No. 8 Indiana Vs. No. 9 Arkansas

In the summer 2000 film, Me, Myself and Irene, Jim Carrey played the role of Charley Baileygates, a Rhode Island state trooper afflicted with multiple personality disorder. Charley was a mild-mannered Prince of a guy who raised three sons who he obviously was not the father of. Charley's alter ego was Hank, a foul-mouthed, egomaniacal jerk. And Hank wasn't even in politics.

In one exchange between Charley/Hank and his love interest, Irene, played by Renee Zellweger, Irene asked Charley/Hank about something he said beginning with "Hank said". Irene: "did you just refer to yourself in the fourth person?"

What, I'm sure you're asking yourselves, does this have to do with basketball and the NCAA Tournament matchup between Arkansas and Indiana? If you've watched either of these teams play lately, the answer is everything. Especially, the Universsity of Arkansas basketball Razorbacks. Locally, the school is often referred to as UA for short. Often, Hog basketball fans the past few years have been left to wonder if UA stands for Under Achievers.

At least Indiana's tailspin didn't start until the Kelvin Sampson scandal forced him out of the head coaching position at IU. This Arkansas team's performance this season has made Charley Baileygates/Hank look stable by comparison. In an early season tournament game against Providence, located in Rhode Island, by the way, the Hogs turned the ball over nearly thirty times, despite Providence's lack of pressure defense.

In a nonconference tilt at N. Little Rock's Alltel Arena, Arkansas was outrebounded by 11 by Appalachian State and lost in spite of being 4-5 inches taller at nearly every position. Indiana led the Big 10 Conference in rebounding margin. Do you see where I'm going with this?

This Arkansas team was considered by most observors to be at worst, the 2nd most talented team in the SEC behind Tennessee. The Hogs are the tallest and most experienced team in the league, with 6 seniors and 4 players 6'10 or taller. The coaches in the SEC and media both picked the Hogs to win the Western division and content for the league crown.