Jake Wise drew a game-winning bases loaded walk with two outs in the ninth inning to lift No. 4 Arkansas to an 8-7 win over Northwestern State on Tuesday evening at Baum Stadium.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Box Score (PDF), Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• Matt Jones: Arkansas rallies for 8-7 midweek win

But the loss to Florida also ended another streak:  276 days since a Razorback men’s major sport team had lost in Fayetteville.  Nearly nine months and 26 games (4 baseball, 5 football and 17 basketball) since Ole Miss defeated the Razorback baseball team, 2-1, on May 19, 2011.

If you count just football and men’s basketball, it had been 354 days and 22 consecutive wins in Fayetteville since Mississippi State won 88-78 in Bud Walton on March 2, 2011.  In other words…nearly an entire year of winning at home.

Of course, the Hogs don’t play every game at home.  And we all certainly remember more than a few of the other beatdowns on the road from the past year.

In football, 24-point losses to eventual national champion Alabama and national runner-up LSU still sting.  A lot.

And in basketball this season, a 23-point loss at Kentucky, a 22-point loss at Georgia and a 19-point loss at Tennessee were all just as painful to watch as Saturday’s game.  But none happened on home turf or home court.  (Yes…we do remember the basketball Hogs lost to Houston at “neutral site” Little Rock back in November.)

Ultimately, we throw out all these statistics to try to give a greater perspective on what has likely been one of the longest combined major sport home winning streaks in school history.

It doesn’t make the ugly loss on Saturday (or any of the other losses) any easier to take.  But it does help us take a step back and appreciate how much fun it’s been to go watch a Razorback game in Fayetteville over most of the last 12 months.

The fourth-ranked Arkansas Razorback baseball team completed a season-opening three-game sweep of Villanova with a 17-1 win in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at Baum Stadium.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Box Score (PDF), Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• Matt Jones: Arkansas routs Villanova for series sweep
• Robert Turbeville: Hogs hammer ‘Nova, sweep series

Erving Walker scored a career-high 31 points and the No. 14 Gators ended Arkansas’ perfect home record with a 98-68 win.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Young’s career high 31 not enough, Game Stats, Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• ESPN.com (Video): Florida Beats Arkansas By 30
• Matt Jones: Postgame: Florida 98, Arkansas 68, Loss overshadows Young’s career night
• Robert Turbeville: Hogs handed worst loss at Walton
• Chris Bahn: Full-Court Press
• Robbie Neiswanger: Florida Hands Arkansas Worst Loss in Bud Walton Arena, Pelphrey Gets Win In Return; Anderson Upset With Officials
• Harry King: Florida’s 3s too much

[Show as slideshow]

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Offense continues to shine in 13-1 win

For the second straight day, No. 4 Arkansas lit up the Baum Stadium scoreboard, scoring 13 times, while five Razorback pitchers combined to allow just one run as Arkansas defeated Villanova 13-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Box Score (PDF), Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• Matt Jones: Bates’ 5 RBIs help Arkansas to 13-1 win
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arkansas Rolls Again, Beating Villanova 13-1

The fourth-ranked Arkansas baseball team scored six times in the bottom of the first and cruised to an 11-5 win over Villanova on Friday afternoon in front of 6,317 fans at Baum Stadium.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Box Score (PDF), Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• Matt Jones: Arkansas starts quick in 11-5 season-opening win
• Robbie Neiswanger: Baxendale, Morris Lead Hogs To Opening-Day Win

Arkansas will play Rutgers in a home-and-home non-conference football series set to begin on Sept. 22, 2012 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

[...] LSU will return to Fayetteville for the second time after playing the Razorbacks on campus in Arkansas’ first SEC season (1992).

Also:

• RBN: 2012 Razorbacks Football Schedule
• Razorback Nation (Video): Jeff Long Comments on 2012 Football Schedule
• Matt Jones: Arkansas-LSU game moved to Fayetteville; Rutgers series scheduled
• Chris Bahn: Arkansas, Rutgers Announce Home-And-Home For Football To Begin In 2012, Arkansas Moves LSU Game To Fayetteville For 2012, If Moving LSU Game Is Best For 2012, What’s Best Beyond This Season?
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arkansas Moves LSU Game To Fayetteville
• Harry King: Arkansas adds Rutgers, moves LSU game

In Part 1 of our preseason preview, we took a look at the Hogs infield and outfield.  While the Hogs have more quality pitchers than they know what to do with, the catcher position is still up for grabs.

Here’s a quick position-by-position look at the 2012 Diamond Hogs pitchers and catchers with a special emphasis on the newcomers.

