Calling the Hogs

So we know that the Big 12 has plans to stay at 10 teams for the foreseeable future, and that commissioner Dan Beebe said if it ever does expand again it likely won’t do so in the league’s current five-state footprint. However, that hasn’t stopped Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman from looking at possible candidates to get the league back up to an even dozen.

Tramel has a long piece about bringing Arkansas aboard as the 11th team, providing a list of pros for the Razorbacks. (This despite no apparent interest on the Hogs’ part in leaving the SEC.) For number 12, Tramel’s top choice is Louisville, which has a decent overall athlete program, is from a decent-sized TV market and is a decent geographic fit. (Not exactly a ringing endorsement, eh?)

Beyond the Cardinals, Tramel suggests BYU, New Mexico, Air Force, Memphis, Pitt and Cincinnati.

It’s all a pipe dream at the moment, at least until officials at Texas get restless again.

Courtesy of ESPN News Services

On Wednesday we told you about the story by Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World in which a source familiar with the thinking of Dallas Cowboys owner (and Arkansas alum) Jerry Jones said that Jones wanted Arkansas to play in the same conference as Texas and Texas A&M and that Jones “sees the Big 12 expanding with Arkansas and Notre Dame.” Nowhere in Keegan’s story does he write that Jones is actively trying to make a match.

Yet that’s what has been reported, so much so that the Cowboys issued a statement denying that Jones has been involved in any discussions regarding conference realignment. However, a source confirmed to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com that Jones does have interest in bringing Arkansas to the Big 12. Moreover, Jones’ son, Stephen, said in a TV interview that Arkansas fits as a natural rival in the conference.

On Thursday, we told you about Chip Brown’s tweet that Arkansas had put out feelers about joining the Big 12 but didn’t have the votes to approve the move. A source close to Jones told Brown that Jones “has nothing to do with Arkansas’ decision making and couldn’t be further from anything having to do with college realignment.” Still, if the Big 12 came to Jones and said it would add Arkansas if Jones could guarantee the Hogs $20 million in revenue, who’s to say he would say no?

With some additional question marks around the health of QB Ryan Mallett, the following video discusses if Mallett is irreplaceable.

QB Ryan Mallett Video

By Harold McIlvain II

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett will not be able to put weight on his left foot following a procedure that replaced a screw in the injured leg.

But Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said he expects the signal caller to be back to normal after he takes some time off with the injury.

“He will be non-weight bearing for the next two weeks and I expect Ryan to return fully after that time period,” Petrino said in a statement. “I am completely confident in our athletic trainers and medical staff and the plan they have put in place for Ryan.”

The Petrino said procedure was expected to be done at about this time in the recovery process and was planned to be apart of getting the quarterback ready for the season opener against Tennessee Tech on September 4.

“We fully anticipated this would need to be done in early to mid-June and the timing of it was intentional to allow him to prepare for the season as much as possible during the summer months,” Petrino said.

Mallett, who led the Razorbacks to a 8-5 record last year, finished with 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns in his first season as a Razorback.

The Razorbacks mens basketball program will not face losing scholarships or practice time due to its 886 APR score released today, the NCAA announced.

24 basketball programs were hit with penalties, including Syracuse which loses two basketball scholarships and UAB which loses two scholarships as well as having their practice time reduced. Portland State received the harshest penalty of all, a postseason ban as well as losing two scholarships and practice time.

Arkansas was granted leniency, partially based upon a one year APR jump from 755 to 933. It is that 755 score from the 2007-08 season that will keep the Arkansas APR score below 925 for the next couple of years, meaning the threat of losing scholarships and practice time will remain until it falls off the rolling four year average.

By Harold McIlvain II

The second day of the MLB Draft is in the books, and six Razorbacks found out where they were selected. Third baseman Zack Cox was selected 25th overall in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Below is a press release from the Arkansas athletic department breaking down the action that took place today:

FAYETTEVILLE – The second day of the 2010 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft saw six Arkansas baseball players taken between rounds two and 22 headlined by Brett Eibner and Drew Smyly who were each selected in the second round. Along with Arkansas’ six current players, four Razorback recruits have also been taken over the first two days of the draft.

