Yesterday, Nolan Richardson discussed the progress of Arkansas basketball with sports radio host Bo Mattingly. The praise for Richardson protege Mike Anderson came fast and effusive, with Richardson taking his usual jabs at lucrative programs like Kentucky which regularly tidal wave opponents over with year after year of one-and-dones. Programs like Arkansas, without similar stockpiles of blue-chippers, don’t have that luxury.
The Wildcats (and other blue blood programs) have always had more talent, on the whole, than their main SEC challengers but UK head coach John Calipari’s success has helped widen the gap since Richardson’s early-to-mid 1990s heyday.