."

Which is exactly what most Razorback fans have been expecting and they hosting an NCAA Regional is probably guaranteed and a Super Regional probably is now that they are ranked No. 2 in every poll. Omaha is next and they've created an entire hashtag for that one.