ESPN Ranks 1994 Arkansas National Champs 25th Best of All Time

[moses_007]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22956605/ranking-all-national-championship-teams

Frankly I think our Hogs, with a 31-3 record and the 1994 National Championship, should have been ranked higher than that.

[moses_007]

.

[snoot hoggy hog]

ESPN pinched the loaf a long time ago.

[Dominicanhog]

win in 95 and it ranks near the top..

[raz1965]

Yep, but those two were special. Nolan was underrated an under appreciated, the fans of that era didn't realize how special the times were, sadly hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

[ArkansasI]

Yep, but those two were special. Nolan was underrated an under appreciated, the fans of that era didn't realize how special the times were, sadly hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

I don't believe Nolan was underrated or under appreciated, and the fans were crazy about Nolan and Razorbacks basketball.

[NinoHogUNIA]

I don't believe Nolan was underrated or under appreciated, and the fans were crazy about Nolan and Razorbacks basketball.

Lol!!!

He was loved less than Houston. 

Like a coach that's not even 5 years removed from back 2 back title games including winning one has the right to a down year or 3 imo...   

Recruiting was picking back up had a McDonald's All-american signed, sealed, and delivered.   

That guy is doing well in the NBA right now still.

Our "fan base " messed up because that look in the mirror was too much for a large portion of "fans".  The administration folded like a cheap suit

Nolan wasn't perfect but he called it like he seen it.

[Pigasaurus]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22956605/ranking-all-national-championship-teams

Frankly I think our Hogs, with a 31-3 record and the 1994 National Championship, should have been ranked higher than that.

I've seen similar lists that had us as high as 8th. If Duke had won that game they would have been a lot higher than 25.

[k.c.hawg]

I've definitely seen them ranked higher. That being said, when you start going through some of the teams 15-20 spots below them you realize, 25th is still a pretty lofty position!!

[HiggiePiggy]

Lol!!!

He was loved less than Houston. 

Like a coach that's not even 5 years removed from back 2 back title games including winning one has the right to a down year or 3 imo...   

Recruiting was picking back up had a McDonald's All-american signed, sealed, and delivered.   

That guy is doing well in the NBA right now still.

Our "fan base " messed up because that look in the mirror was too much for a large portion of "fans".  The administration folded like a cheap suit

Nolan wasn't perfect but he called it like he seen it.

So are you going to pretend that Nolan Richardson calling out his boss in public to fire him never happen?  He was not fired because of his performance after the 95 season.

I believe he was screwed over also, but it wasn't the fans that wanted him gone.

[mykidsdad]

So are you going to pretend that Nolan Richardson calling out his boss in public to fire him never happen?  He was not fired because of his performance after the 95 season.

I believe he was screwed over also, but it wasn’t the fans that wanted him gone.

there was always a segment of the fans that wanted him gone, from day 1 until he was fired. There were several fans, just like today, that believe they know better than the coach because they played HS basketball or coached their sons in rec league and the way he was doing it wasn't what they would do.

Lastly there was also people pointing out that 'he stopped recruiting' because we didn't get the same players as we were used to after the NCAA probe.

[Beaverfever]

there was always a segment of the fans that wanted him gone, from day 1 until he was fired. There were several fans, just like today, that believe they know better than the coach because they played HS basketball or coached their sons in rec league and the way he was doing it wasn't what they would do.

Lastly there was also people pointing out that 'he stopped recruiting' because we didn't get the same players as we were used to after the NCAA probe.

You can't do what Nolan did and keep your job.  I still don't understand the contingency of people that think Nolan got screwed over.  It was a bad deal but he dug his own grave.

[ArkansasI]

Lol!!!

He was loved less than Houston. 

Like a coach that's not even 5 years removed from back 2 back title games including winning one has the right to a down year or 3 imo...   

Recruiting was picking back up had a McDonald's All-american signed, sealed, and delivered.   

That guy is doing well in the NBA right now still.

Our "fan base " messed up because that look in the mirror was too much for a large portion of "fans".  The administration folded like a cheap suit

Nolan wasn't perfect but he called it like he seen it.

I never stopped loving Nolan. He's still in NWA. There are many here that hold him in legendary status. It seems that those no longer holding a candle to his memory focus upon the discrimination lawsuit and its impact upon the program.

While I have no idea whether the administration and Frank had serious thoughts of firing Nolan, the end of Nolan's tenure was as much his doing as ours. We'll never know, but I don't believe the man raging could have recovered the program. What would opposing coaches have done with the comments that led to his termination?  What did opposing coaches do with the discrimination lawsuit to cripple the Arkansas program ever since?

At this point, we are what we are. And we were what we were. After all these years, we'd all be better off looking forward.

[txkhog]

Nolan crapped his own nest.

[k.c.hawg]

Nolan crapped his own nest.

