Walsh supplies bit of everything off Arkansas’ bench
Arkansas forward Jordan Walsh, amid hundreds of jump shots in training for the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, needs to throw in one more act of preparation for Thursday night's showdown against Connecticut: a self-pinch letting him know it's all real.
“Growing up you always watch these kids and you think to yourself, what if that was me who hit that shot?” said Walsh, who grew up in Desoto, just south of Dallas. “What if it was me who got that dunk? You put yourself into the game and imagine what it's like for you to be there, and for your family to be watching, and for you to be playing with those teammates.”
The eighth-seeded Razorbacks (22-13) face the fourthseeded Huskies (27-8) at 6:15 p.m. Thursday in Las Vegas in the Sweet 16 on CBS. Arkansas lost four of its previous five games before igniting in the NCAA Tournament with wins over ninth-seeded Illinois and top-seeded Kansas in Des Moines, Iowa.
“My mom always told me you're only as good as your last game,” Arkansas forward Kamani Johnson said. “So I have short-term memory loss when it comes to losing games or winning games. … Every new game is a new 40 minutes to grow and be better.”
Walsh (6-7, 205) was one of the nation's top recruits a year ago out of Link (Mo.) Academy, but somehow was a little overlooked in the Razorbacks' topnotch haul that checked in second nationally to Duke. He ranked as a five-star recruit, but so did teammates Nick Smith Jr. of Jacksonville, Ark., and Anthony Black of Duncanville, and the guard duo ranked a tad higher than Walsh in the 247Sports tabulations. It all adds up to a handful for Uconn, which is a slight favorite.
“They're electric in terms of their athleticism,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said of the Razorbacks.
Smith and Black project as potential top 10 selections in this summer's NBA draft, while Walsh continues going about his business as a valuable sixth man for the rising Razorbacks, who didn't even finish the SEC regular reason with a winning record (8-10) but are now one win from a third consecutive Elite Eight under fourth-year coach Eric Musselman.
“Everybody loves a good underdog story,” Walsh said, “and right now to everybody we're the underdogs.”
Walsh nearly a decade ago was diagnosed with Alopecia, an autoimmune disorder causing hair loss. Walsh, who is bald, has said he came to appreciate that Alopecia gave him a distinct look — one he embraces.
“I was baffled about it at first and a little scared,” he once told the Fort Worth Star-telegram. “I lost a little self-confidence. (But) I realized that it just makes me different, it makes me special. I stand out, and it just gives me energy to get me to where I am now.”
Walsh has stood out in the NCAA Tournament — not especially in filling up the box score but in providing valuable time off the bench. His 33 minutes in the Razorbacks' 72-71 win over Kansas was more than three of the Arkansas starters, and his +9.55 points per 40 minutes during the NCAA Tournament is a team-best among Arkansas's rotation.
Walsh in about 27 minutes in the Razorbacks' 73-63 victory over Illinois in the first round tied for the team lead with three steals in the double-digit victory. “He did everything,” Musselman said of the lithe Walsh. “He got loose balls, he altered shots, he ran the floor hard both offensively and defensively and gave great support defense to his teammates. He put great heat on the ball … he was phenomenal.”
Walsh in the upset of the topseeded Jayhawks smoothly sank a 3-pointer to shove Arkansas ahead of Kansas 52-51 with about nine minutes remaining, the Razorbacks' first lead in the round of 32 since the opening basket.
With 23 seconds remaining Walsh also tipped a missed free throw by Ricky Council back to Council, who wound up making two more free throws in lifting Arkansas to a three-point lead with 20 seconds remaining.
Walsh's late-game derring-do is nothing new — as a freshman in high school he had a gamewinning dunk for Oak Cliff (Dallas) Faith Family in the Class 4A state title game against Liberty Hill in San Antonio's Alamodome four years ago.
Walsh transferred to powerhouse Link Academy prior to his senior season of high school, and a little less than two years later he and the Razorbacks are two wins from wrapping up a suddenly-surprising season in Houston at the Final Four.
“One of the main focuses in college basketball is being able to compete at the highest level, which is March Madness,” Walsh said. “Some say it's the greatest feeling you could have in your life.”