Dick Vitale calls Arkansas a 'dangerous team' after win over Kansas

Year after year, Arkansas continues to be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks, led by head coach Eric Musselman, are again moving onto the Sweet 16 after a pair of wins to open the NCAA Tournament. The current run for Arkansas has caught the eyes of ESPN’s Dick Vitale.

Arkansas was an 8-seed in March Madness this year, matchup up with 9-seeded Illinois in the Round of 64 in the West Region. After winning 73-63, Arkansas had a date with 1-seed Kansas in the Round of 32. The game was a close one, but the Razorbacks pulled it out, winning 72-71.

Vitale joined SportsCenter on Sunday morning to discuss the impressive performance from Arkansas, and he saw a lot to like about the Razorbacks.

“Well, you know what’s really amazing, Hannah — and last year they beat a No. 1 seed, people forget that,” Vitale said on Sunday. “They beat Gonzaga, this year they beat Kansas, incredible. They did it with really great free throw shooting in the second half, they go 15-for-18 on the free throw line. Davonte Davis, so important in the tournament that players elevate their game. He had 11 points average all year; he goes for 25.

“And the amazing thing with that victory is the fact that two of their leading players — Nick Smith and Anthony Black — they went for a total of four points between them, and yet they still survived and advanced and beat the No. 1 seed in Kansas. So again, just a great achievement by Eric Musselman.”

Vitale praises Eric Musselman for leading Arkansas through adversity

This season hasn’t been a straight line for Arkansas, making another Sweet 16 appearance that much more impressive to Vitale. The Razorbacks had a stretch of four straight losses, and five out of five, right out of the gates in SEC play. They also lost three games in a row to end the regular season.

Through injuries and struggles, Arkansas stayed the course. Now, Musselman’s squad has a chance to continue dancing, and Vitale isn’t counting them out due to what they’ve battled through this season.

“I know that he was on Cloud Nine ripping that shirt off. I love his passion, I love his energy, I love his enthusiasm, I love those kinds of guys, man,” said Vitale. “They’re my kind of people and this team, really, is a very dangerous team. Remember this: They were a preseason No. 10 and then they were hit with the big injury to Nick Smith, who would have been one of America’s real premier Diaper Dandies.

“He missed 19 games. So again, they just rallied at the right time, right moment, and that’s what March Madness is. What am I going to do today? How am I going to get this done? And Mr. Musselman gets it done.”

Arkansas will play in the Sweet 16 on Thursday. The Razorbacks will match up against the winner of Sunday’s Round of 32 battle between 4-seeded UConn and 5-seeded Saint Mary’s. A win for Arkansas would secure a third straight trip to the Elite Eight.