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For those wondering how Arkansas will look next year if BJ Young and Marshawn Powell go pro, Mike Anderson presents the Texas A&M game.
Neither Powell nor Young started the game. Powell came off the bench to score 10 but Young only scored 2 and we don't think he played at all in the second half. Meanwhile, the Razorbacks got double-digit efforts from Mardracus Wade (14), Michael Qualls (13), Rashad Madden (11), and Anthlon Bell (10).
The Razorbacks led for most of the game, at times looking like they'd run away with it and at times going dry and allowing the Aggies to get back into the game. But the Hogs never lost the lead and were able to pull away with a comfortable lead in the final minutes.
Hunter Mickelson started in Powell's place. He played 14 minutes and did not score. He grabbed one rebound and blocked one shot.
After the game, Anderson said the decision to give limited minutes to Powell and Young was simply a coach's decision. Uh huh.
The win does mean the Melvin Watkins Curse is broken. Huzzah!
Elston Turner did not play for A&M due to injury and the Hogs clearly took advantage of not having to deal with him.
For fans watching in television, it was a treat to get a few minutes of Nolan Richardson being a part of the TV commentary crew in the second half. Much of the time was spent doing the usual reminiscing of the Razorbacks' glory days, but part of it was spent actually watching the game and it was fun to see Richardson talking about Coty Clarke and the game as it was going on. At one point he compared the Razorbacks to piranhas going after a helpless Aggie in the backcourt. Makes you wonder if the school would be known as the Arkansas Piranhas if that had been the simile used over a century ago instead of "wild band of razorback hogs."
The win guarantees Arkansas no worse than the 7th seed in the SEC Tournament. If Missouri beats Tennessee later today, Arkansas will get the 6th seed. Both seeds are on the opposite side of the bracket from Florida. The biggest benefit to the 6th seed is getting to start on Thursday against a team that plays on Wednesday.
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Doc Harper is the managing editor of Arkansas Expats and is a regular contributor to College Football News andSporting Life Arkansas. You can email him here and follow him on Twitter.