Auburn, Kentucky Couldn't Have Played Out Better for Hogs

What happens in January gets magnified in February

Kent Smith | Jan 22, 2022

Auburn, Kentucky Couldn't Have Played Out Better for Hogs /

Watching the featured SEC game between Auburn and Kentucky on CBS Saturday afternoon left many Razorback fans conflicted.

Should they cheer for Auburn to take down the Wildcats, or, should they try to choke down the vomit and hope Kentucky pulled the upset?

Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) drives the ball as Auburn Tigers men's basketball takes on Kentucky Wildcats at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. Kentucky lead Auburn 33-29 at halftime, but the Tigers came out hot and held on for an 80-71 victory. — Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kentucky Wildcats TyTy Washington Jr. (3) is helped off the court with an injury as Auburn Tigers men's basketball takes on Kentucky Wildcats at Auburn Arena. — Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Fortunately for Arkansas, there would be no need to break sworn blood oaths by wishing for Big Blue to come out on top. What played out, an 80-71 win by Auburn, was exactly what the Hogs needed.

The Razorbacks don't play either team for several weeks, but this game has a strong potential for impact deep into February.

An Auburn win sets up two sets of scenarios, both of which are positives for Arkansas.

1. When Arkansas hosts Auburn on Feb. 8, a loss is less likely to do any damage to the Hogs' standing in regard to NCAA tournament seeding, especially if the Razorbacks keep it close. However, a win would put a jet pack on the Hogs' as far as seeding.

2. It is now possible for Arkansas to not only slip past Kentucky in SEC standings, but also in overall record when the two schools clash at Bud Walton in the next to last game of the regular season.

Seven teams currently have two or three conference losses while posting a conference record of at least .500 and an overall record where at least 67% of their games were won.

Davonte Davis-LSU — Stephen Lew / USA TODAY Sports

Kentucky Wildcats guard Sahvir Wheeler (2) takes a shot against the Auburn Tigers during the first half at Auburn Arena.

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State Bulldogs forward Javian Davis (2) makes a layup against the Florida Gators during the first half at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena. — Kim Klement-USA TODAY

Jaylin Williams-Little Rock — Andy Hodges/allHOGS Images

Tennessee Volunteers forward John Fulkerson (10) and forward Uros Plavsic (33) react from the bench during overtime against the Mississippi Rebels at Thompson-Boling Arena. — Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama forward Juwan Gary (4) drives along the baseline against LSU center Efton Reid (15) in Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK

Florida Gators guard Brandon McKissic (23), guard Kowacie Reeves (14) and forward Anthony Duruji (4) celebrates against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

If Arkansas knocks off A&M tonight, that number expands to eight.

Between now and next week a lot of separation will take place.

Rule of thumb on who to cheer is simple. Any team that can fall back to Arkansas or pushed below the Hogs should be cheered against.

Cheerleader-South Carolina — Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports

Cheerleaders-South Carolina — Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports

If that means cheering for Kentucky, fans will just have to choke back the vomit and take one for the team because the right loss is almost as good as a win going forward.

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Published Jan 22, 2022

KENT SMITH

Kent Smith has been in the world of media and film for nearly 30 years. From Nolan Richardson's final seasons, former Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner trying to throw to anyone and anything in the blazing heat of Cowboys training camp in Wichita Falls, the first high school and college games after 9/11, to Troy Aikman's retirement and Alex Rodriguez's signing of his quarter billion dollar contract, Smith has been there to report on some of the region's biggest moments.