FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas coach Mike Anderson and Butler coach LaVall Jordan are volunteering no perspective beyond today's first round matchup in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
After second-seeded Purdue (28-6) and 15th-seeded Cal State-Fullerton (21-10) meet at 11:40 p.m. on truTV (Resort Channel 67) at Little Caesars, the seventh-seeded Razorbacks (23-11) and 10th-seeded Bulldogs (20-13) clash at 2:10 p.m. on truTV. The winners of both games will advance to the second round on Sunday to face each other.
The bracket offers a chance for a potential in-state matchup between the Indianapolis-based Bulldogs, of the Big East Conference, and the Big Ten's Purdue Boilermakers of West Lafayette, Ind. The Razorbacks have been halted in the second round by North Carolina in each of their past two appearances in the National Tournament in 2015 and 2017.
"We're not just going to the dance," Anderson said Sunday upon announcement of the pairings. "I don't want to be just one-stepping and two-stepping."
Then he stepped back to the only step from which he can take.
"The first game is the most important game, and we've got to get prepared to go against a really good Butler basketball team," Anderson said.
Jordan said he does not look beyond the first round, presuming Purdue coach Matt Painter, who defeated the Bulldogs, 82-67, on Dec. 16, feels the same way.
"I think we're both probably looking at the first matchup," said Jordan, a former Michigan assistant and one-year head coach at the University of Milwaukee. "I know Coach Painter is probably focused on the same thing. We've got to worry about Arkansas. They're a really good, really talented team. We're worried about that one and that one only. And then whatever comes after that we'll be prepared for when the time comes."
Both have tournament-tested teams with star personnel, quality depth and tradition to keep either from looking beyond today's first round. Both play in premier leagues. The Southeastern Conference has eight NCAA Tournament qualifiers. The Big East has six, including two No. 1 seeds in Villanova and Xavier.
Both have premier players.
Arkansas sports arguably the best guard tandem in the SEC and one of the best in the country with All-SEC seniors and second-year junior college transfers Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon, averaging 18.0 and 16.9 points, respectively. Macon is also the team's most clutch free throw shooter when the Razorbacks, 40-0 over two seasons when leading at the half, lead late.
They are complemented in a starting guard triumvirate by 6-0 senior Anton Beard, a North Little Rock High School graduate and 4-year letterman.
Up front, Arkansas starts 6-11 freshman sensation Daniel Gafford, of El Dorado, vaulting towards one-and-done NBA projections for his ability to run the floor and block shots. He has 73 blocks for the season, while averaging 11.9 points and 6.2 rebounds.
For star power, Butler counters with All-Big East 6-7 senior forward Kelan Martin, who averages 20.8 points per game and an even more impressive 23.6 for Butler's Big East games, including a career high 37 points scoring inside and outside against Marquette.
Anderson compares Martin to Admiral Schofield, star forward for SEC co-champion Tennessee.
"He can create his own shot," Anderson said. "He's 6-7 and really, really crafty with the basketball. He shoots the 3-point shot, and he's automatic from the free throw line. You have to be attentive wherever he is because he can go inside or outside."
Arkansas must get plenty of help from the guards and alternating big men Gafford and 6-9 senior Forrest City High School grad Trey Thompson on Martin, but the principal responsibilities befall Arkansas' largely anonymous rotating forwards. Anderson will look to 6-7 sophomore Adrio Bailey, 6-8 senior Arlando Cook,6-8 freshman Gabe Osabuohien and even 6-6 freshman Darious Hall.
Starting forwards Tyler Wideman, the bulkiest Bulldog at 6-8 and 240 pounds, and 6-6 Sean McDermott play understated but important roles up front, while guards Kamar Baldwin, starting with a 15.5 average, and Paul Jorgensen, 10.5 points per game off of the bench, are scorers. Freshman Aaron Thompson, 107 assists versus 52 turnovers, is the ball-handling glue.
Anderson likes calling his bench, also aided by sophomore shooting guard C.J. Jones, the team's strength, but Jordan brings some of his best 3-point shooters off of the bench in Jorgensen and Henry Baddley.
The Razorbacks also like to think their pressure defense is uniquely difficult, but the Bulldogs like to run almost as much Anderson's team. Butler sank 239 of 301, 79.4 percent, freebies in 18 Big East games.
Tony Hinkle, for whom the Bulldogs' venerable Arena was changed from Butler Arena to Hinkle Arena, was in his sixth of 41 years coaching Butler when the Bulldogs bested Charles Bassett's Razorbacks, 37-21 on Jan. 2, 1931, at Butler Arena.
Arkansas Height Year Points Rebs.
F-Adrio Bailey 6-7 Sophomore 4.0 2.6
C-Daniel Gafford 6-11 Freshman 11.9 6.2
G-Anton Beard 6-0 Senior 9.6 2.6
G-Daryl Macon 6-3 Senior 16.9 2.9
G-Jaylen Barford 6-3 Senior 18.0 4.0
Butler Height Year Points Rebs.
F-Sean McDermott 6-6 Sophomore 7.3 3.8
F-Kelan Martin 6-7 Senior 20.8 6.2
F-Tyler Wideman 6-8 Senior 9.4 5.1
G-Aaron Thompson 6-2 Freshman 4.3 1.4
G-Kamar Baldwin 6-1 Sophomore 15.5 4.8
Sports on 03/16/2018