All Hogs

Live Blog: Arkansas vs. South Carolina, SEC Tournament, First Round

Razorbacks coach John Calipari tasked with doing something he's never accomplished today

Kent Smith

Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari reacting during game with the Oklahoma Sooners at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark.
Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari reacting during game with the Oklahoma Sooners at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. / Nilsen Roman-Hogs on SI Images
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NASHVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks are being asked to do something no John Calipari team has ever done — beat a team coached by Lamont Paris.

The last time the Hogs faced South Carolina it was an absolute disaster. Arkansas lost 72-53 and trailed by 35 with seven minutes remaining. Today Calipari's team will try to avoid a second loss to the Gamecocks, which would be the fourth consecutive for the former Kentucky coach, while simultaneously avoiding falling back into danger of finding themselves in a play-in game in Dayton.

The Storylines

• Clues Arise as to Whether Hogs Fans Will See Thiero, Fland Soon
• Numbers Have Taken Wild Swing Since Last Time Hogs Faced Gamecocks
• Engaged Brazile Impresses Coaches, Key to Hogs' Winning Stretch
• How to Win SEC Tournament: Calipari Says Don't Care Too Much

Tip-Off

Arkansas (9) vs. South Carolina (16), tip approx. 12:03 p.m.
Winner will face Ole Miss (8) at noon Thursday in second round.

1st Half

Perhaps the best thing to see as we get set for tip-off is the SEC has opted to go with a traditional floor with SEC blue sidelines and a bright hardwood. It will be easy for fans to see and easy for the TV camera people and sideline photographers. Thank goodness they didn't opt to go with an abomination similar to what the Big 12 is playing on.

The crowd is a bit thin. There are a decent amount of Arkansas fans, but there is a shockingly large number of Kentucky fans filling up the lower rows. It will be interesting to see how they react. Are they here to cheer or boo Calipari?

Arkansas will tip off in the home whites. South Carolina rolls out the black on black uniforms. In a good sign for Arkansas, Karter Knox and Trevon Brazile went 10-for-10 to close out warm-ups right before tip-off. Either they're going to be incredibly hot or they just used up all of their shooting before it even starts.

Was that last year's hype video on the board before the game? Hard to remember who was even on the Razorbacks last year, but that certainly didn't look like Calipari's team.

Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland have come out. They're both in street clothes, although it should be noted Thiero is definitely moving around much better than he was last week.

Crowd quite a bit better as teams get ready for the jump, but even heavier in Kentucky fans.

Hogs get opening tip and Wagner blocked driving to the rim to start. They then turn it over trying to get the ball down low to Ivisic who has a big mismatch down low that he is failing to take advantage. Missed opportunity for Arkansas turns into a three from Wright on the other end.

Arkansas is finally on the board as Nelly Davis takes his man inside for a contested lay-up, but South Carolina responds with a three from Thomas and it's 6-2. That doesn't last long though as Brazile drains a three, but seconds later Collin Murray-Boyles hits a three and South Carolina is on fire from deep as it's 9-5 with 17:12.

Ivisic is getting outmuscled against much smaller Nick Pringle, but he is able to draw the foul and knocks down a pair of free throws. That's going to be a match-up to watch. Will be interesting to see if the Gamecocks stick with the mismatch when the stronger Jonas Aidoo comes in.

Davis batters his way inside and takes heavy hits to draw the foul. He knocks down both and the postseason veteran has tied things at 9-9 with just over 16 to play. The Hogs only need five more points to match their first half output from the last game with the Gamecocks.

Brazile has been really active on the boards. Even when he isn't coming down with it, he is highly disruptive, giving other Hogs the chance to get the rebound. That effort will be a big factor going forward.

Wagner pulls up on the move from the top of the key for a three and the Razorbacks have their first lead of the game, 12-10, with just under 15 to play.

Brazile finds himself in bad position under the basket against Murray-Boyles and gives up the foul. Boyles knocks down both free throws and Aidoo comes in for Brazile, immediately knocking down a pair of baskets, including a turnaround jumper from just short of the free throw line. He and Brazile really came to play.

