Hogs ramping up to close out season

Arkansas' Jaylen Barford (left) drives to the lane as he is pressured by Vanderbilt's Saben Lee Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, during the first half of play in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Arkansas' Jaylen Barford (left) drives to the lane as he is pressured by Vanderbilt's Saben Lee Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, during the first half of play in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks' men's basketball team is making a habit of strong finishes under Coach Mike Anderson.

The Razorbacks were 8-2 in their last 10 regular-season games in 2014 and 2015.

Two years ago, the Razorbacks went 4-1 to close the regular season. Last season, they were 6-1 in their last seven games going into the SEC Tournament.

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is working on another late run going into today's game against No. 21 Texas A&M at Walton Arena.

Arkansas (18-8, 7-6), which started 1-3 in SEC play for the second year in a row, has won three consecutive games to move from a tie for 11th in the conference standings to sole possession of sixth and stay in line for an NCAA Tournament bid.

"I think we're pretty solid right now," Razorbacks senior guard Jaylen Barford said. "We were at the same spot last year as well.

"It's nothing new to us. We know what we've got to do. We're just ready to keep playing and keep winning."

For the Razorbacks to keep winning, they'll have to beat teams in top half of the conference rather than at the bottom.

Arkansas' three-game winning streak is against teams -- South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss -- tied for last in the SEC.

The Gamecocks, Commodores and Rebels are a combined 34-44 overall and 12-27 in SEC play.

Arkansas will close the regular season against teams that are a combined 92-38 overall -- including 39-26 in the SEC -- and, like the Razorbacks, are in the hunt for NCAA Tournament bids.

After playing Texas A&M (17-9, 6-7), Arkansas stays home to play Kentucky (17-9, 6-7) and then is back on the road at Alabama (17-9, 8-5).

Arkansas plays its senior night game against SEC leader and No. 10-ranked Auburn (23-3, 11-2) and finishes the regular season at Missouri (18-8, 8-5), which has won five consecutive games.

Texas A&M was ranked as high as No. 5 nationally with an 11-1 start, then was hit by injuries and suspensions and opened 0-5 in SEC play.

The Aggies have recovered to win four of their past five games -- including an 81-80 victory at Auburn on Feb. 7 -- with the only loss in that stretch at Missouri 62-58 on Tuesday night.

Texas A&M's surge included an 80-66 victory over Arkansas at Reed Arena on Jan. 30.

"It's that time of the year where every game is big," Aggies Coach Billy Kennedy said. "We're competing against everybody in our league because everybody is tied up or close.

"So a win like this is obviously a benefit to helping at the end of the season on Selection Sunday."

While the Razorbacks are stepping up in class to close the regular season, Anderson took exception when asked about the winning streak being against weaker SEC teams.

South Carolina beat Kentucky and won at Georgia and Florida. Vanderbilt beat TCU and Mississippi State and took Kentucky to overtime on the road. Ole Miss beat Florida and Alabama.

"In terms of our league, from top to bottom it's still one of the tougher leagues in the country," Anderson said. "So I don't get it where you talk about guys at the bottom and the top and all that stuff.

"Every game in this league is tough. I don't care where you play, at home or on the road. It doesn't matter."

The upside for the Razorbacks to having a strong strength of schedule to finish the regular season is that victories could be more meaningful on the eyes of NCAA Tournament selection committee.

Arkansas is 13-1 at Walton Arena this season -- losing only to LSU -- and if the Razorbacks win the rest of their home games that might be enough to secure an NCAA Tournament bid.

"Obviously, there are challenges and there are opportunities for us," Anderson said. "So we look forward to continue taking care of home and when we go on the road, take the opportunity to go out and steal one.

"I think we're playing better than we were a month ago -- and this is when you want to start playing some of your better basketball. I think we have more guys ready to play, and I'm trusting them now to go out and play."

Senior guard Anton Beard said the Razorback are excited about playing some of the SEC's strongest teams with the chance to move up in the standings.

"I feel like it's a good stretch for us," Beard said. "It'll show us where we really are and who we are.

"If we come out with the mindset of defense first, I feel like we can compete with anybody."

Sports on 02/17/2018

Today’s game

Arkansas men vs. No. 21 Texas A&M

WHEN 3 p.m.

WHERE Walton Arena, Fayetteville

RECORDS Arkansas 18-8, 7-6 SEC; Texas A&M 17-9, 6-7

SERIES Arkansas leads 101-55

RADIO Razorback Sports Network

TV ESPN

Closing speed

The Arkansas Razorbacks have put together strong finishes to the regular season the previous four seasons and are looking to continue that trend:

season;regular-season finish;record;postseason

2013-14;8-2;22-12;NIT (1-1)

2014-15;8-2;27-9;NCAA (1-1)

2015-16;4-1;16-16;None

2016-17;6-1;26-10;NCAA (1-1)

2017-18;3-0;18-8;TBD

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