Catcher

Projected Starter:

• C Jake Wise (.163, HR, 5 RBIs, 21 Games in 2011)

Newcomer to Watch:  In a position battle with Wise, true freshman John Clay Reeves (6-0, 200, Monroe, La.) has impressed the coaches thus far.  Reeves’ skills behind the plate are advanced for a freshman and he’s shown a strong and accurate arm in the scrimmages.

RBN Take:  While Wise will likely get the first shot to start, look for the battle with Reeves to continue through the first month of the season.  Whoever hits will most likely get the most starts.  Both have handled the pitchers well in fall and spring practices.

Pitchers

Key Returning Players:

• RHP D.J. Baxendale (10-2, 1.58 ERA, 85.1 IP, 77 Ks in 2011)
• RHP Ryne Stanek (4-2, 3.94 ERA, 64 IP, 41Ks)
• RHP Barrett Astin (5-2, 2.72 ERA, 3 SV, 59.2 IP, 57 Ks)
• LHP Cade Lynch (4-4, 3.11 ERA, 63.2 IP, 63 Ks)
• RHP Brandon Moore (4-1, 3.45 ERA, 70.1 IP, 38 Ks)
• LHP Randall Fant (3-5, 3.89 ERA, 69.1 IP, 35 Ks)
• LHP Trent Daniel (2-0, 2.91 ERA, 4 SV)
• RHP Nolan Sanburn (2-4, 3.62 ERA, 8 SV)

Newcomers to Watch:  Dave Van Horn and pitching coach Dave Jorn continue to mention four freshman that have impressed in the fall and preseason practices.

Right-handers Chris Oliver (6-4, 180, Shiloh Christain HS) and Greg Milhorn (6-2, 175, Texarkana, Ark.) are mentioned as possible mid-week starters and candidates for bullpen work on the weekends.  Both have 90+ MPH fastballs, and can throw three pitches for strikes.

Left-handers Mark Reyes (6-1, 200, Jessieville HS) and Michael Gunn (6-0, 205, Christian Brothers HS) are two Arkansas products that have tremendous upside.  Reyes, in particular, has nasty movement throwing a cut fastball that moves away from right-handed hitters.  Both have added 4-5 MPH to their fastballs since the fall, and according to Van Horn are future weekend starters.

RBN Take:  Is this the best staff in school history?  It may very well be.  Baxendale and Stanek are your Friday night and Saturday starters right now, with the third starter spot up for grabs.  It looks like Van Horn and Jorn would like to bring Barrett Astin in from the bullpen so they can pitch him multiple times in a weekend series.  At times last season, Astin was untouchable — see his 10 strikeout performance vs. Mississippi State last year for reference.

Moore, Lynch and Fant will likely vie for the third starter, with the other two being in the weekend bullpen.  Nolan Sanburn and Trent Daniel look to get most of the closer work early on.  Sanburn, who throws in the mid-90s, is looking to regain his form.  After a sizzling hot start in 2011, Nolan tailed off at the end, and saw few meaningful innings after mid-April.

All in all, we are stoked about the 2012 season for the Diamond Hogs.  With 13 games in the first 17 days, all the pitchers should get ample innings to start the season.  We feel like going in that this team could struggle offensively.  But that should be more than offset by solid defense and dominant pitching.

Will that be enough to get to Omaha?  We can’t wait to see.  See you at the Baum!

Jordan McRae came off the bench to score 14 points as Tennessee beat Arkansas 77-58 on Wednesday night.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Razorbacks drop road game to Tennessee, Game Stats (PDF)

With a ton of returning experience and a wealth of pitching, Dave Van Horn and his Razorbacks have one thing on their mind:  It’s Omaha or bust in 2012.  The fourth-ranked Hogs open the season on Friday with a three-game set against Villanova.

In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year in 2011, Van Horn managed his team to a SEC Western Division championship by beating Ole Miss twice on the last day of the regular season.  Ousted by host Arizona State in the Tempe Regional, the Hogs finished 40-22.

While it’s good to have the entire 2011 infield back, spots at catcher and in the outfield are still up for grabs.

The lofty preseason rankings are no doubt based on the potent pitching staff the Diamond Hogs have assembled.  No fewer than 12 quality arms — including four freshmen — are primed and ready to roll.  The Hogs 3.20 team ERA in 2011 was their lowest in 28 years.

As the season opener nears, here’s a quick position-by-position look at the 2012 Diamond Hogs infield and outfield, with a special emphasis on the newcomers.