Now Richmond, who also recently came in, knocks down his first three of the season and the Hogs are heating up with a 19-15 lead.

Arkansas going with a big line-up coming out of a break. Brazile, Aidoo, Richmond, Knox and Wagner are looking to bring aggression and mismatches that can stretch things out a bit while closing off any paint opportunities. And the Hogs come up with the turnover. South Carolina wanted to get the ball inside to Pringle, but there were too many big bodies in the way.

Richmond gets back to defend a fast break and stops the lay-up, but Brazile follows trying to block it and gets it after it hits the backboard. It wasn't going to be close, but because of the goaltending the game is tied, 19-19, at the midway point of the first half.

Arkansas gives up the lead after Ivisic gets beat down the floor, sending Calipari into a fit. However, Richmond gets the offensive rebound on a missed three by Davis to tie it back up. Then the defense forces a turnover that ends up in Richmond's hands and he goes the length of the floor with a fearless drive right down the Gamecock's throat to retake the lead.

Hogs speed up the game and are immediately back down with a Wagner three to make it 26-21 and Paris wants a timeout. Wagner is 2-of-3 from behind the arc. Just over eight minutes to play.

Aidoo continues to dominate the paint on both ends of the floor. He gets inside for an easy lay-up, then forces a turnover on the other end to keep Arkansas ahead by five, 28-23. It's going to come down to whether the Razorbacks' inside game can offset what Murray-Boyles is doing on the other side. If they can keep countering him and slowing him down a little, there's room to create a little distance on the scoreboard.

What a pass from Wagner to Aidoo. He drove in, drew the double team and floated it over the defenders. Aidoo came open late and had to go up to catch it in his palm while going up and adjust his touch to gently flip it into the basket as the Hogs stretch the lead to seven.

Davis breaks free from the scrum on the inbounds pass, catches and floats from the right side with the jumper that zips the net to put Arkansas up 32-23 with just under six minutes. He looked a little like 1990s Michael Jordan on that one.

Murray-Boyles knocks down a three to tighten things up, but the active movement by Arkansas on both ends is making life difficult. Wagner slashes to the basket and the Hogs keep the pressure on 34-26.

If Arkansas can hold up with this pace, they will run South Carolina out of the gym. Aidoo on the pick and roll off the inbounds pass and his mid-range jumper makes him a perfect 5-for-5 and 10 points with 3:30 left to play. Hogs up by eight now at 36-28.

Brazile rips a three from way downtown and Aidoo hits a jumper and these two are taking over the game. The Hog calls are raining down as Arkansas goes up 41-30 with momentum seemingly unstoppable in their favor.

As good as Arkansas has been from three, the Razorbacks have been even more dominant from the paint. They lead paint scoring 18-10 with two minutes left in the half. Aidoo knocks down a pair of free throws and the lead is now 13. He then hustles back down court and shuts down Murray-Boyles which what is technically a block, but more like he just took the ball way from a small kid.

Brazile, who was right beside him, then sprinted to the other end looking for a highlight dunk, but gets fouled hard and knocks down both free throws as these two are delivering haymakers to South Carolina. Now Wagner gets in on the action as the defense gets caught watching for Aidoo and Brazile. He drives untouched to the rim and it's a 47-30 drumming. The Hogs have reeled off 11 straight.

And that will do it. There are a lot of seven seeds watching this game realizing they want no part of this three-headed monster Calipari is running out in Nashville. Aidoo has 14 points and eight rebounds. Wagner has 10 points and Brazile and Davis have eight points each, but the work on the defensive end has been the change.

Halftime Stats

Arkansas-South Carolina halftime stats SEC Tourney
Arkansas-South Carolina halftime stats SEC Tourney / StatBroadcast.com

2nd Half

The only way to describe that first half is boot meet backside. Arkansas almost played a perfect game. What's left to show is whether the Razorbacks can keep the intensity up and actually close the Gamecocks out.

