BasketBlog: Alabama

2:46 p.m. — Remember, Hogs and Horns dual track meet in just over 30 minutes at the Randal Tyson Track Center. 3:30 is the start and it is live on RazorVision. We return to the blog spot tomorrow afternoon as the women’s basketball team hosts Georgia at 2 p.m. Good afternoon from Fayetteville.

2:45 p.m. — Powell leads all with 18, Washington and Clarke add 17 each; Fortson goes double with 12p/10a. Click over for the postgame press conference live on RazorVision.

2:43 p.m. — Fortson holds the ball, then drops it to the hardwood as the last second clicks off, Arkansas 71, Bama 59; defense dominates for UA.

2:41 p.m. — Bama gets a turnover, heads up the floor and this time Britt called for the goal tending. So in the last three trips up the floor, Alabama has actually only put the ball in the hoop once, but scored 7 points.

2:41 p.m. — Bama gets its first three-pointer of the half, but it is too little too late, 69-57 with just over a minute left.

2:40 p.m. — Clarke dishes, Powell dunks; ball game? 69-54 Arkansas at 1:25.

2:39 p.m. — After a tomahawk block by Powell results in a goal tending call, Washington returns the margin to 13 with a pair of free throws, 67-54 Arkansas.

2:37 p.m. — Meanwhile, no three-point problems for Rotnei Clarke, hits his fourth of the game and its’ 65-52 Arkansas. It is the largest lead of the game for Razorbacks.

2:35 p.m. — Defense is the difference: UA almost identical first and second half (44%/42.9%; 22.2% both in 3pt) but Bama craters to 50%/33.3% in overall field goals, from 44.4% to 0% 3pt. Tide is 0-of-7 from the arc in the second half.

2:34 p.m. — Washington w/2FT and a FG takes lead with 15 for Arkansas and Hogs take control at 62-52 over Bama with 3:40 left to play.

2:32 p.m. — Washington inside as the big man begins to exert his control over the lane, 62-52.

2:31 p.m. — Washington hits a pair of free throws to extend the margin to 8, 60-52; Hogs starting to take control of the game.

2:29 p.m. — Just over a full minute off the clock, neither team scoring, Pel calls time out to get his team refocused. Arkansas has two to call, Bama only one TO left.

2:26 p.m. — Clarke and Powell leading with 14 each at this media time out. Fortson with 12 and Washington 11. Did the weather guy just say it’s raining outside like Clarke rains three’s inside? The pitfalls of pre-taping.

2:24 p.m. — Exchange of buckets takes us to 58-52 and the next media time out.

2:22 p.m. — Tide calls time out to save possession, was inside the 8 min mark for a media TO and that leaves Bama with only 1 full to call. Hope keeping the ball was that important — 7:43 is a long time to play with only one time out in a tight game.

2:21 p.m. — Defense is difference in 2nd half; 1st FG, UA 44%, Bama 50%; 2nd FG UA 45.5%, Bama 36.8%

2:20 p.m. — So much for mo as Clarke drains the trey for 56-50 and brings crowd back to its feet.

2:20 p.m. — Bama won’t go away in spite of Arkansas momentum, Mitchell cuts back to 53-50.

2:14 p.m. — Britt gets the three and the entire arena is roaring; Bama is in trouble, 51-46 Arkansas.

2:13 p.m. — Senario Hillman has been ejected from the game for a flagrant foul on Rotnei Clarke; Hogs up 47-46, Clarke shoots two. The UAPD officiers with the team escort him from the floor. Clarke makes one of two.

2:10 p.m. — Exchange of baskets before Clarke gets bumped hard on the Razorback perimeter, then takes an forearm to the face from Hillman. Officials call the foul, and stop play to review the replay. Taking a while and the crowd is restless. Recall earlier in the half Clarke got the bloody nose.

2:07 p.m. — Tide gets on a run, 6-2, to pull within a deuce at 45-44. Pel calls time out to stop the momentum.

2:03 p.m. — Fortson completes three-point play, his 10th point, and UA up 43-38.

2:03 p.m. — Later today, another live stream as its Hogs and Horns at the fastest indoor track in America. Tyson Center at 3:30 p.m.

2:02 p.m. — Don’t forget, more BasketBlog tomorrow as women’s basketball hosts Georgia. Game also streams on-line at RazorVision.

2:00 p.m. — Fortson draws a foul on the layup, and takes us to media time out; 42-38, 15;54.

1:59 p.m. — Out of the time out, its an 8-2 start to the half for Arkansas.