Infield

Projected Starters:

• 3B Matt Reynolds (.243, 3 HRs, 22 RBIs in 2011)
• 1B Dominic Ficociello (.335, 4 HRs, 50 RBIs)
• 2B Bo Bigham (.291, 2 HRs, 20 RBIs, 41R)
• SS Tim Carver (.232, HR, 15 RBIs, 24SB)
• DH Sam Bates (.237, 7 RBIs, 6 2Bs)

Newcomers to Watch:  Derrick Bleeker (6-5, 225) is back with the Hogs after a year at Howard Junior College.  Bleeker, along with Eric Fisher, will backup Ficociello at first.  Brian Anderson (6-3, 185) is the future at third.  The big freshman from Edmond, Oklahoma can run and hit with power.

Freshman David Masters (6-1, 185) from Lake St. Louis, Missouri will back up both Carver and Bigham in the middle.  Van Horn has raved about Masters’ play in the fall practices, and says he is “ready today in the field.”  A future starter.

RBN Take:  Van Horn has stated that Reynolds “has to hit” this year after a disappointing 2011.  If he struggles again at the plate this year, you may see Ficociello move over and play some third.  This is not the scenario Van Horn is hoping for as Dom is great defensively at first and Reynolds is equally good with the glove at third.  Or the future may be now for the highly touted Anderson, who was a 20th round MLB draft selection by the Twins last summer.

Bigham likely has a chip on his shoulder after not being drafted in last year’s MLB draft.  In addition to his glove, Carver is one of the top base runners (24 stolen bases in 2011) the Hogs have on their squad.

Outfield

Projected Starters:

• CF Jacob Morris (.194, 14R, 23 games in 2011)
• RF Matt Vinson (.221, 2 HR, 8 RBIs)

Newcomers to Watch:  We have waited over a year now to see Jimmy Bosco (5-9, 170) in a Razorback uniform.  The sophomore transfer from Cal almost was eligible last year after Cal discontinued their program for a few weeks in 2010.  He hit .321 as a freshman for the Bears in a tough conference.

True freshman Joe Serrano (6-0, 195) long term is probably an infielder, but is learning to play the outfield this year for the Hogs.  Serrano was a 12th round draft choice by the Reds and looks like a future starter.

RBN Take:  A lot of uncertainty for the Hogs in the outfield this year after losing Collin Kuhn, Jarrod McKinney and Kyle Robinson off of last year’s team.  Morris, a redshirt sophomore, looked like a star in the making a year ago before injuries nagged him.  He has tremendous speed and a “plus-plus” arm in the outfield.  He is no longer switch-hitting, and will focus on hitting from the right side in 2012.

We think Bosco can hit enough to stay in the lineup somewhere.  Van Horn has been patient with Vinson, thinking that he will eventually hit, too.  Vinson has really worked in the weight room this offseason, and is noticeably bigger in 2012.  Bleeker will also figure in the outfield rotation, especially against left-handed pitching.  Look for a platoon in both right and left in the early going to see who emerges.

BJ Young scored 27 points Saturday as Arkansas set a record for victories at Bud Walton Arena with a 76-65 win over South Carolina.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Men’s basketball wins 17th at home, Game Stats (PDF), Post-game Notes (PDF), Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• Matt Jones: Postgame: Arkansas 76, South Carolina 65
• Chris Bahn: Full-Court Press
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arkansas Sets Record With 17th Home Win, Film Premieres At BWA; Mitchell Impresses

Gerald Robinson scored a career-high 27 points and Georgia ended a four-game losing streak by beating Arkansas 81-59 on Wednesday night to keep the Razorbacks winless on the road.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Razorbacks downed by Georgia, Game Stats (PDF)

While we applaud, and love to watch the attacking style of Mike Anderson’s offense, there is fine line between aggressive and stupid.  The young Hogs crossed it on Saturday.

The 19 turnovers were disappointing, and not really the norm for this team.  Last Tuesday, they only turned it over eight times in an up-and-down game against Vandy.

What was disturbing was watching the Hogs continually drive to the basket and either have their shot swatted away or run over somebody.  The 12 blocked shots by LSU coupled with the six charges taken, amounted to 18 additional possessions that the Hogs gave away.

Many times, once the Hogs drove and got past their initial defender, they had chances to take several pull-up, wide-open 8-10 foot jumpers in the lane, only to continue on to the basket unsuccessfully.  Driving toward the basket is not the same thing as attacking the rim — don’t confuse the two.

We know all of this is nothing more than watching a young team grow and learn how and when to pull up.  Knowing how to drive aggressively, but still be under control.  We know that.  But as the “learning opportunities” continue to mount, the chances for road wins are slipping away.

