The Arkansas basketball season has not gone the way it was anticipated it would back in November. For various reasons, few of them valid, fans have jumped ship.
Maybe that’s just the way things are now. We live in a world in which instant gratification is the standard. If things don’t meet such a qualification, we dismiss them as not worth our time.
Perhaps I just figured Arkansas basketball fans were better than that.
Most are, certainly. Razorbacks faithful are, by and large, a dedicated bunch. With no other school in the state truly vying for eyeballs and dollars, the people of the Natural State devote time and money to their Hogs almost exclusively. That’s part of why seeing smaller crowds at Bud Walton Arena lately and the seeming relentless negativity on social media is so jarring.
The Hogs are not what anyone would call a “good” basketball team. After Tuesday’s win against Texas A&M, Arkansas is now. 500 overall and has just four wins in SEC play. A couple times – Tennessee and Auburn – the Razorbacks were downright embarrassing. No one blamed any fan for turning such madness off early.
But even with everything that has gone wrong for Arkansas this season – injuries, disappointing losses, off-court distractions and more even more injuries – coach Eric Musselman’s team has not quit. Down three key rotation players against the Aggies, Arkansas beat a Texas A&M bunch that handled Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee in College Station. Not exactly lightweights.
Makhi Mitchell is the best center in the SEC right now. Tramon Mark is playing through pain that would shelve most players. Devo Davis returned to the team and keyed a victory. Khalif Battle has turned into a defender. Layden Blocker looks like a future starter. All kinds of positives have come to the team in recent weeks.
Even if the wins haven’t.
Forget the notion of “real fan” or “fairweather fan.” How about just “fan?” To anyone who gave up on Arkansas because they thought their Hogs had nothing left to offer, shame. Musselman’s Razorbacks are still giving it all they have.