A victory over an unranked nonconference opponent may not seem like much. But for the Arkansas Razorbacks last Wednesday's 78-65 win over Texas Tech could be a turning point for a basketball program that had lost its elite status years ago. It also could signal the restoration of bipolarity in the Southeastern Conference that existed in the 1990s when Arkansas and Kentucky were the dominant powers in the league.

It wasn't so much that Arkansas pummeled the Red Raiders. The Razorbacks didn't. Instead, what stood out during the 40 minutes of play was how the Razorbacks worked to get the win. Arkansas coach Stan Heath, who has posted few impressive wins in his four years in Fayetteville, outsmarted Bobby Knight and employed a strategy that effectively utilized the strengths of his tall, athletic players.

 Stairway to Hog Heaven

Courtesy The Arkansas Traveler

The Razorbacks were able to shut down the passing lanes and stultify Texas Tech's motion offense, while giving Knight a taste of his own medicine on their offensive end. In the process, they proved resilient after losing the lead late in the first half and putting the game away after halftime--something they seemed unable to do in previous seasons. It was the most complete game Arkansas has played in the Stan Heath era, and for a team that has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2001 that means a lot. It shows that Arkansas may be on the rise again.

And that is important for the SEC. Since the league expanded to 12 schools in 1992, only one team has ever challenged Kentucky for supremacy -- the Razorbacks. Arkansas claimed its spot at the top of the college basketball world more than a decade ago but its halcyon days lasted only one year after it won the national title in 1994. Since then, the program has declined and Arkansas has become an afterthought.

But even when the Razorbacks were down and surrendered their role as Kentucky's foil, no other team was able to step in and challenge the Wildcats on a consistent basis. Florida, Mississippi State, Alabama and LSU have all tried. But they have failed. 

Now, Arkansas appears to be reemerging from the depths of mediocrity, and it's about time. After enduring the aftereffects of the controversial firing of former coach Nolan Richardson in 2002, the Razorbacks have been slowly rebuilding and adjusting to a new style of play that is less frenetic and more traditional. In the process, Heath has taken advantage of what Richardson left behind -- a program with a national reputation and world-class facilities. He has been able to lure players from all over the country and has pledged to recapture what was lost amid academic scandals, poor recruiting and embarrassing episodes that created the slippery slope Arkansas slid down.

It appears Heath may be finally fulfilling that promise. He has his players running his offense and they are doing it well. That much was evident Wednesday night. when Arkansas improved its record to 9-2. The win over Texas Tech may not mean a lot when it comes to RPI. But it demonstrates that the Razorbacks are no pushover and are on their way back to giving Kentucky a run for its money. And that is good for the SEC.