Home sweet home.
After the No. 15 Razorbacks ended the season with four straight road games and then appearance at the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said the team is glad to be back―and hosting a regional.
“It seems like we’ve been on the road for the past few weekends,” Van Horn said. “And it’s been a battle with the injuries and trying to get guys healthy. We’re looking forward to the weekend. We’re glad to be hosting a regional.”
It was announced Arkansas would host Washington State, Kansas State and Grambling this weekend at the fifth Fayetteville Regional in program history. Although the Razorbacks have only advanced to a super regional just once while hosting, Van Horn said playing at home is always advantageous.
“When you go on the road, you just go play,” Van Horn said. “When you are at home, there are more distractions with taking care of the girlfriends and grandmas with tickets. There are more distractions, but we would rather be here.”
In an effort to keep the players in top form mentally, Van Horn said the Razorbacks will be using hotel during the week, which the team hasn’t done before in previous years.
Fourth-seeded Grambling (22-30), which won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship for the first time since 1985, will face Arkansas on Friday at 2:05 p.m.
Washington State (34-20) is set to play Kansas State at 7:05 p.m. and will face the winner of the previous game.
“Our kids are well prepared,” Washington State head coach Donnie Marbut said. “They have worked hard and deserve an opportunity to play in the postseason against the best teams in the country.”
INSIDE THE REGIONAL:
Seeding:
1. Arkansas (40-18)
2. Washington State (34-20)
3. Kansas State (36-20)
4. Grambling (22-30)
The Razorbacks are hosting for the fifth time in program history, as they have had a regional at Fayetteville in 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007 and now 2010. Arkansas was one of eight teams in the SEC to advance to the postseason.
