Razorbacks coach knows all about playing Seminoles

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks are playing Florida State in men’s tennis for the first time since 1988, but Andy Jackson knows all about the Seminoles.

Jackson, in his fourth season as coach at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, is 15-1 against Florida State.

That includes an 11-1 record when Jackson coached the Florida Gators and 4-0 when he was at Mississippi State.

Arkansas (16-10) plays Florida State (17-11) at 11 a.m. today in an NCAA Tournament first-round match at the Friedman Tennis Center in Fort Worth.

Host TCU (19-4), ranked No. 6, plays Jackson State (8-20) in today’s other firstround match with the winners

advancing to play Saturday.

“We played FSU every year I was at Florida, so it feels very familiar,” Jackson said. “Just like the old days.

“I’m not a big FSU fan, I’ll be honest with you. I love the Gators, and Gators and Seminoles don’t get along very good.

“They beat us once in 11 years. We were pretty proud of that record, and hopefully we can have the same result this time. I definitely don’t like losing to Florida State.”

Florida’s only loss to Florida State when Jackson coached the Gators was 4-3 in a regular-season match in 2007. The Gators then ended the Seminoles’ season with a 4-3 victory in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament.

Jackson’s Gators were 3-0 against Florida State in NCAA Tournament play with the other two victories being 4-0 in 2003 in a second-round match and 4-0 in 2005 in the quarterfinals.

Dwayne Hulquist is in his 18th year as the Seminoles’ coach, so he was 1-11 against Jackson and Florida.

“It’s like playing an SEC team where you know their approach and philosophy, how they’re going to play the doubles, how the coach thinks about doing things,” Jackson said. “It’s not going to be an unknown.”

Arkansas, led by seniors Mike Redlicki and Jose Salazar, is making back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 2001 and 2002.

Redlicki is ranked No. 10 nationally in singles play. He’s 10-8 playing No. 1. Salazar is ranked No. 39 and has an 18-5 record, including 14-4 at No. 2 and 4-1 at No. 1. As a doubles team Redlicki and Salazar are ranked No. 6 with a 10-6 record.

“Jose and Mike have been two of the best players in the nation,” Jackson said. “We can beat anybody at 1 and 2.

“So then you only have to get two more points to win the team match. That definitely can scare the other team and help make our team feel a little bit more confident.”

Florida State is making its 15th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I think Florida State this year has one of their best teams,” Jackson said. “It’s a tough draw playing Florida State in the first round. But I’m sure they’re not too happy to have to play the Razorbacks in the first round, either.”

Arkansas is one of eight SEC men’s team in the NCAA Tournament along with Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Texas A&M.

“I think in almost every sport it’s a huge advantage to be the in SEC,” Jackson said. “Not only with the resources, but the competition.

“You get tough playing in the SEC. If you’re not tough, you’re going to get eaten alive in every sport. So by the time you get to the national tournament, you’re used to the dog-eat-dog world.”

Arkansas beat Wichita State 4-2 in the Razorbacks’ NCAA Tournament opener last season before losing 4-0 to host Oklahoma State.

“I’m of the school of thought where the minimum bar for us is to get in the NCAA Tournament,” Jackson said. “We want to build the program up where we can compete for a national championship.

“We’re not that far away this year. You never know. If we get on a run, we can hurt some people.”