Along with Eibner and Smyly, Andy Wilkins, Mike Bolsinger, Collin Kuhn and Jeremy Heatley were also drafted on Tuesday bringing Arkansas’ total to seven, the most since nine Razorbacks were plucked from the 2007 squad and the tied for the fourth most in Arkansas history. It should be noted that there is still one more complete day of the draft on Wednesday and the 2010 Razorbacks could challenge Arkansas’ record of 10 draftees from the 1985 season.

Following Zack Cox, who went in the first round to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, Eibner was the fourth person selected on Tuesday, going to the Kansas City Royals with the 54th overall pick. Eibner, widely considered one of the best two-way talents in the draft, was selected as an outfielder by the Royals. Eibner has had a breakout season at the plate, ranking among the nation’s leaders in home runs with 21, while also hitting for average at .337. His 41 career home runs ranks fourth on Arkansas’ all-time list and to go along with his raw power at the plate, Eibner has played sterling defense in center field. His second-round draft position improves upon his fourth-round selection in the 2007 draft by the Houston Astros.

Smyly was not far behind his teammate, going 14 picks later to the Detroit Tigers as the 68th overall pick. Arkansas’ Friday night starter this season, Smyly is 9-1 on the year and 12-2 in two seasons as a starter and spot reliever. This season, his 2.56 earned run average is among the best in the Southeastern Conference and he became just the sixth pitcher in Arkansas history to strike out 100 batters in a season. Undrafted out of Central High School in Little Rock, Smyly has been a mainstay in the Arkansas rotation since joining the staff in 2009 after a redshirt year.

In the fifth round of the draft, junior Andy Wilkins was selected with the 158th pick by the Chicago White Sox. A power hitting first baseman, Wilkins has been on scout’s radar for several years and helped himself with a solid summer as a member of Team USA (Collegiate) last summer. A career .305 hitter with 42 home runs, Wilkins was drafted as a first baseman, but can also play third making him an attractive utility player. This is Wilkins’ second time drafted as he was taken in 2007 by the Texas Rangers in the 25th round with the 770th pick.

Like the second round, a pair of Hogs was taken in the 15th as senior pitcher Bolsinger and sophomore left fielder Kuhn each had their names called. Bolsinger was selected with the 451st pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks while Kuhn was called on by the Detroit Tigers at 463rd. Bolsinger was picked up for the third time by a major league club, going in the 34th round in 2006 and in the 33rd last season. Kuhn, the Fayetteville Regional Most Outstanding Player was drafted for the first time.

Rounding out Arkansas’ current players in the draft was the senior Heatley who went in the 22nd round of the draft to the Florida Marlins. Heatley was previously drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2008.

Arkansas’ recruiting class was also high on the Major League draft boards over the course of the first two days. Justin O’Connor from Indiana was selected in the first round by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 31st overall pick. Ryne Stanek, a right-handed pitcher from Overland Park, Kan., was taken in the third round with the 99th pick by the Seattle Mariners. Jared Lakind, of Cypress Woods, Texas, and Dominic Ficociello of Fullerton, Calif., were each taken in the 23rd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers, respectively.

By Harold McIlvain II

FAYETTEVILLE―The Razorback baseball team will be fighting for a shot at a Super Regional tonight at 7 p.m. against Washington State at Baum Stadium.

It will be the game of the year for the Diamond Hogs, as the do-or-die game will determine if many Razorbacks get to continue to be just that―members of the Razorback baseball team.

The MLB Draft starts tonight with the first 50 picks of the first round and compensation selection, and many Arkansas baseball players will be taken in the draft that continues until Wednesday.

But Razorback outfielder Brett Eibner said he hasn’t really worried about the MLB Draft, as the team has been focused on making it to another Super Regional.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Eibner said before the Fayetteville Regional. “I went throughout it in high school and it didn’t affect me then. I’m just doing the same thing now having fun playing baseball. The draft will take care of itself.”

