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1993–94 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

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1993–94 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
NCAA tournament National Champions
SEC regular season champions
SEC West Division champions
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWest
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 2
Record31–3 (14–2 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBud Walton Arena
Seasons
1993–94 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
No. 14 Florida 12 4   .750 29 8   .784
No. 7 Kentucky 12 4   .750 27 7   .794
Vanderbilt 9 7   .563 20 12   .625
Georgia 7 9   .438 14 16   .467
South Carolina 4 12   .250 9 19   .321
Tennessee 2 14   .125 5 22   .185
West
No. 2 Arkansas 14 2   .875 31 3   .912
Alabama 12 4   .750 20 10   .667
Mississippi State 9 7   .563 18 11   .621
Ole Miss 7 9   .438 14 13   .519
LSU 5 11   .313 11 16   .407
Auburn 3 13   .188 11 17   .393
1994 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

The 1993–94 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas in the 1993–94 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. It was Nolan Richardson's ninth season as head coach at Arkansas. The Razorbacks played their home games at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas as members of the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. Arkansas finished the season 31–3, 14–2 in SEC play to win the West Division and regular season overall championships. The Hogs defeated Georgia in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament before losing to Kentucky in the semifinals. The Razorbacks received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the 1 seed in the Midwest Regional, their seventh straight trip to the tournament. Arkansas defeated North Carolina A&T and Georgetown to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in five years. There the Razorbacks defeated Tulsa and Michigan to earn a trip to the Final Four. It was Arkansas's fifth trip to the Final Four in program history. In the Final Four, they defeated Arizona before beating Duke in the National Championship game. Thanks to Scotty Thurman's high arching three-point shot with less than a minute to play in the national championship game, the team earned its first national championship in school history. Thurman's shot is known as the "Shot heard 'round Arkansas",[2] and is considered one of the greatest plays in Arkansas Razorbacks sports history. Corliss Williamson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. 1993-94 is considered the greatest single season in Arkansas' one-hundred-year history of men's basketball.

Previous season

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The Razorbacks finished the 1992–93 season 22–9, 10–6 in SEC play to win the SEC West Division championship. Arkansas defeated Georgia before losing in the semifinals of the SEC tournament to Kentucky. The Razorbacks received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the 4 seed in the East Regional. Arkansas defeated Holy Cross and St. John's to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four years. There they lost to 4th-ranked and eventual national champion North Carolina. This team was dubbed "Richardson's Runts", due to the fact that Dwight Stewart was the tallest player on the team at 6'9".[3]