We still think the Razorbacks will make the NCAA tourney if they can secure two road wins.  Georgia, Tennessee and Auburn are all winnable games.  Nobody’s beating us at home — nobody.  But to win on the road in the SEC, you’ve got to play smarter than the Hogs did Saturday at Baton Rouge.

Ralston Turner had 16 points to pace four scorers in double figures for LSU in a 71-65 victory against Arkansas on Saturday.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Hogs fall to LSU, Game Stats
• Logan Wilson: Hogs fall short on road again

ArkansasRazorbacks.com: 2012 Arkansas Razorbacks Signing Class

The Arkansas football team and head coach Bobby Petrino announced its 2012 signing class Wednesday in the Miller Room at the Broyles Center.

Also:

• WholeHogSports.com (Video): Paul Petrino, Paul Haynes
• Chris Bahn: Razorback Staff Turnover Might Have Helped Late Push For Key Defensive Additions, Arkansas Finishes Outside Top 25, In Bottom Half Of SEC In Rankings
• Matt Jones: Fifth class resembles first for Petrino
• Logan Wilson: Razorbacks sign three cornerbacks
• Robbie Neiswanger: No DGB? Arkansas Says No Problem With 2012 Class, Green-Beckham Says ‘Staying Home’ Felt Right

Live Blog:

Updated 4:00 p.m.

Already Enrolled:

• Austin Flynn, DE, LA Harbor (Calif.) CC
• Demetrius Dean, TE, Fayetteville (Ark.) HS

The most recent updates will appear at the top.

ESPN.com: Arkansas puts away Vandy to move to 16-0 at home

Ricky Scott scored 18 points and the Razorbacks equaled their Southeastern Conference-best with nine 3s in pulling away to an 82-74 victory over No. 25 Vanderbilt on Tuesday night.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Razorbacks surge past Vandy 82-74, Game Stats (PDF), Post-game Notes (PDF), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• Matt Jones: Postgame: Arkansas 82, Vanderbilt 74
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arkansas Beats Vandy, Wins No. 16 in BWA
• Chris Bahn: Full-Court Press

Trevor Releford scored 18 points and Alabama snapped a four-game losing streak, beating Arkansas 72-66 on Saturday.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Men’s basketball falls just short at Alabama, Game Stats (PDF)

Earlier in the week, Baseball America – a publication that typically gives the Hogs less credit than they’ve earned — surprisingly ranked Arkansas #4 in their 2012 Preseason Poll.  The Hogs were one of six SEC teams ranked in the top 11.  On Thursday, they found themselves sitting at #8 in the recently released USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be previewing the Diamond Hogs in depth — position by position — as they get ready to start what could be a championship season.  But one thing that has us scratching our heads a bit was the recent decision to move in the fences at Baum Stadium.

Our good friend UnderHog shared some photos with us this week showing the work going on at Baum to bring in the right field fence a reported 10 feet.

Baum Stadium Right Field Fence (Photo Courtesy of UnderHog)

It appears from his photo that reducing the fence 10 feet in the power alley (currently 375) might translate into a bit more than that around the area near the visitors bullpen.

The only reason we raise our eyebrows at the change is due to the fact that Van Horn and pitching coach Dave Jorn have assembled what could be one of the greatest pitching staffs in school history.  Why would they offset that advantage by making it easier for the other side to hit home runs?

Van Horn argues that other schools are using the current Baum Stadium dimensions, coupled with the brisk southerly winds, against the Hogs in recruiting.

“In some games it will help us and in some games it will hurt us, but it will do the same to the other team,” Van Horn said.  “This will show left-handed hitters we have them in mind.”

Current Razorback switch hitter Dominic Ficociello (.335, 4HR, 50 RBIs in 2011) might be the one player who will benefit most from the move.  Some of Dom’s team-high 15 doubles last year will definitely be home runs this season.

Keep a close eye on this change and the resulting effects as the Hogs get underway in 2012.  The Razorbacks host Villanova for a three-game series beginning February 17th.

B.J. Young had 11 points as Arkansas remained undefeated in Bud Walton Arena with a 56-53 win over Auburn.

Also:

• ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Men’s basketball wins over Auburn 56-53, Game Stats (PDF), Post-game Notes (PDF), Game Highlights (Video), Post-game Press Conference (Video)
• Robert Turbeville: Hogs heat up after half, hold on
• Matt Jones: Hogs win despite rough start
• Chris Bahn: Full-Court Press
• Robbie Neiswanger: Arkansas Overcomes Ugly Start To Beat Auburn