Hearing Aidoo had to be looked at by trainers on the way off the court at halftime. As hot as he is right now, that would be devastating for the Hogs. He has been huge for this team the past two games as he has finally found the form he had at Tennessee. Will be interesting to watch in the second half to see how he comes out of the locker room.

Aidoo starts the half on the bench. However, Brazile picks up his slack. He's in double figures with 11 after getting the ball under the basket and knocking down an awkward lay-up while getting fouled. Now Wagner sprints up court and lofts it up almost from behind the three-point arc to Richmond for the alley-oop and the Hogs are up 20 with 17 to play.

On a positive note for Arkansas fans, Aidoo is in. However, Ivisic appears to have injured his shooting hand. It appears the Hogs are officially down to a six-man rotation.

Brazile hits a three from the corner and a goal-tending call that went against Richmond was reviewed in the break and determined the block was clean. Richmond responds with a mid-range jumper to make it 59-41 with 14 minutes left and he is threatening double digits.

Paris has instructed his guys to attack the basket more aggressively and the Gamecocks are starting to draw fouls. With Ivisic out with the hand injury, this could be an issue down the stretch as Arkansas can only afford one player fouling out. On the positive side, the Hogs had very few fouls in the first half.

Thomas hits an ugly shot from three and the Hogs' lead has quickly evaporated to 59-48 following a 7-0 run by the Gamecocks. Arkansas is getting a little complacent. The ball isn't going inside with the power it did in the first half. It almost feels like the Hogs are watching the game rather than playing it. This could get ugly fast.

Aidoo had a third foul called on him, but it looked like a hook and hold. Ivisic is going to come in for Aidoo as the foul sticks. Ivisic has his left wrist taped and two fingers taped up also. Then his other wrist is taped also. He's literally held together by tape. Gutsy of Ivisic to come in considering the pain he was in when they were taping him.

Twice the Gamecocks have had a chance to cut it to single digits and the second time Ivisic held them off. He then went down the court and took a pass on a pick and roll that looked like it hurt him. He drew the foul and managed to knock down both free throws despite the pain. Hogs lead 61-48 with 10:40 to play.

Murray-Boyles goes at Ivisic and he's hurting as there's nothing he can do to stop him. Thomas goes at him the next time down and it's clear Ivisic doesn't want more contact as the much smaller Thomas jumps straight into his body and cuts it to 61-52 and things are getting tight.

Aidoo is in and Murray-Boyles goes at him immediately, drawing the foul, which is Aidoo's fourth and he goes right back out of the game. Murray-Boyles hits a free throw and it's 61-53 as part of a 12-2 run. Arkansas has to find something on either end to stop the bleeding.

61-54 Hogs with 7:58 to play. Arkansas has seven fouls and South Carolina has three. Razorbacks will send Gamecocks to the line each time they foul. Hogs catch a break as Pringle misses a wide open lay-up that would have made it a five-point game.

Arkansas has scored four points in the past eight minutes and change. They only have 14 points this half as the offense has gone stagnant and there's a steal by Murray-Boyles so that stretch is going to go longer. Murray Boyles draws the foul on Brazile, so he goes to the line and cuts the Hogs' lead to five.

South Carolina comes up with a steal on a Wagner drive and Arkansas fans have to be beside themselves. Murray-Boyles, who is basically playing on one leg because of an injury, drives right down the Hogs' throats and dunks it home to make it 61-58 with 4:47 and for the fourth consecutive game, Calipari doesn't appear to have an answer to Paris' game plan. The Razorbacks are on the ropes and the knockout blow looks like it could come any second now.

Arkansas has endured a 20-4 run after appearing to essentially put the game away early in the second half. RIght now the Hogs genuinely look scared. This is no longer the dominant team with swagger that opened this game.

Murray-Boyles comes out and rains a jumper over Aidoo from the free throw line and it's a one-point game with under four to play. Arkansas looks finished. The team that showed up in Columbia has made its way to Nashville. They are completely shellshocked. South Carolina knows they have them and there's nothing that can be done about it.