Nolan has proven to be a much better man than all of his critics.

[bvillepig]

Go watch the video KC Hawg put up.  Pay attention to the part where he was being micro managed by assistant athletic directors.  He did was not on the same field as Nutt.  Years of frustration that he had dealt with finally came out.  He deserved to be treated better.  Like he said though it was a business. In this case that business decision is one that we have never totally recovered from.  We are making progress.  Name the court after him.

[moses_007]

I need to dig out my VHS tape that I recorded of Arkansas-Arizona and Arkansas-Duke and watch it again.  I watch it every few years, and never get tired of seeing it again.

[hawkhawg]

Nolan has proven to be a much better man than all of his critics.

There is no doubt about that.

[Locutus_of_Boar]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22956605/ranking-all-national-championship-teams

Frankly I think our Hogs, with a 31-3 record and the 1994 National Championship, should have been ranked higher than that.

The lowest ranked champion was 1944 Utah.  The Ute's only received a bid for the 1944 tourney after Arkansas had to decline their bid when several Razorbacks were injured in an auto accident.  The following year Arkansas reached the Final Four finishing 3rd I believe.

[jgphillips3]

That's probably not far off.  I'd say we could get as high as the top 15. 

[cosmodrum]

Nolan crapped his own nest.

When the nest is made out of John White, tell me when it's my turn.

[orvillesghost]

They didn't win the title but the 1983 Houston team was the best team I ever saw. Drexler, Olujuawon etc...

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

We will never ever get back up to that level again.  We didn't know what we had back then.

[liljo]

They didn't win the title but the 1983 Houston team was the best team I ever saw. Drexler, Olujuawon etc...

Oh, they were really good, but what happened? Did your TV break?

[sowmonella]

8 of the 24 ranked above us were UCLA. Their dominance over a period of about 15 years was incredible. I do question a couple of Duke teams and Texas Western that are higher ranked.

[hogsanity]

There were several fans, just like today, that believe they know better than the coach because they played HS basketball or coached their sons in rec league and the way he was doing it wasn't what they would do.

That segment exists with every coach at every school. People who think they know better than the current coach, or the ad, or the refs, or the trainer, or the strength coach, or the players.  You only rail against them when they are seeming against a coach that you like. I am sure you had no issues with those types when they wanted BB or Heath or Pelphrey fired.

Nolan was fired for one reason, he mouthed off about how the administration could have his job if they paid him his money. Had he not uttered that one statement, he would have been back the following season.

[HogFaninMemphis]

8 of the 24 ranked above us were UCLA. Their dominance over a period of about 15 years was incredible. I do question a couple of Duke teams and Texas Western that are higher ranked.

Yeah this list is very heavily influenced by team narratives and star power, but it definitely is an interesting list, if for nothing more than the paragraphs on each team.

[Hogdomer]

Nolan has proven to be a much better man than all of his critics.

This couldn't be more true. 

[PonderinHog]

Yeah this list is very heavily influenced by team narratives and star power, but it definitely is an interesting list, if for nothing more than the paragraphs on each team.

Yeah, I read all of those yesterday.  Interesting stuff.

[ErieHog]

I've seen similar lists that had us as high as 8th. If Duke had won that game they would have been a lot higher than 25.

To be fair, it'd be their 3rd title in a 4 year window, if they had won.  That would get a pretty major bump

[Beaverfever]

Those rankings are stupid anyways.  2007 Florida at 31?  That's one of the best college teams I've ever seen. 

[Hog Fan...DOH!]

Arkansas does not get enough credit for winning a road game for the national title. 

[Beaverfever]

Arkansas does not get enough credit for winning a road game for the national title. 

I always thought at the absolute highest level, game location matters much less.  Really great teams will kick your ass at your place if it is required.  Everyone has been talking about how hard it is to shoot and execute in the dome setting like the final four this year in San Antonio.  Villanova comes in and can't miss.  They did the same thing two years ago.  I also noticed that they don't throw a parade for themselves on the court after every made shot like some teams I watch but that's another topic. 

[Tejano Jawg]

Yeah, we could be a few notches higher, but you can see everyone is in love with all those historic and/or undefeated teams ahead of us.

Also, gag...
43. North Carolina Tar Heels, 2017 (33-7)
What is it with the Tar Heels? In three different seasons under Roy Williams -- 2004-05, 2008-09 and 2016-17 -- UNC (1) won the Maui Invitational; (2) captured the ACC regular-season title; (3) watched as Duke earned the league's automatic bid with an ACC tournament championship; (4) entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed; and (5) won the national title. Eerie. ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson set a school record for 3s, Kennedy Meeks dominated the offensive glass and all season long the team recorded far more attempts than its opponents. Add it all up, and it's a personal hat trick for Williams.