NOTE: With our conncetivity limited to dialup thanks to the NCAA's exorbitant $30 per day charge for wireless, we will concentrate on original content and coverage from Dallas. While we will not be surfing the Web to find all the links we do during the regular season, we have added links to the media covering Bucknell and Arkansas to the right sidebar. We will update those links as needed to make sure Patriot League fans can easily find coverage from other sources to compliment Hoop Time's reporting.

An early theme here in Dallas is the possibility of a home court edge for Arkansas, which traditionally has drawn a lot of fans when they play in Dallas, dating back to the schools days in the old Southwest Conference, which annually held its postseason tournament in the Big D.

In those days, over 50 percent of the crowd would be decked out in red and calling the Hawgs.

Arkansas coach Stan Heath downplayed how much of a crowd advantage his team might have against Bucknell, pointing out all schools got the same ticket allowance and that most of the arena was sold out long before the pairings here were announced.

But fans willing to pay ticket broker prices can always find tickets, as Bucknell can remember from the number of Kansas supporters in Oklahoma City last year, which, like Dallas is for the Arkansas fans, was within driving distance. Many members of the Arkansas media contingent are expecting RV caravans to descend to paint Dallas red and cheer on their team.

"The state of Arkansas, they are in love with the Razorbacks," said AU senior Jonathon Modica during Thursday morning's press conference. "We've made their whole year."

"They are going to come out in numbers, all in red, calling the Hawgs," junior guard Ronnie Brewer added.

But Bucknell senior co-captain Kevin Bettencourt said the Bison are not worried about Arkansas having any homecourt edge.

"I know Dallas is not too far and I know they travel well. We have been on the road many times," Bettencourt said. "We have only played like 11 home games this year in a 27 game schedule, so we have been in a lot of different hostile environments.

" We have been to Duke. We have been to Syracuse. We have played in front of some places So if it is like a road game with all the fans Arkansas brings, we'll be ready to challenge it."

Ultimately, Bettencourt said, its is the players between the lines, not the fans in the bleachers, who will determine the outcome.

"It's the same game no matter where you are or who is in the stands. We'll be ready to handle it," Bettencourt said.

FAMILY MATTERS: Bettencourt's brother Ted, who played at Holy Cross, faced Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament in 1993, a first round game won by the Razorbacks 94-64.

With that history, Bettencourt said he knew all about the Razorbacks' tradition when he saw the match-up flash on the screen during Sunday's selection show.

"When I saw Arkansas (as BU's first round opponent) the first thing I thought about was that my brother played Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament back in 1993, that was my first reaction," Bettencourt said. "I know all the history of this Arkansas program, so I was real excited about that match-up."

Bettencourt said he is not worrying about settling any scores for the family.

"(Ted) didn't ask for any revenge. He just said to go out and do your best. He is not going to give me any added pressure, he knows how difficult this game is. He just told me, like we have all told each other, to just go out and enjoy the moment. The NCAA doesn't happen every day, so just enjoy it."

"But," added Bettencourt, "I am sure he would like it if we could get some revenge for him."

GETTING DEFENSIVE: A big topic of discussion during both the Bucknell and Arkansas press conferences was the Bison's defense in general, their matchup zone in particular.

Arkansas coach Stan Heath said he was impressed with what he has seen on film. He also is impressed by the Bison's national rankings in the top five for both scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.

Heath said a lot of times a team will have an impressive scoring defense number as a result of a slow, patient offense that limits possessions. But Bucknell's ranking in field goal percentage defense shows the scoring defense numbers are because of the way the Bison play D.

"Their defense probably doesn't get the credit it deserves," Heath said. "They are the only team in the country in the top five in both of those areas. That is special."

Responding to repeated questions from Arkansas media types, the Bison players and coach Pat Flannery explained what makes the BU defense so tough.

"The key to our defense is really being on the same page. We have a lot of guys who have been together a long time. We have learned each others strengths and weaknesses on both ends of the floor, especially on the defensive end. We realize who is going to need help in certain spots and we do a great job of helping each other out," said Bison senior co-captain Charles Lee.

"We might have some weaknesses here or there, but we get over that by playing great team defense. That is what makes our team," added junior center Chris McNaughton.

Flannery was quick to point out that his match-up is not some recent novelty that turned Bucknell into the winning team it has been the past two seasons.

"It's something that didn't come off the moon or out of left field. We have played it for a long time, at every place that I have been. It is something that has evolved over time. I've been in this business 25 years. We've played with it. We've tweaked it," Flannery said.

It also helps to have the right guys playing it.

"Don't get misconstrued, I've got some pretty good players that can keep you in front of them," said Flannery.

"The kids have been together for a while. They know each other and know where to cover for each other and where to react. As a result, when you are more confident, you are better at it. These kids believe in it and they play hard."

Added Lee: ""We have also gotten lucky and some teams have not shot the ball well. Maybe that is because we are always contesting shots."

Brewer said the Razorbacks plan is to get out on the break, beating the Bison down the floor when they get the ball.

"We are going to push the ball so they won't be able to get back and get set up in their matchup zone," he said.

Modica indicated he will take a similar approach: "I'm just going to get out and run. I'm just going to run and hopefully they will throw it up to me."

That is something Bucknell knows it needs to be prepared to stop.

"Their transition, obviously they are great athletes and players, so they get the ball up and down very quickly. We're going to have to find a way to cheat off of that so we can get back and give ourselves a chance to defend," Flannery said.

WHO IS THE UNDERDOG?: Despite the fact that Bucknell is the mid-major from the lowly Patriot League and Arkansas is the big name from the powerful Southeastern Conference, and the higher seed, the Razorbacks seem to be viewing themselves as the underdogs in Friday's game.

"I think the reason some people may think Bucknell is going to win this game is, for one, they have a solid, pretty good team.. At the same time, we haven't been on the national scene in a long time and this is our first time in the tournament in a log time. We haven't gotten on national teleivision a lot, so people haven't gotten a chance to see us play," Modica said.

"I think it gives our team extra motivation, because the first thing they said when they put the pairings together is they picked Bucknell, without even giving us a chance," added Brewer.

By "they", the Razorbacks were referring to some of the many national media folks who have been predicting a Bucknell win.

That is different than last year, when the Bison were such heavy underdogs against Kansas that most people just assumed the Jayhawks would win.

"It is a different role in the sense that we have been here, we've played. But the challenge isn't any different in playing an SEC team, or a Big 12 or an ACC. The challenge is still the same, to figure out a way to compete with their athletes, their ability and their play," Flannery said.
(Note: we will update with some more from the press conferences later this evening)