ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
 Coach: Stan Heath |  Record: 22-9

 
Overview: The Hogs came roaring down the homestretch, winning six of their last seven regular season games. Included in that impressive run were wins over Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. This is an athletic bunch led by guard Ronnie Brewer, who's leading the Razorbacks in points and steals for the second consecutive season. The 21 overall wins so far is the highest total for the program since 1999, when the Razorbacks were 23-11.

Potential Difference Maker: Brewer is the first scoring option and the star of the team, but the boost Arkansas needs will come off the bench. Eric Ferguson is the classis sixth man, passing up getting his name called at introductions in favor of quality playing time. Ferguson ranks third on the team in minutes played despite starting only six games this season, and he's also the Hogs' fifth leading scorer (8.0 ppg).

On Offense: They are just as comfortable in the halfcourt as they are in transition. They are a very adaptable team on the offensive end, which could be a plus in the tournament. They will run some sets and most everything goes through Brewer.

On Defense: Stan Heath’s tutelage under Tom Izzo at Michigan State is evident. They are a sold man-to-man team and while they aren’t as physical as some of those MSU teams they are more athletic. That allows them to contest a little more.

Strength: Confidence. This is the first trip to the tournament since 2001 so it was important to instill confidence and a winning attitude. There was a lot of uncertainty earlier in the season, but they are playing with a lot of confidence now. They are also a very good rebounding team and the overall talent level is very good.

Weakness: Inexperience. This group hasn’t been to the tournament so how they will respond is a big question mark.

Key to Success: The first game. This team developed a bit of a swagger down the stretch and it will be very important to carry that over to the tournament. For an inexperienced team the first go-round can be a challenge. They also need Brewer to pick up where he left off in the regular season.

How to Beat Them: Take away their transition and control tempo. Make them uncomfortable. Use their inexperience against them. Do not let them start to feel good about themselves.