March Madness 2022: Arkansas saw Gonzaga dancing in pregame, saved the last dance for the Hogs

They name the NCAA Event The Large Dance, however cautious when you dance.

Gamers from No. 1 general seed Gonzaga’s workforce apparently began boogying a little bit early Thursday evening earlier than enjoying No. 4 seed and 9.5-point underdog Arkansas on the Chase Heart in San Francisco.

And the Razorbacks (28-8) are those nonetheless dancing after a 74-68 victory, advancing them to the NCAA West Regional championship sport on Saturday (8:49 p.m. jap, TBS) in opposition to No. 2 seed Duke (31-6). The Blue Devils beat No. 3 seed Texas Tech, 78-73, Thursday evening. The winner steps to the Last 4 on the Superdome in New Orleans, April 2-4.

“We felt like they have been dancing earlier than the sport,” Arkansas sophomore ahead Jaylin Williams stated. “That was a disrespect to us. We got here into the sport enjoying laborious and had a chip on our shoulder.”

Arkansas was picked to complete third within the SEC behind Kentucky and Alabama again in October regardless of being the final SEC workforce standing after the primary weekend of the 2021 NCAA Event and reaching the Elite Eight. The Hogs misplaced to eventual nationwide champion Baylor. No. 2 seed Kentucky and No. 6 seed Alabama each misplaced within the first spherical of this match.

Some have been dancing on Arkansas’ grave final January when the Hogs began off 0-3 within the SEC with losses at Mississippi State, 81-68, at dwelling to Vanderbilt, 75-74, and at Texas A&M, 86-81. None of these made the NCAA Event and completed tenth, eleventh and tied for fifth within the league, respectively. The Razorbacks regrouped, beat No. 1 Auburn and completed fourth within the SEC at 13-5, however then misplaced to the Aggies once more of their SEC Event opener, 82-64.

Arkansas beat a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Event for the primary time in its historical past after 10 losses since seeding started in 1979 and have become the primary workforce anyplace to beat a No. 1 workforce within the common season (Auburn) and a No. 1 workforce within the NCAA Event (Gonzaga).

Arkansas guard Davonte Davis, left, celebrates with ahead Kamani Johnson after Arkansas defeated Gonzaga in a university basketball sport within the Candy 16 spherical of the NCAA match in San Francisco, Thursday, March 24, 2022.
(AP Picture/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

“I feel we’ve been disrespected the entire 12 months,” Williams stated after scoring 15 factors with 12 rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. He additionally broke the report for rebounds in a season of 349 set by Derek Hood in 1998-99 and has 354 on the season.

“They (prognosticators) gave them an 86 % probability to win,” Williams stated. “We noticed that, and every thing they have been saying.”

Duke is a four-point favourite to win Saturday by FanDuel, supplied the Blue Devils don’t dance round earlier than the sport.

“God bless them. What an amazing group these children,” gushed Mike Krzyzewski after his workforce’s win. He introduced final summer time that this his forty second season as Duke’s coach could be his final.

“They’ve grown up a lot within the final 12 days. It’s such a pleasure. It’s a tremendous factor,” he stated.

Arkansas final performed Duke on April 4, 1994, within the nationwide championship sport in Charlotte, N.C., and received, 76-72, for its solely nationwide championship. Duke beat Arkansas, 97-83, on March 31, 1990, within the Last 4 nationwide semifinals in Denver earlier than falling to UNLV, 103-73, within the nationwide title sport.

Krzyzewski, 75, received 5 nationwide championships since that loss from 1991-2015 and can be teaching for his thirteenth Last 4.

Musselman, 57, is in his second straight Elite Eight in his third season at Arkansas after taking Nevada to a few NCAA Tournaments and a Candy 16 in 2018. He made positive his gamers knew few, if any, have been giving his probability a workforce to beat Gonzaga and can possible do the identical for Duke.

Arkansas ahead Jaylin Williams reacts after dunking in opposition to Gonzaga throughout the first half of a faculty basketball sport within the Candy 16 spherical of the NCAA match in San Francisco, Thursday, March 24, 2022.
(AP Picture/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

“There’s been not a lot discuss Arkansas,” Musselman stated.

“Yeah, simply being the underdog, man, and utilizing it to your benefit. They by no means see you coming,” stated Arkansas ahead Trey Wade, who scored 15 factors with seven rebounds and a blocked shot and steal.

“I can’t praise these guys sufficient and your entire workforce for the best way that they purchase in to sport preparation,” Musselman stated. “It’s in all probability the best factor I’ve ever been part of that they simply sort of do what we ask.”

After which they danced.

“We acquired the water bottles, went loopy,” Williams stated. “We began dancing. It’s enjoyable to win.”