1:56 p.m. — Fortson to Powell on the break and the crowd comes to life. The back-to-back buckets to 40-36 and Bama coach calls time out.

1:55 p.m. — Powell cleans up a Fortson miss with a dunk and Hogs regain the lead, 38-36.

1:54 p.m. — Fortson feeds Washington inside to tie us up at 36-36. Bad shot for Tide and ball back to Arkansas.

1:53 p.m. — Teams trade buckets to open the second half, now a collision and a bloody nose for Clarke. He’s sent to the sideline, but the crowd wants a foul.

1:51 p.m. — Tide opens second half with possession. Lined up like it is a baseline inbound. Odd.

1:44 p.m. — Curtis Yates and John Phillips, the retiring head ushers being honored at halftime by Jeff Long.

1:43 p.m. — Track coach Chris Bucknam on the court telling the folks about this afternoon’s dual meet. "After we take care of the Tide, help us take down the Horns"

1:38 p.m. — Research fellowships and undergraduate Truman and other scholarship winners recognized on the court. Alexander McKnight for the James Madison Scholarship; Rachel Lee and Matthew Nigel, as Barry Goldwater Scholar.

1:37 p.m. — Halftime, Bama up 34-32; Powell and Clarke with 8, Washington and Fortson with 7, lead UA; Hogs 44% FG, Bama 50% FG.

1:35 p.m. — Tide squanders chance to extend its halftime lead with a miss at the buzzer, and the teams make their way past the BlogSpot here with Bama leading 34-32.

1:33 p.m. — Penetrate and kickout for Bama and a three makes it 34-32 Tide; Fortson drives inside and gets swamped by a double team. Ball comes loose and covered by the Tide, first down Alabam . . . oops, sorry. Bama does get possesion, but calls a time out with 23.6 left to prevent a tie. Not good court awareness as Bama had the arrow. Maybe they wanted to make sure they’d get the kickoff in the second half . . .

1:32 p.m. — And one for Washington as he makes the stick-back. Gets the 3pt play and UA up 32-31.

1:30 p.m. — Bama picks up its 10th team foul as Fortson jets through an attempted trap at midcourt. He misses the first, makes the second. Takes Fortson to seven points and ties the game at 29-29. with 1:37 left in the first.

1:26 p.m. — Fortson puts Arkansas back in the lead, 28-27, but a foul on Hillman gives the Tide the chance to regain, and does with the free throws.

1:24 p.m. — Petrino video is now up on-line; we’ll have a quick link here on the BasketBlog.

1:21 p.m. — Fortson layup brings Arkansas back within one, 27-26; and we go to the last media timeout.

1:19 p.m. — After the media time out, Razorbacks come out with fire. Washington dunk gets the crowd up, 24-27.

1:15 p.m. — Tide picks up a three-point play for Green, then a three-point goal by Torrance to regain the lead, 27-22.

1:14 p.m. — Bama has to make a defensive choice. They can double-team and attempt to trap Fortson as he approaches mid-court, but in doing so, exposes their ability to not keep a double-team close to Clarke. Last trip perfect example as Fortson stumbles through a physical trap, but manages to bat the ball forward to Clarke, who was set up waiting in the corner for an uncontested trey, 22-21 Arkansas.

1:10 p.m. — Clarke breaks the scoring slump for both teams with a deep 3 pter, 18-15 Bama. Fortson backs it up with a coast to coast drive and its a 5-0 run, 18-17.

1:07 p.m. — Into the 2nd media time out at 11:45, Powell leads UA with 8 of the 12, Hogs at 44% from field but Bama at 61.5% with 18-12 lead.

1:03 p.m. — Hogs zone causing Bama to slow; but Bama’s FCP trap leading to Razorback turnovers. Defense has taken sway in the game as we go to a Razorback timeout down, 16-12.

12:56 p.m. — Bama springs its trap on Fortson at midcourt, forcing a turnover. Collision draws boos from crowd.

12:55 p.m. — The chase and trap on Clarke leaves Powell wide open once Clarke wriggles free of a double-team, Powell puts it on the floor and heads for the rack, draws the foul from Knox. Gets the first and second, 10-5 Arkansas and that stops a 5-0 mini-run for Bama.

12:54 p.m. — Whistle and warning from official for swatting the ball out of the net. Bama staying in the FCP MTM but showing a trap for a moment.

12:53 p.m. — Torrance floater breaks the run, and a steal by Brock. He breaks away and Washington flies up court to reject Brock with authority.

