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Welcome to Fayetteville, Marshall. We hope you enjoy your stay in our little hidden gem of a town here in the Ozarks. Well, I say that, but, well, you know what I mean.
In all honesty, I hope for a fun game Wednesday night. I don't want it to be the game you disappear. But judging by your game log from this season, odds are you won't. The fewest three-point attempts you have launched in SEC play this season is eight and the most is 22. Twenty-two! Marshall? For real?
I could go for a performance tonight where you chuck up 15-18 threes. That'd be fun. I could also go for an Oregon game do-over (he shot 23 threes). I'm speaking sheerly on shot volume. I want you to take as many shots as you'd like, just don't make enough to beat us. I want to laugh when you shoot the ball because the shot is so ridiculous. I just want a show, Marshall.
I'll be honest, I'm a fan of yours. I truly enjoy watching you play. There aren't enough guys like you in today's game who wear their emotions on their sleeve. It's not the cool thing to show emotion, and I hate that because basketball is an emotional game.
You've got the greenest green light I think any human being has ever had in the history of ever. It's the simple fact you have no chill when it comes to shot selection, but also have the mentality of a stone cold assassin and the confidence to keep shooting. I love watching it from home, but would have a hard time coaching you.
There are a few things you should expect upon visiting Fayetteville and Bud Walton Arena for the first time in uniform with the Rebels. And both will test your quick-fuse attitude.
Firstly, you should expect to be booed like never before. People are starting to believe in Arkansas basketball again, and for opponents coming into Bud Walton Arena, that typically spells trouble. But not only are Arkansans excited about their Hawg Ball, the most controversial player in college basketball today is coming into their house.
Let's face it, you're going to be miserable if you don't have a good game. The chants from The Trough will only get nastier. But to be honest, it's going to be ugly either way, man. If you light Arkansas up and go into some of your antics like you're known to do, the crowd will hate you even more. If you have an off night, the crowd will love it with a joyous hatred (see: Archie Goodwin in BWA, 2013).
You're public enemy No. 1 in Fayetteville Wednesday night, Marshall. And there's not much you can do about it.
Something else to expect is to have several different Razorbacks guarding you all night long. It's senior night, and we have five of them. You'll probably be guarded by all of them at some point in the game, but just as soon as you get comfortable with one of them, they'll switch.
If I had to guess, I'd say Mardracus Wade, Kikko Haydar and two more guys will guard you tonight. Kikko is a hometown kid, and a fan favorite, so it probably wouldn't be wise to do anything rash to him. Wade will be in your shorts all night long. So just get ready.
Oh, and another thing – if Michael Qualls jumps and you're in the general vicinity, get out of the way. We saw where Alex Caruso dunked over you. Caruso's dunk was unexpected, I'll give you that. But you've now been warned.
I'm excited for tonight's game. I've been wanting to watch you play in person for a while now. It's one thing to see your game on TV, but it's another to see the man himself live and in person.
So, I guess we'll all see you tonight, Marshall. Have some fun, but not too much.
