Most transfers who return to play against their former school get verbally roughed up a bit.
Trevon Brazile, on the other hand, got treated to a special kind of hell two years ago upon his return to Columbia, Mo., to take on the school at which he started his college career.
There, in the bowels of Mizzou Arena, a group of Missouri basketball fans decided to show the world just how big of idiots they really were.
A number of UM students dressed up in drag with strange signs bearing messages like “oiled up sweaty hog” and “Miss Arkansas.” The joke, you might ask? All of this was done in response to the ridiculous rumor — mostly rooted in homophobia — that Brazile was involved in some sort of love triangle with his teammates. He poked fun at those Missouri fans by holding up a triangle hand sign on the bench while the Hogs ran the Tigers out of the gym.
Now a fifth-year senior, the abuse hasn’t stopped. Before Arkansas faced the Tigers last year, multiple Missouri fans used homophobic slurs in Twitter replies. The crowd in Mizzou Arena booed him on every touch during Saturday’s contest.
It seemed impossible for Brazile to get a better send-off than his career-high 28 points in a senior night win over Texas on Wednesday. Somehow, the Springfield, Mo., native found a way to level up against his former school.
Brazile had 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals, including a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute of overtime — a shot head coach John Calipari had full faith in.
“I told him you’re going to make a dagger. And I knew he’d make that shot when we set it,” Calipari said. “He’s been great. It’s been a great run for him. He’s become the player that we all think he can be.”
No. 20 Arkansas basketball (23-8, 13-5 SEC) overcame the absence of freshman phenom Darius Acuff Jr. to stave off Missouri (20-11, 10-8 SEC) for an 88-84 win.
The Razorbacks needed every bit of help they could get from the supporting cast, particularly Brazile. Fellow big man Malique Ewin turned up with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal. Ewin was clutch down the stretch, hitting four free throws and three-point shot — his third of the season — in overtime. That made up for the lack of presence from Nick Pringle, who somehow fouled out in 16 minutes of action despite not recording any rebounds, blocks or steals.
“What it all came down to in the end was Malique Ewin,” Calipari said. “Made free throws, got two big rebounds, made that three. I know he can shoot. We do five minute shooting drill. This kid’s making 60, 70 shots. … I’m hoping the feeling he got today from this is the feeling he chases every game.”
Meleek Thomas stepped up into Acuff’s shoes and led the Hogs with 28 points and 7 rebounds, while Billy Richmond III and DJ Wagner chipped in 10 points apiece. In the end, Mark Mitchell’s 32-point barrage wasn’t enough for the Tigers as Arkansas capped off the regular season with another road win.
