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Don't let the final score fool you. It wasn't even that close.
The Razorbacks had a 38 point lead and Mike Anderson pulled the starters - with 14:44 still to play.
No, really. Arkansas was up 79-41 when Rashad Madden, Bobby Portis, Coty Clarke, and Fred Gulley went to the bench with that much time left. Portis and Madden didn't come back in.
Madden's +/- was, wait for it, 57. I don't know if they keep records for that stat, but that's the highest I've ever seen. Especially for a conference game. He only played 19 minutes. Portis' was 39. Qualls' was 30.
After memorable games at Bud Walton, we often talk about how that felt like the glory days. How you can sense the ghosts of Razorback basketball in the arena. But right now, the feeling seems to be whether this is all real. Is Mike Anderson on the cusp of finally turning this program all the way around? One shouldn't get too hyperbolic because this is still a team that may just barely make the NCAA Tournament, but after winning eight of their last nine games and all of their last six, and completely destroying Ole Miss tonight, it's hard not to get too excited.
There wasn't much of a story to the game. It felt like it would be a back and forth game for the first ten minutes. Then the Hogs went feral, ending the half on a 40-17 run. Then the whole second half was one big long run. The lead peaked at 46 points with 10:09 left after Alandise Harris made a pair of free throws.
Arkansas tied its record for three pointers made in an SEC game with 17, a mark the program set twice in the '90s - both times against Auburn.
Anthlon Bell set a new career high with 23 points, breaking the mark he set at Mississippi State a few games ago.
Mardracus Wade celebrated Senior Night with a retro performance reminiscent of his stellar sophomore season, scoring 18 points and shooting 5-7 from beyond the three point line. He only played 18 minutes. Alandise Harris also scored 13 points in his 13 minutes.
Fellow senior Clarke had 13 points on 5-7 shooting and Rickey Scott was able to hit the team's 100th point on a free throw.
Anderson was most excited about the 27 assists on 37 field goals. That was one of the first things he said in the press conference.
When Arkansas shoots 56.7% from three-point range, there's really nothing Ole Miss could do.
If you're wondering, Marshall Henderson was held to 15 points in 29 minutes. His +/- was -29. Jarvis Summers had 11. His +/- was -32.
Now the Hogs travel to Tuscaloosa to end the regular season and try to ruin Alabama's Senior Day. It's certainly not a game the Hogs should overlook. The Tide, behind Trevor Releford on his Senior Day will put up a fight to be sure. And Arkansas has certainly followed up great performances with clunkers in recent years, so the team can't get overconfident.
But the way this team is playing right now, hard to pick against them.
