Hogs need to prepare for hostile environment in matchup with St. John's
PROVIDENCE — There are roughly 1,490 miles that separate Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, from the University of Arkansas. Just 176 separate the site of the second round of the NCAA Tournament from St. John's University in Queens in New York City.
As such, the Arkansas faithful are sure to be outnumbered by Johnnie's fans when the 10-seed Razorbacks take on the 2-seed Red Storm in the Round of 32. Razorback fans tend to travel well, and had a good crowd in the first round, but Rhode Island is a tougher to get to destination from Arkansas than some of the other sites.
St. John's had a loud and proud showing in the Johnnies' first-round matchup against Omaha, and the Hogs will need to prepare to face that same hostile environment on Saturday.
"Really just stay together," Arkansas guard D.J. Wagner said of how the team can handle the environment. "Just knowing that it's not going to be easy, and knowing that it is going to be hostile."
Wagner said one thing that has prepared the Hogs for facing that kind of environment is playing in the Southeastern. Arkansas is no stranger to tough road environments and has played in numerous during league play.
Arkansas guard Billy Richmond III said the team isn't fazed by what could end up being a raucous and rowdy road crowd.
"We're just hoopers, we do this every day," Richmond told HawgBeat. "It don't really faze us, we just want to play basketball. Just doing it with our brothers, you can't ask for too much more."
It's worth noting both Wagner and Richmond hail from Camden, New Jersey, just a couple hours from Providence. The Razorbacks also have a native New Yorker on their team in freshman point guard Boogie Fland, who told reporters in a somewhat-jokingly way that he believes the Bronx will be rooting for Arkansas.
RELATED: Hall of Fame coaches John Calipari, Rick Pitino clash in NCAA Tournament
"Definitely me and Arkansas," Fland said with a sly smile. "I mean, some of them are going for St. John's, but most are (rooting for) us I'm sure."
Fland went on to say the Razorbacks just need to stick to the fundamentals to weather the storm the Johnnie's fans will bring.
"Keep the main thing the main thing," Fland said. "Keep doing what we've been doing, just try to get a win tomorrow."
That's easier said than done, though. On top of what should be a mostly pro-Red Storm crowd, St. John's boasts the nation's top-ranked defense according to KenPom, and head coach John Calipari knows the game will be a tough test.
"They're really physical, they collapse, they make layups hard," Calipari said Friday. "Their three-point defense is, like, ridiculously low, but the way we shoot it, they don't have to be ridiculously low. We'll do that to ourselves sometimes.
"The second thing is my guess is 50/50 balls. They get 70% of them or more. And then their defense leads to their offense. Probably my guess is they score 17, 18 points a game off turnovers, so you better not have a whole lot of live ball turnovers or you have no chance of winning the game."
The Razorbacks and Red Storm will tip off from Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday at 1:40 p.m. CT. The game will air on CBS.
Topics
-
Mark Pope comments on potential Arkansas-St John's matchup in men's NCAA Tournament
Mark Pope was asked about a potential Arkansas vs. St. John's second-round NCAA Tournament matchup between John Calipari and Rick Pitino.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
March Madness: St. John's rolls past Omaha, sets up showdown between Rick Pitino, John Calipari
John Calipari and Rick Pitino will renew their rivalry when Arkansas faces St. John's in the second round of the NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Report: Adou Thiero might be available for Hogs' game against St. John's
Arkansas might get Adou Thiero back for the Hogs' second-round game against St. John's on Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
St. John’s rolls past Omaha in NCAA Tournament opener, setting up matchup with John Calipari-led Arkansas
St. John’s found itself on early upset alert. Playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, the second-seeded Johnnies missed their first five shots in Thursday night’s first-round ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
2025 March Madness: John Calipari vs. Rick Pitino to meet when Arkansas battles St. John's in NCAA Tournament
Two of the most iconic college basketball coaches in the sport meet once again in a second-round matchupCBS Sports - 2d -
Arkansas stuns St. John's with an upset win in the second round of March Madness
Arkansas upsets St. John's in the second round of March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 15h -
Calipari vs Pitino: Arkansas-St. John's game among NCAA tournament second-round Saturday
John Calipari and Rick Pitino have faced each other twice in the NCAA tournament Final Four.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
St. John's vs. Arkansas odds, time, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
The SportsLine Projection Model has revealed its Arkansas vs. St. John's picks for the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Saturday as Rick Pitino and John Calipari meetCBS Sports - 20h -
St. John's Red Storm and Arkansas Razorbacks meet in NCAA Tournament second round
Arkansas Razorbacks (21-13, 9-11 SEC) vs. St. John's Red Storm (31-4, 21-2 Big East) Providence, Rhode Island; Saturday, 2:40 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Red Storm -7.5; over/under is 144.5 ...ABC News - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Saints free agent pickup, Louisiana native eager to embrace the pregame 'Who Dat' chant
The "Who Dat" chant has become a staple at Saints home games, and big-time free agent pickup Justin Reid says he's eager to experience it himself.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Evaluation is perhaps more important than ever in recruiting
Evaluation has always been a critical component in college football recruiting. But it’s perhaps more important than ever with the roster turnover that occurs annually and the rise of the transfer ...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Instant reactions to Colts picks in latest 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft
Here are our instant reactions to the Colts selections in the latest 7-round mock draft from Pro Football Network.Yahoo Sports - 26m -
3 Nets takeaways from 108-103 loss at the Pacers
Here are three Brooklyn Nets takeaways from Saturday's 108-103 loss at the Indiana Pacers.Yahoo Sports - 27m -
Andrei Arlovski def. Terrance Hodges at Dirty Boxing Championship: Best photos
Check out the best photos from former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski's third-round TKO win over Ras Hylton at Dirty Boxing Championship 1 in Miami (Photos by Dirty Boxing Championship)Yahoo Sports - 29m
More in Sports
-
NCAA bracket 2025: Printable March Madness bracket, NCAA Tournament predictions, picks, scores, dates, upsets
The 2025 NCAA Tournament is underway so get your printable updated March Madness bracket hereCBS Sports - 21m -
UConn vs. Florida odds, March Madness predictions, start time: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
The SportsLine Projection Model has revealed its Florida Gators vs. Connecticut Huskies picks for the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on SundayCBS Sports - 22m -
Saints free agent pickup, Louisiana native eager to embrace the pregame 'Who Dat' chant
The "Who Dat" chant has become a staple at Saints home games, and big-time free agent pickup Justin Reid says he's eager to experience it himself.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Evaluation is perhaps more important than ever in recruiting
Evaluation has always been a critical component in college football recruiting. But it’s perhaps more important than ever with the roster turnover that occurs annually and the rise of the transfer ...Yahoo Sports - 26m -
Instant reactions to Colts picks in latest 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft
Here are our instant reactions to the Colts selections in the latest 7-round mock draft from Pro Football Network.Yahoo Sports - 26m