Roster

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1993–94 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
G 3 Alex Dillard 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Bessemer, AL
G 12 Clint McDaniel 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Tulsa, OK
G 13 John Engskov 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Berryville, AR
G 14 Corey Beck 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Memphis, TN
C 15 Dwight Stewart 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 270 lb (122 kg) Jr Memphis, TN
G 22 Davor Rimac 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Zagreb, Croatia
F 23 Ken Biley 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Pine Bluff, AR
F 24 Ray Biggers 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Houston, TX
F 30 Scotty Thurman 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Ruston, LA
G 31 Roger Crawford 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Birmingham, AL
C 33 Lee Wilson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr Waco, TX
F 34 Corliss Williamson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) So Russellville, AR
G 35 Reggie Merritt 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Little Rock, AR
F 40 Elmer Martin 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Memphis, TN
C 44 Darnell Robinson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Fr Oakland, CA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
November 29*
7:05 p.m.
No. 2 Murray State W 93–67  1–0
 13  Tied   7  Robinson   6  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,048)
Fayetteville, AR
December 2*
8:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 2 Missouri W 120–68  2–0
 18  Thurman   8  Robinson   5  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,212)
Fayetteville, AR
December 4*
7:05 p.m., Learfield Sports
No. 2 Northwestern State W 111–76  3–0
 21  Dillard   12  Williamson   7  Crawford  Bud Walton Arena (19,886)
Fayetteville, AR
December 8*
8:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 1 at Memphis W 96–78  4–0
 18  Williamson   7  Wilson   5  Beck  Pyramid Arena (20,142)
Memphis, TN
December 11*
7:05 p.m., Learfield Sports
No. 1 Delaware State W 123–66  5–0
 39  Dillard   9  Robinson   5  Crawford  Bud Walton Arena (20,184)
Fayetteville, AR
December 18*
7:05 p.m., Learfield Sports
No. 1 Jackson State W 96–80  6–0
 25  Williamson   12  Stewart   5  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,084)
Fayetteville, AR
December 23*
7:05 p.m., Learfield Sports
No. 1 at Tulsa W 93–91 OT 7–0
 27  Williamson   9  Williamson   5  McDaniel  Tulsa Convention Center (8,659)
Tulsa, OK
December 28*
7:05 p.m., Learfield Sports
No. 1 Texas Southern W 129–63  8–0
 18  Rimac   9  Stewart   9  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,098)
Fayetteville, AR
January 3*
7:05 p.m.
No. 1 SMU W 96–70  9–0
 23  Dillard   8  Thurman   7  Thurman  Bud Walton Arena (20,008)
Fayetteville, AR
January 5
7:00 p.m., JP Sports
No. 1 Ole Miss W 87–61  10–0
(1-0)
 25  Williamson   10  Williamson   5  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,096)
Fayetteville, AR
January 8
1:30 p.m.
No. 1 at Alabama L 64–66  10–1
(1-1)
 14  Beck   8  Williamson   2  Tied  Coleman Coliseum (15,043)
Tuscaloosa, AL
January 11
8:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 4 LSU W 84–83  11–1
(2-1)
 24  Williamson   8  Williamson   8  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,208)
Fayetteville, AR
January 15
1:30 p.m.
No. 4 at Auburn W 117–105  12-1
(3-1)
 32  Thurman   11  Williamson   4  Tied  Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum (11,236)
Auburn, AL
January 19
7:30 p.m.
No. 3 at Mississippi State L 71–72  12-2
(3-2)
 26  Williamson   6  Beck   3  Tied  Humphrey Coliseum (9,711)
Starkville, MS
January 22
1:00 p.m., JP Sports
No. 3 South Carolina W 79–53  13-2
(4-2)
 27  Williamson   9  Stewart   7  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,118)
Fayetteville, AR
January 29
3:00 p.m.
No. 5 at Tennessee W 65–64  14-2
(5-2)
 15  Beck   9  Tied   5  Beck  Thompson-Boling Arena (14,275)
Knoxville, TN
February 1
8:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 6 Vanderbilt W 89–76  15-2
(6-2)
 24  Williamson   8  Thurman   9  Beck  Bud Walton Arena (20,246)
Fayetteville, AR
February 5*
7:05 p.m.
No. 6 Montevallo W 131–63  16-2
 21  Thurman   9  Biley   7  Tied  Bud Walton Arena (20,034)
Fayetteville, AR
February 9
7:00 p.m., JP Sports, ESPN2
No. 3 at No. 4 Kentucky W 90–82  17–2
(8–2)
 26  Thurman   14  Williamson   9  Beck  Rupp Arena (24,236)
Lexington, KY
February 12
1:00 p.m., JP Sports
No. 3 No. 20 Florida W 99–87  18–2
(9–2)
 24  Thurman   7  Stewart   3  Tied  Bud Walton Arena (20,230)
Fayetteville, AR
February 16
7:00 p.m., JP Sports
No. 1 Alabama W 102–81  19–2
(10–2)
 20  Williamson   6  Stewart   5  Thurman  Bud Walton Arena (20,262)
Fayetteville, AR
February 19
7:35 p.m.
No. 1 vs. Ole Miss W 90–73  20–2
(11–2)
 21  Williamson   9  Wilson   5  Tied  The Pyramid (20,142)
Memphis, TN
February 22
8:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 1 at Georgia W 74–65  21–2
(12–2)
 25  Thurman   8  Tied   3  Beck  Stegeman Coliseum (8,458)
Athens, GA
February 26
7:05 p.m.
No. 1 Auburn W 91–81  22–2
(12–2)
 21  Thurman   11  Williamson   4  Robinson  Bud Walton Arena (20,208)
Fayetteville, AR
March 2
7:00 p.m., JP Sports
No. 1 at LSU W 108–105 OT 23–2
(13–2)
 27  Thurman   9  Beck   8  Beck  Maravich Assembly Center (11,712)
Baton Rouge, LA
March 5
3:00 p.m., JP Sports
No. 1 Mississippi State W 80–62  24–2
(14–2)
 27  Williamson   9  Williamson   4  Tied  Bud Walton Arena (20,224)
Fayetteville, AR
SEC Tournament
March 11*
2:15 p.m., JP Sports
(W1) No. 1 vs. (E4) Georgia
Quarterfinal
W 95–83  25–2
 30  Williamson   8  Williamson   6  Beck  Pyramid Arena (20,218)
Memphis, TN
March 12*
2:30 p.m., JP Sports
(W1) No. 1 vs. (E2) No. 10 Kentucky
Semifinal
L 78–90  25–3
 23  Williamson   16  Williamson   3  Tied  Pyramid Arena (20,431)
Memphis, TN
NCAA tournament
March 18*
9:38 p.m., CBS
(MW1) No. 2 vs. (MW16) North Carolina A&T
First Round
W 94–79  26–3
 24  Williamson   7  Williamson   9  Thurman  Myriad Convention Center (13,366)
Oklahoma City, OK
March 20*
3:55 p.m., CBS
(MW1) No. 2 vs. (MW9) Georgetown
Second Round
W 85–73  27–3
 21  Williamson   8  Beck   5  Williason  Myriad Convention Center (13,376)
Oklahoma City, OK
March 25*
7:02 p.m., CBS
(MW1) No. 2 vs. (MW12) Tulsa
Sweet Sixteen
W 103–84[4]  28–3
 21  Tied   9  Williamson   8  Wilson  Reunion Arena (16,297)
Dallas, TX
March 27*
3:00 p.m., CBS
(MW1) No. 2 vs. (MW3) No. 11 Michigan
Elite Eight
W 76–68[5]  29–3
 20  Thurman   7  McDaniel   5  Beck  Reunion Arena (16,297)
Dallas, TX
April 2*
4:42 p.m., CBS
(MW1) No. 2 vs. (W2) No. 9 Arizona
Final Four
W 91–82  30–3
 29  Williamson   14  Williamson   5  Tied  Charlotte Coliseum (23,674)
Charlotte, NC
April 4*
8:22 p.m., CBS
(MW1) No. 2 vs. (SE2) No. 6 Duke
National Championship
W 76–72  31–3
 23  Williamson   10  Beck   4  Tied  Charlotte Coliseum (23,674)
Charlotte, NC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Sources[6][7]