12:52 p.m. — Monster Hog Call as the Bama coach Anthony Grant tries to get this team settled; OH MY technical foul on Grant! Clarke comes out of time out with two free throws, Hogs on an 8-0 run to open

12:51 p.m. — Powell gets the breakaway, then Arkansas’ FCP gets a steal from by Washington lays it in and quickly 6-0 and a Bama time out.

12:49 p.m. — Patient offense but a miss; Washington draws a charge from Torrance on the other end. Bama stays with the light FCP. IN the half court, chasing Clarke, playing off to collapse on Washington. Works first time, second time, Washington plays Bama defense for fool and feeds Powell for a monster dunk, 2-0 Hogs.

12:48 p.m. — Tip to Bama. Oh my so cloose to back court under Arkansas’ MTM pressure. Bad shot and TO for Bama, Tide answers with man FCP.

12:47 p.m. — Band vamps the crowd waiting for the TV timeout coordinator to drop his arm. Here we go.

12:46 p.m. — No question, this is the largest crowd of the year. And they are loud.

12;44 p.m. — Students go back to the traditional after doing the ignore you with the newspapers move at the Texas game. You’re pregame signs for visitor intros are: Who’s She (Knox), He’s Cute (Green), What’s that Smell (Hillman), Who Cares (Torrance), BIg Deal (Brock), Nice Hair (Coach Grant)

12:41 p.m. — The band rocks hard the old 80’s standard from aha as a crowd of students make their way into the building. Lots of signs in the student section. Quick move into the Peas — We’ve got a feeling, this IS going to be a good time this afternoon. Horn sounds for introductions.

12:40 p.m. — Crowd continuing to head into the seats. We’re waiting to see Alabama, and the Tide rolls in with about 2:30 left on the clock.

12:39 p.m. — Lights up and these are your AAAARRRKKKAAANNSAAAAAAS RAAAAAZORBACKS.

12:37 p.m. — The formal Hog Call brings a loud response. A very active crowd in the lower bowl as we begin the highlight reel. 5:00 to introductions.

12:35 p.m. — National Anthem, we are 8:00 to tip

12:34 p.m. — As this game is SEC Network, no live stream via RazorVision is available. We will have post game press conference live on RazorVision. Replay of the game will also be up later today. We do have live track and field with Arkansas vs. Texas dual meet at 3:30 p.m.

12:34 p.m. — Army ROTC is lined up at center court preparing to present colors for our National Anthem.

12:33 p.m. — Remember, to accommodate the SEC Network, today’s game is a 12:47 tipoff.

12:32 p.m. — Here are the starters:

UA starters: Washington, Fortson, Britt, Clarke, Powell; Bama starters, Brock, Torrance, Hillman, Green, Knox

12:30 p.m. — Razorbacks heading off the floor, Bama still on the court shooting under the watchful eye of the officials; we are 12:30 to introductions.

12:26 p.m. — Cheer and pom take the floor to the band flourish — this is back to Walton atmosphere today. A full lower student trough is rocking, both teams are on the court for formal warmups and it feels like basketball.

12:25 p.m. — Back to the basketblog after a Tweet-fest with Coach Petrino. Tons of highlights to sprinkle in here during the game, but the most important is you can expect to see the replay within the next hour.

11:30 a.m. — Petrino presser to start in 15 minutes; heading to back to Tweet for that event.

11:27 a.m. — Handful of other players on the court shooting and getting loose for today. We’ve yet to see any of the Alabama players.

11:20 a.m. — Mike Washington is trying half-court shots as the players make their loose warm-ups. He’s got some extra tape on his shooting hand. Oops, that’s his left thumb, not his shooting hand.

11:00 a.m. — Part of the RazorVision team is working in the Walton Arena interview room to prepare for today’s Bobby Petrino press conference. Coach will give some overview of the postseason, and we will have that streaming live here at approximately 11:45 a.m.

10:30 a.m. — The doors open and the students start rolling in. Here’s a look at today’s tee-shirt they will receive.

10:15 a.m. — One of the things that happen in the background to insure everyone safety at Razorback events are the sweeps made by the University Police and Orno. Here’s a good pic of Orno at rest for the dog lovers:

And Orno at work.

Fans and kids, when you see Orno, please keep in mind that he is a working canine. The officers that partner with Orno are very accomodating to those who see him, but like any service animal, don’t reach out to pet. It’s distracting to any service animal — whether a seeing-eye dog or a police canine officer. So, appreciate their beauty, but let them do their work.

10:00 a.m. — Early start today for the blog. Check out the cool new graphic on the bottom of the scoreboard.