Hogs are pushing 11 minutes without a field goal. South Carolina has a chance to take the lead, but Davis comes up with the steal. However, he misses the lay-up after fighting up through the double-team and Aidoo is called for basket interference on the follow-up, so no basket for Arkansas to stop the bleeding.

Aidoo gets a defensive stop on Murray-Boyles that has South Carolina fans up in arms and he gets down court and draws a foul as the Hogs finally have a little fight. On the inbounds play the ball ends up going out of bounds and Brazile goes up high and flings it back in to Richmond who swings it to Wagner for the three. Then Brazile went down on the other end of the floor and blocked a shot followed by going a row deep with Richmond trying to save it. Hogs lead by four.

Wagner gets called for a foul as the shot clock ran out that will have Arkansas fans furious. It was a questionable call. The Gamecocks hit a pair of free throws with under two minutes left to cut it to a pair. Aidoo misses an inside shot, but Brazile from out of nowhere to tip it in adn Arkansas leads 66-62. It looks like Brazile and Aidoo have decided they are going to will the Hogs to a win one way or another.

Wright goes off the glass over Davis and Aidoo and it's 66-64 with 42 seconds left. Calipari calls a timeout and this one is going to come down to the wire.

Davis works his way through the middle, catches it just inside the free throw line and curls with the left hand off the glass for two to extend the lead to 68-64. South Carolina rushes up an ugly three that Aidoo rebounds and the Gamecocks will have to foul.

Davis goes to the line with 17.7 and hits both to put the Hogs up 70-64 and it appears the Hogs will survive. On a side note, Kentucky fans are holding up DJ Wagner signs. Apparently there is still love in Lexington for the guard when he's not playing the Wildcats.

South Carolina tries a baseball pass that goes off the tip of Murray-Boyles' fingers and Davis comes away with it and draws the foul. Davis misses the first free throw of the game for the Hogs. Arkansas was 13-of-13 before that. Wright goes the length of the floor and cuts it to 70-66 with 8.4 to play.

Richmond gets the inbounds pass to Brazile who catches it and instead of taking the foul, he tries to shoot a halfcourt shot. It gets blocked by Murray-Boyles and Scott goes straight to the hoop and it's a one-possession game with 3.2 to play. Arkansas has no timeout left.

The ball comes in to Davis who is fouled with 2.3 to play. Murray-Boyles has fouled out after a gutsy effort. Much respect to the big man who left it all on the court and almost single-handedly took down the Hogs and may still be responsible depending on how these free throws go. Murray-Boyles limps to the bench and plops down with bloody gauze hanging out of his mouth from an elbow taken from Aidoo.

Davis his the first one to avoid a potential loss. He hits the second with a bank shot that went in. Davis looked upset he made it, which is confusing because there was still the outside chance of a three to tie it. Very odd choices in the final minute as Arkansas refuses to win this using common sense.

Finally, it's over. Arkansas moves on to face Ole Miss tomorrow with a 72-68 win. It was ugly in the second half, but the Hogs find a way to snatch a win from a self-inflicted attempt at a defeat.

Final Stats

Final game box score for Arkansas-South Carolina Round 1 SEC Tourney.
Final game box score for Arkansas-South Carolina Round 1 SEC Tourney. / Statbroadcast.com
Final Arkansas stats in SEC Tournament win over South Carolina.
Final Arkansas stats in SEC Tournament win over South Carolina. / StatBroadcast.com
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Kent Smith
KENT SMITH

Kent Smith has been in the world of media and film for nearly 30 years. From Nolan Richardson's final seasons, former Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner trying to throw to anyone and anything in the blazing heat of Cowboys training camp in Wichita Falls, the first high school and college games after 9/11, to Troy Aikman's retirement and Alex Rodriguez's signing of his quarter billion dollar contract, Smith has been there to report on some of the region's biggest moments. 

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