Arkansas
Arkansas basketball’s Kentucky contingent hopes to avenge last year’s March Madness stunner
Trevon Brazile relishes first opportunity to play in March Madness with Arkansas basketball
Arkansas basketball’s Trevon Brazile is in the NCAA Tournament for the very first time
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament is an opportunity for Arkansas basketball to erase all of the struggles from earlier this season. Wins in March will ensure John Calipari’s first campaign in Fayetteville is remembered fondly, even after an 0-5 start in the SEC.
But it’s also a chance for a contingent of former Kentucky Wildcats to grasp some closure off last year’s disappointment. D.J. Wagner, Zvonimir Ivisic and Adou Thiero were stunned by 14-seed Oakland last year, which paved the rocky road for Calipari to leave Kentucky and join the Razorbacks (20-13).
Thiero won’t play Thursday against No. 7 Kansas (21-12) in the first round, but Wagner and Ivisic will suit up for No. 10 Arkansas. They might be wearing different colors this spring, but they can’t forget the hurt that came with last year’s early exit.
“For me personally, it was very painful. That wasn’t the plan to lose. That’s never the plan, though, to lose, especially in the first round and stuff like that,” Wagner said. “I’m just happy to be back, happy to have another opportunity and another go at it, and now I know you can’t take anything lightly or take anything for granted.”
Wagner, Ivisic and Thiero combined for five points in the loss to Oakland. They made just two shots, with Wagner going 0 for 5. Ivisic had three turnovers.
Watch Arkansas vs. Kansas in first round of March Madness on Fubo (free trial)
Neither player is hiding from last year’s disappointment. They know it’s a talking point as they prepare for another trip to the big dance, but the past struggles aren’t worth a discussion inside the Arkansas locker room.
“Tonight, maybe we’ll talk about it after we go over film,” Ivisic said. “You know, we don’t even have to say anything. We know what time it is.”
But not every player on the Arkansas roster is scarred by early exits.
Jonas Aidoo reached the Elite Eight last season with Tennessee, and Johnell Davis is two years removed from being the leading scorer on a Florida Atlantic team that reached the Final Four. Even with their veteran experience, Arkansas is one of the youngest teams in the field. Aidoo and Davis are embracing a mentorship role in Providence.
“I’m just trying to tell them how hard it is,” Davis said. “We got to take every game serious. Every moment matters.”
Wagner and Ivisic have first-hand experience on the difficulties of March. They want a longer run this time with the Hogs.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@gannett.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Arkansas
Arkansas Storm Team Forecast: Rain chances return; low to start but higher next week
No rain in Thursday’s forecast.
The chance of rain will return on Friday, but the chance is going to be very low Friday through Sunday.
Then the chance really picks up early next week as a front approaches. Stronger to severe storms are going to be possible Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
Arkansas
Staff Members at A-State Honored for Retirement and Years of Service
JONESBORO – Staff members at Arkansas State University were honored for their retirement
and milestone accomplishments during the annual Distinguished Performance Awards and
Service Recognition Ceremony in Centennial Hall of Reng Student Union on Monday, May
11.
Those who have or will retire during the current academic year include Malissa Davis,
Ellis Library, 35 years; Jimmy Crocker, Facilities Management, 28 years; Anna Warren,
Childhood Services, 19 years; Cameron Martin, Facilities Management, 14 years; Barbara
Bland, Childhood Services, 14 years; Charlotte Booker, Information Technology Services,
12 years; Mary E. Williams, College of Nursing and Health Professions, 11 years; and
Joe Boon, Facilities Management, 9 years.
Honored for 45 years of service was Sharon Lee, director of community engagement and
outreach for the office of Access and Accommodation Services.
Honored for 40 years of service was Sharon McDaniel, records management supervisor
for the Registrar’s Office.
Those honored for 35 years of service include:
Phillip Ladd, project manager in Construction Services, and Russ Hannah, vice chancellor
for Finance and Administration.
Those honored for 30 years of service include:
Natalie Turney, administrative assistant in the Department of English, Philosophy
and World Languages and Cheryl Richey, custodial coordinator in Facilities Management.
Those honored for 25 years of service include:
Woodie Sue Herlein, out-of-school time projects coordinator in Childhood Services;
Diana Courson, assistant director of Childhood Services; Laura Miller, director of
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center; Mia Sheppard-Taylor, director
of Custodial Services; Eric Barnett, core network engineer and wireless administrator
of Information Technology Services; Clay Hurn, Mail Center; and Sharon Rye, hardware
engineer in Information Technology Services.
Those honored for 20 years of service include:
April Morris, Michael Glover, Mary Melton, Grady Clark, Amber Long Martin, Kayann
Brown, Dwain Roberts, Randy Wheaton, Amber Jones, Melissa Jackson, Cheryl Wright,
Christy Brinkley, and Jimmy Rousseau.
Those honored for 15 years of service include:
Ronnie Gilley, Christina Kostick, Carol Caldwell, Michael Bradley, Mark Freier, Shea
Harris, Thomas Wilson, Chris Boothman, Lora Gibson, Cary Estes, Stephanie Gibson,
Jesse Blankenship, Violeta Lugo, Alyssa Wells, Marsha Carwell, Vickie Gilmer, Edward
Haff, and Alexis Hurdle Besharse.
Those honored for 10 years of service include:
Michael Hagen, Tammy Daffron, Terri Teters, Mollie Menton-Ipsen, Dale McClelland,
Taylor Carpenter, Anne Merten, Avis Turner, Benjamin Housewright, Dallas Reece, Brandon
Tabor, Tia Caldwell, Tara Thomason, Petree Buford, Robert Davenport, Cathy Naylor,
Shannon Williams, Jackie Cox, Frazier Dixon, Devin Nelson, and Michelle White.
Those honored for five years of service include:
Jeri Knight, Josh Rogers, Taylor Shannon, Fen Yu, Deloris Holley, Penny Toombs, Greg
Umhoefer, Sasha Jones, Brittany Stokes, Stephanie Stanley, Caleb Lawson, Raven Person,
Maria Bedwell, Michael Bledsoe, Judith Poole, Suzette Hinkle, Leigh Ann Crain, Bryce
Moore, Andrew Shoffner, Lyle Jones, Derrick Lett, Ben Kutylo, Autumn Anderson, Stanley
Broadaway, Michael Alexander, Jennifer Keys, Julie Yarberry, Shauna Baker, Melissa
Dooley, Paula Kelley, Taylor Simmermon, Craig Estes, Kyle Ford, Fady Fara, Sylvia
Zavala Brandon, Nicholas Wallis, Olivia Clark, and JD Stallings.
Honorees from five years of service through 20 years received a certificate and a
pin. Those celebrating 25 years and up received a plaque in recognition of their dedication
to A-State.
Arkansas
Working on softball skills | Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Anya Lynch (left), a Farmington High School student, fields the ball with the help of Riley Sundquist, Farmington Junior High School student on Wednesday, May 6, during the Special Olympics Arkansas Area 3-Farmington softball skills and competition event at the Farmington Sports Complex. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Caleb Grieger)
Anya Lynch (left), a Farmington High School student, fields the ball with the help of Riley Sundquist, Farmington Junior High School student on Wednesday, May 6, during the Special Olympics Arkansas Area 3-Farmington softball skills and competition event at the Farmington Sports Complex. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Caleb Grieger)
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