Arkansas State fans optimistic after Sun Belt title loss
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas State University Red Wolves achieved what none of their other basketball teams had done in 17 years, compete in a Sun Belt Conference Championship.
The 4-seed Jonesboro team entered Monday’s final with James Madison red-hot and back in black jerseys. The Red Wolves declared they could beat anyone when they took out the 1-seed Appalachian State Sunday.
“It’s a lot of fun. You can see the fan base here. Everybody loves seeing winning,” 2013 A-State graduate Phillip Butterfield said.
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Alumni like Butterfield surrounded their screens at home and watch parties in cities from Dallas to Jonesboro and Little Rock. Jeff Hankins, a 1987 A-State graduate, was one of more than 30 at an alumni watch party in Arkansas’ capital city.
“A lot of enthusiasm a lot of excitement and sharing that with people you went to college with and knew a long time makes for great memories,” Hankins said.
He and many others in the room remember when their team not only competed for a conference title but achieved it 25 years ago. It was also the only time in the team’s history they competed in the NCAA tournament.
This team reminds Hankins of the greats partly because both have a Freddie Hicks from Searcy, father and son.
“It’s been a long time coming, and we don’t want as many years between appearances,” Hankins admitted.
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The game started close but ended with James Madison routing A-State with a final score of 91 to 71, but for first-year Red Wolves Head Coach Bryan Hodgson to accomplish so much, fans are optimistic about what the future holds.
“We’ve been kind of near this point, but we haven’t been able to finish, and for us to even get to this point is a huge deal,” Butterfield said.
As Sun Belt Conference champions, James Madison automatically earned a place in the NCAA tournament which begins Wednesday, March 20.
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Though the Red Wolves are done for the season, the Razorbacks could earn a spot if they win five games in five days to become the Southeastern Conference champs. They are ranked the 12th seed.
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