The absence of a single player in many ways framed Arkansas’ thrilling overtime win at Missouri Saturday.
It’s not enough that Arkansas basketball team won, cementing their best run in the SEC in years. It’s that the Hogs did it without superstar point guard Darius Acuff Jr. ever logging a minute.
That Acuff watched his teammates show out while fully healthy must be a welcome change of pace for head Hog John Calipari.
He, like his predecessor Eric Musselman, has gotten his fair share of smiting from the injury gods in recent years.
First, there’s Trevon Brazile, who dealt Mizzou a mean piece of cosmic justice pie Saturday with a killer three. Add Karter Knox to former Hogs like Nick Smith Jr. and Adou Thiero on the infirmary list.
Those disappointments, though, are chump change compared to the crisis that unfolded at UA-Little Rock this season.
Four guards — brothers Khalen, Kellen and Khasen Robinson and Travonne Jackson — suffered season-ending injuries before the campaign even started, and four-star freshman Terrion Burgess tore his meniscus after just six games.
The Trojans were the preseason favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference, but ended their season with a 12-20 record after losing to Lindenwood (Mo.) in the first round of the conference tournament Wednesday.
“This is not the team we envisioned to have on the court,” head coach Darrell Walker said. “This is the hand I was dealt, 150 games missed to injuries. It is what it is, things happen. I’ve had some bad luck. Now it’s time to regroup and get ready for next year.”
There won’t be a next year, though, as Little Rock fired Walker on Friday morning. The 64-year-old compiled a 113-133 record across eight seasons. UALR has yet to reach the NCAA Tournament since Chris Beard was in charge a decade ago.
Walker starred for Arkansas under Eddie Sutton from 1980-83, representing the same kind of big-city borne grit which define current Hogs like Acuff and Billy Richmond III.
Walker helped the Hogs reach two Sweet 16s and won Southwest Conference Player of the Year in his final season. He was drafted 12th overall by the New York Knicks and spent a decade in the NBA before moving into coaching.