Below are some potential players who could be taken in the draft tonight:

• Sophomore third baseman Zack Cox: The Kentucky native originally was taken in the 20th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school. He is likely a top-10 pick this time around.
• Junior outfielder/pitcher Brett Eibner: The two-way Texas native was taken in the fourth round by the Houston Astros, but he turned down the money to be a Razorback. He could be a late first round pick.
• Junior first baseman Andy Wilkins: the slugger was a 25th round pick coming out of high school.
• Redshirt sophomore Drew Smyly: wasn’t taken in the MLB Draft out of high school. But with a great year and Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn saying scouts obsoletely love the left-hander, he could be taken pretty high.
• Senior pitcher Mike Bolsinger: The senior was taken in the 34th round by the Cleveland Indians out of high school and then in the 33rd round last year by the Oakland Athletics. He couldn’t come to terms with the team and came back for another shot to be selected even higher.

ESPN has released its early team rankings for the 2011 recruiting class, and LSU is the top SEC team at No. 2 nationally.

The Tigers already have 11 commitments, and 10 of them are from the state of Louisiana. Obviously, it’s a good year in the state.

Texas is No. 1 nationally.

The SEC owns five of the top 10 classes and eight of the top 25 classes.

Alabama was No. 3, Florida No. 7, Georgia No. 8 and Auburn No. 9.

Also making an appearance in the early top 25 was Kentucky at No. 20. Joker Phillips, in his first year as the Wildcats’ coach, already has nine commitments, including ESPNU 150 prospect Jon Davis.

Arkansas made the cut at No. 21 and Mississippi State at No. 24.

Post contributed by Chris Low of ESPN.com.

By Harold McIlvain II

FAYETTEVILLE―After being down by as much as 9-1 in the fifth inning, Grambling State Tigers fought back and never gave up against the Kansas State Wildcats during a 9-8- eliminating loss.

After being scoreless at the plate for five straight innings and allowing at least a run in each inning, the Tigers gunned down a runner at home to end the sixth and then put the first run on the board in the bottom of the inning.

“The turning point in the game was when our runner was thrown out at the plate,” Wildcat head coach Brad Hill said. “They then got furious at the plate and did whatever they could to get the ball in play.”

Grambling State then put together a four-run rally in the seventh, scored two more in the eight and ended the inning with the tying runner on second base down by one.

“They got on a roll,” Hill said. “Momentum swings is what it is all about. They started answering with some runs, but we never answered back. From the sixth inning on, it was on their side.”

Despite being on the road, the Tigers got plenty of support later innings of the game as fans cheered on the team fighting for a come-from-behind win, as they even modified an Arkansas school cheer.

“Everybody loves an underdog,” Grambling State head coach James Cooper said. “We just wanted to come away with a win. We noticed how they changed the pig sooie chant into a Grambling chant. We appreciated the hospitality.”

A one-out hit in the ninth made things interesting, but the Wildcats shutdown the Grambling State bats in the ninth, eliminating the Tigers while setting up a game at 2:05 p.m. Sunday against the loser of the Washington State and Arkansas game.

FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL SCHEDULE

Friday, June 4

Game 1 – Arkansas 19, Grambling State 7

Game 2 – Washington State 8, Kansas State 6

Saturday, June 5

Game 3 – Kansas State 9, Grambling State 8

Game 4 – Arkansas vs. Washington State – 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 6

Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – 2:05 p.m.

Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 – 7:05 p.m.

Monday, June 7 (if necessary)

Game 7 – Both teams from previous game – 7:05 p.m.

By Harold McIlvain II

FAYETTEVILLE―It was a record setting day for the Diamond Hogs, as the Razorbacks used a school record nine home runs to beat Grambling State 19-7 in the first game of the Fayetteville Regional.

Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said he expected his team to bounce back with a little rest after a lot of travel to end the season. And the Razorbacks did just that, blasting their way into a contest with Washington State at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night.

With the 19th come-from-behind win of the season, the Washington State Cougars will be coming back from a hard fought 8-6 win against Kansas State.

But it’s just the match up Cougar head coach Donnie Marbut and the team wanted, facing the same Razorback team that swept them to start the season last year and helped eliminate them from the Normal Regional.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for a full preview of the game that will feature Arkansas throwing top starter Drew Smyly (8-1, 2.54 ERA) with Washington State countering with their ace―Adam Conley (5-3, 3.13 ERA).