Rankings

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[8]

Awards and honors

[edit]

Player statistics

[edit]
Player G GS MP FG FGA FG% 2P 2PA 2P% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Williamson 34 34 989
Thurman 34 34 987
Dillard 34 0 421
Beck 34 34 876
Stewart 34 27 724
McDaniel 31 13 669
Crawford 30 4 536
Robinson 27 6 479
Rimac 34 12 406
Wilson 30 1 287
Biley 18 2 94
Martin 27 0 160
Engskov 9 0 23
Biggers 18 3 178
Merritt 9 0 21
School Totals 34

Team players drafted into the NBA

[edit]
Year Round Pick Player NBA Team
1995 1 13 Corliss Williamson Sacramento Kings
1996 2 58 Darnell Robinson Dallas Mavericks

[10]

References

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  1. ^ sports-reference.com 1993-94 Southeastern Conference Season Summary
  2. ^ Warner, Rick (April 5, 1994). "Thurman fires shot heard 'round Arkansas". The Desert Sun. Associated Press. p. D1. Retrieved May 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Newton, David (January 9, 1993). "'Suffering' Razorbacks meet USC". Sports. The State. p. 1C, 3C. Retrieved November 5, 2022. Thurman is one of seven Razorbacks 6-foot-5 or shorter, thus the team's nickname "Richardson's Runts." Sophomore center Dwight Stewart is the tallest player at 6-9.
  4. ^ "Arkansas, Michigan To Match". The New York Times. March 26, 1994. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "Arkansas Bids Fab Four A Farewell". The New York Times. March 28, 1994. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "1993–94 Arkansas Razorbacks Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  7. ^ "1993–94 Arkansas Basketball Schedule". hogstats.com. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  8. ^ *ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. Random House. 2009. pp. 1020–1021. ISBN 978-0-345-51392-2.
  9. ^ "Final Four Most Outstanding Players". cbs.sportsline.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  10. ^ "1995 NBA Draft on Basketballreference.com". Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  11. ^ "Corey Beck." www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  12. ^ "Clint McDaniel." www.basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.