A trip back in time
Former Arkansas and hall of fame coach Eddie Sutton’s 72nd birthday was yesterday. This year has been special for Sutton — winning his 800th game and all — but as you sit around, waiting anxiously to see if the 2008 Hogs are going to make the NCAA Tournament, how about we take a trip back 30 years to when Sutton was just a 42-year-old up-and-comer at the University of Arkansas.
Thirty years ago this March was the Razorbacks’ first-ever Final Four appearance. It was a year that put Arkansas basketball on the map, and players like Ron Brewer, Marvin Delph and Sidney Moncrief became names recognized nationally.
The folks at Razorback Expats have put together a fabulous three-part series (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) chronicling the journey of Sutton’s ‘78 Razorbacks and their run to the program’s first Final Four. There’s no doubt that this season and the following years of Sutton’s success was what got the wheels in motion for Arkansas’ success in the 1990s.
There’s a bevvy of interesting tidbits in this series that a young guy like me never even knew about.
For example, did you know that Brewer, Delph and Moncrief were never referred to as “The Triplets” until an NBC broadcaster labeled the three with the tag in the ‘78 tournament?
Anyway, enough chatter. It’s a fun read. Check it out.
Here is today’s SEC Tournament schedule. The Hogs play the winner of Auburn-Vandy at 2:15 p.m. CT on Friday. All games are airing on Raycom Sports (Cox Channel 7 in NWA).
[E5] South Carolina vs. [W4] LSU Noon
[W6] Auburn vs. [E3] Vanderbilt 2:15 p.m.
[W5] Alabama vs. [E4] Florida 6:30 p.m.
[E6] Georgia vs. [W3] Ole Miss 8:45 p.m.
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