As Winter Storm Fern continues to bluster towards the South, Arkansas is bracing for what could be a historic onslaught of ice and snow.
The governor has already declared a state of emergency, and Northwest Arkansas – Fayetteville and Bud Walton Arena included – are projected to get the brunt of precipitation. Naturally, questions are swirling about the status of No. 20 Arkansas basketball’s clash with LSU.
After all, the Razorback gymnastics team had its Friday meet moved up from 7:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., and the weather will only get worse from then on.
Thursday night, a UA spokesperson told Best of Arkansas Sports that the basketball game is still on for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff, as scheduled.
UPDATE: Tipoff has been moved up to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the program announced via Twitter on Friday afternoon.
KNWA meteorologist Dan Skoff projects up to a foot of snow, supplemented by sleet and freezing rain. Precipitation is expected to start Friday evening and increase into Saturday. Temperatures are not projected to get above freezing until Tuesday, so whatever falls is likely to accumulate.
Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari encouraged fans who aren’t able to travel to turn their tickets in to the university so they can be transferred to students on campus who can walk (trudge, more accurately) to the arena.
The Head Hog said the UA “has some other plans” if the weather gets “crazy crazy,” but those contingency plans remain unclear.
The LSU basketball team is expected to arrive earlier to beat the weather, getting into Fayetteville either Thursday evening or Friday morning, according to Bo Mattingly from the Chuck & Bo Show. Once both teams are in town, the recipe to get the game going is pretty simple.
Winter is Coming for Arkansas Basketball
All you need to have is power in the arena, two referees and an official scorer and clock-keeper, a source very familiar with college basketball logistics told BoAS. Arkansas has four SEC officials in the state, two of which will have to get to Fayetteville. Once those elements are in place, the teams can suit up.
The Hoop Hogs have a history with inclement weather affecting games, but are hoping to not add to that list this weekend.
The Razorbacks had a 2010 road game against Mississippi postponed by a day due to winter weather in Northwest Arkansas preventing the team from traveling. John Pelphrey’s squad won that Sunday squabble 80-73.
