March Madness 2023: How Arkansas’ persistence, poise led to the demise of defending champion Kansas

DES MOINES, Iowa — In the midst of what would ultimately grow to be a joyous Arkansas locker room, Keith Good had scrawled a cryptic message on the dry erase board at halftime.

Two Toes From Gold

It did not make a lot sense on the time. After 20 minutes within the West Regional second-round recreation, No. 8 seed Arkansas was down eight to No. 1 seed Kansas, the defending nationwide champions. And the Razorbacks have been trying pretty sloppy.

The message remained on the board however was virtually ignored on the finish of one of many greatest wins in Arkansas’ historical past, 72-71 over KU. For the second straight 12 months, Arkansas and its coach, Eric Musselman, beat a No. 1 seed. An inconceivable second-half rally melted the Jayhawks the place they stood which stays at — or near — the highest of faculty basketball.

A 13-loss Arkansas group — essentially the most defeats in Musselman’s 4 seasons — was too busy celebrating to note Good’s message. Seems the Hogs assistant is a giant audio e book man. Although he is in his second 12 months with Arkansas, Good has recognized Musselman for 35 years.

They wanted one thing because the Jayhawks seemed like they have been on its solution to dissecting the Hogs. Arkansas’ second-leading scorer Nick Smith was on the bench with two fouls. Jalen Wilson, the Large 12 Participant of the 12 months, was on one other heater for Kansas, which appeared on its solution to the Candy 16 for the fifth time within the final seven years.

As an alternative, for the sixteenth consecutive 12 months, not solely did the defending nationwide champion fail to repeat, it didn’t advance previous the Candy 16.

Within the bowels of the Wells Fargo Enviornment, a special message was being cast.

“I at all times look day by day for one thing distinctive,” Good mentioned.

Good grabbed the marker and riffed on a variation of a motivational e book, “Three Toes From Gold.” To paraphrase a overview: By no means quit, you possibly can be this near one of many best successes of your life.

The message definitely match the night time and Arkansas’ season. 

“It is form of a motivation, historical past, it may very well be religious,” Good informed CBS Sports activities. “It exhibits, when you quit too quickly in your dream too quickly, you are not too removed from it.”

These Hogs could be too younger to recollect Good and his 1987 nationwide championship game-winner for Indiana. However there may be nonetheless some shine from the assistant on his ninth group (principally within the NBA) since changing into a coach in 1997.

Good is a calmer counterpart to Musselman; the pinnacle coach leaves each little bit of himself out on the court docket. After the upset, Musselman ripped off his polo shirt and climbed into the Arkansas fan part to have a good time.

“I might like to lie and say that I felt composed,” mentioned Musselman, whose sideline histrionics are legend.

It has been an odd season for the Razorbacks. Smith missed a number of video games with an damage. The Hogs’ 3-point taking pictures (31.6%) was among the many worst within the nation. Judging by Saturday alone, they did not seem disciplined. There’s expertise everywhere in the court docket, however the 8-10 SEC file was mediocre rating tenth within the 14-team convention.

“They gave up on us, bro,” freshman star Anthony Black yelled above the din of the locker room. “All of them.”

 Who, precisely?

“Everyone,” Black clarified.

It has been that form of 12 months.

So, it did not appear stunning that each run Arkansas made, Kansas appeared to have a solution.

The Jayhawks have been up by as many as 12 within the second half and led by 10 with 12:35 left within the recreation.

“The narrative on us was, ‘Should you get down or up huge, they’re simply going to stop when you hit them within the mouth a few occasions,’” senior Kamani Johnson mentioned.

This time, the Hogs hammered away within the second — type of digging down for gold. Three gamers fouled out down the stretch: Jordan Walsh, Makhi Mitchell and Devo Davis, who fell one level shy of his career-high with 25.

Johnson muscled in a basket off a Ricky Council IV miss with 50 seconds left to interrupt the 65-65 tie. Kansas went the ultimate 3:47 with out a discipline aim. Arkansas muffled freshman Gradey Dick (9 factors on 3 of 9 taking pictures), and although Wilson scored 20, he disappeared for lengthy stretches.

“Individuals do not perceive these are children,” Johnson mentioned. “I am a grown man, however these are children. We grew up in March.

“Kansas would not go away. I ain’t going to lie: We acquired some canines on our group. We are able to compete with anyone within the nation. It ain’t been one of the best season, nevertheless it’s been our season.”

Musselman’s legend continues to develop. The Razorbacks are rolling towards their third straight Candy 16 and presumably a 3rd consecutive Elite Eight. Musselman was busy after the sport exchanging texts with golfer John Daly. There are priorities, you understand.  

“I simply saved telling them, ‘Hey man, it is a 40-minute recreation. You simply need to maintain taking part in. Loopy stuff occurs on this event,’” Musselman mentioned. “We simply hung round and defended once we needed to.”

We lastly acquired a solution to the query of whether or not shedding Invoice Self would damage the Jayhawks. It did. To not say Kansas would have received with Self, who missed his fourth recreation since having two stents inserted close to his coronary heart final week. However the what if? will linger.

Monday marks an anniversary Norm Roberts would somewhat overlook. It was 13 years in the past Kansas’ appearing coach was final in command of a program. St. John’s fired him March 19, 2010, after a mean six-year keep that ended at 81-101. As appearing coach these previous two weeks, Roberts went 7-2.

On Saturday, Roberts could not maneuver round foul hassle to Kansas’ huge males. That hindered the within effort. KU was outrebounded 36-29 by a persistent Arkansas effort.

“I have been teaching for a very long time,” Musselman mentioned. “That is as nice of a win as I’ve ever been part of.”

Extra gold awaits to be dug for in a becoming place: Las Vegas. That is the positioning of the West Regional. After that?

“I am making an attempt to assist them get there,” Good mentioned.