Razorbacks

DALLAS -- After his Arkansas team had routed Tulsa, 103-84, in last night's Midwest Regional final, coach Nolan Richardson was asked if his Razorbacks can perform any better."

SEATTLE -- The Big Nasty, a big softy and a big shooting slump by North Carolina put Arkansas back in the NCAA championship game.The Razorbacks, who rolled to their first title a year ago, had their fourth close call of this NCAA tournament last night, as they blew most of an 11-point lead in the last three minutes but held on to beat the Tar Heels, 75-68, before 38,450 at the Kingdome."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Scotty Thurman was a few weeks past his 18th birthday when he was charged with taking the load from Corliss Williamson, figuratively and literally.Thurman, the Arkansas swingman who might be the second-best player in the Southeastern Conference, was the other star freshman to arrive in Fayetteville in the fall of 1992.Williamson was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and McDonald's All-American in 1991-92. Thurman was rated among the top 150 prospects in the country, but his Ruston, La., home was off the recruiting path.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Arkansas run lasted a little more than two minutes, but it seemed like an eternity to Arizona.With eight minutes to go in their NCAA semifinal at the Charlotte Coliseum last night, the Razorbacks looked like another team that had taken the Wildcats lightly. Their point guard was saddled with four fouls, they had gone nearly 18 minutes without a three-pointer and they were behind by five.There are many reasons why Arkansas has the best winning percentage in the nation and the favorite's role in this Final Four, however, and most of them surfaced in a 12-0 spurt that lifted the Razorbacks to a 91-82 victory over the Wildcats and into their first NCAA title game.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- North Carolina passed over Arkansas' press, but the Razorbacks threw in three-pointers over the Tar Heels and nearly knocked the top seed out of the NCAA East Regional.North Carolina used its size and experience to hold off Arkansas' youth and quickness last night for an 80-74 third-round victory. The Tar Heels will play Cincinnati in tomorrow's regional final at the Meadowlands Arena.Fourth-seeded Arkansas dropped in 11 three-pointers, one short its seasonal high, and the last came from Darrell Hawkins with 1:06 left and cut the Tar Heels' lead to 75-74.

SEATTLE -- Jim Harrick said the nicest thing about Arkansas.The UCLA coach was up until 3 a.m. yesterday watching film of the Razorbacks, trying to figure out exactly what they were doing on defense."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Another night, another escape for the Arkansas Houdinis . . . er, Razorbacks.The defending NCAA champions faced another inspired challenger in the semifinals of the Midwest Regional at Kemper Arena last night, but they forced an overtime against Memphis, then dominated that session for a 96-91 victory and a spot in tomorrow's regional title game against the Kansas-Virginia winner.It was the 12th victory of the season by five points or fewer for Arkansas, which is attempting to become only the second team since the UCLA dynasty to win back-to-back titles.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The great teams all have the capability. They can attack with the relentlessness of an accomplished middleweight unleashing a flurry of left hooks, with the suddenness of a summer squall that arises on the plains and sweeps aside all in front of it.The great teams all have the steeliness. They can stare into the eye of the tiger without having to blink, can overcome any obstacle with an ease so obscene it leaves witnesses open-mouthed in awe.Top-ranked Nevada-Las Vegas (20-0)

SEATTLE -- The ghosts are gone. The decades of frustration in Westwood are over. After a 20-year interruption, the tradition has continued.UCLA is back.Back where it was in the days of Alcindor and Warren and Allen, of Patterson and Wicks and Rowe, of Walton and Wilkes. And of Wooden. Always Wooden.Back on top of the college basketball world.With last night's stunning and decisive 89-78 victory over defending national champion Arkansas in the NCAA championship game at the Kingdome, the top-ranked Bruins reclaimed the spot that was once nearly their private domain.

It is that time of the year again in Annapolis. Yes, it is Army-Navy week leading up to Saturday's season-ending game. But it is also a time frame in which annual reports surface that Navy coach Charlie Weatherbie might be heading elsewhere.Last year, Weatherbie's name was linked to job openings at Boston College, Pittsburgh and Baylor. The latest rumor had the University of Arkansas seeking a replacement for Danny Ford. Weatherbie, who coached the Razorbacks' quarterbacks in 1990 and 1991, was reportedly on the list of candidates.