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American Press
15 hours ago
- Sport
- American Press
Scooter Hobbs column: Tigers add to list of walk-offs
OMAHA, Neb. — Don't blame yourselves, Razorbacks. It happens to the best of them. It's not you. It's LSU. Arkansas just happened to get caught up in another of those wild and crazy vortexes the Tigers sometimes create in what they've come to call Geauxmaha. Don't dissect it too closely. When LSU gets the College World Series karma going, it makes a habit of dangling the irrational out there, toying with the unexplainable. It happened again Wednesday night, of course, a rally with three nutty runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Hogs. Two hits that inexplicably found grass — one off a stumbling Razorbacks' shoulder for a tying double, another off the tip top of a leaping second baseman's glove — oh, so close — for the walk-off single. The Hogs probably deserve better. Even LSU head Jay Johnson expressed empathy in the midst of LSU's wild celebration, which seemed to be an embarrassed shrug of the shoulders as if to say, 'Don't ask us how we do it.' The Razorbacks are as cursed in Omaha as LSU is often blessed, and will remain college baseball's absolute best program without a national championship. They'll put this one alongside the dropped pop foul when they were one out from the 2018 national championship. LSU won't apologize for it. The Tigers can't even explain it. They'll just play for their eighth national championship beginning Saturday. 'Character,' Johnson offered. Nice try, coach, although his team does seem classy enough, a likeable bunch to boot. Arkansas seemed to be of similar composition — often answering to the tag 'most complete team in the nation.' So, no, this was something more. Wednesday was the LSU program's sixth all-time walkoff in the CWS. Some of them had similar drama, but none were quite as bizarre as this one. 'I'm at a loss for words,' Johnson said. I'll give it a shot. When LSU gets in this mode, some divine, horsehide intervention seems to be at work. The Razorbacks just happened to be in the way. There were unconfirmed reports of Rod Serling standing serious off in the shadows of Charles Schwab Field. As the bottom of the ninth unfolded, you could almost hear that creepy 'Twilight Zone' music wafting about. Whether they knew it or not, the Razorbacks, unsuspecting or not, were in trouble. Sure, LSU put the bat on the ball for the clutch hits, but it needed help from the Hogs. No problem. Arkansas may even accuse the Tigers of bringing up some of that alleged Louisiana voodoo north for their latest. Was that Marie Laveau in the LSU dugout? Something turned a tight, well-played game into two final innings of total chaos, which, of course was right in LSU's wheelhouse. Something maybe we will never fully understand and maybe shouldn't try. It's Omaha, after all. If blessing the Tigers isn't enough, maybe voodoo casts a spell on the victims. For all the LSU clutch hits and pitching, this one is likely to be remembered more for Arkansas left fielder Charles Davalan tripping or slipping — something ill-timed, at any rate — to turn what could have been a game-ending out into a game-tying double. And could second baseman Cam Kozeal have been any closer to snagging Jared Jones' winning single that bounced off the top of his glove? He could probably feel the ball's seams through his glove — and then it was bouncing into center field. Neither was an error. Just unfortunate. Bad luck. Whatever forces were at work, it all lined up for LSU, which would have had to play the Razorbacks again Thursday with a loss. 'It's a huge deal not to have to play (Thursday),' Johnson said after the game. 'There is nobody happier in the city of Omaha that there will not be a game here (Thursday) than Jay Johnson right now.' It does set up perfectly for the Tigers, as if they need such niceties. An extra game would have meant bringing back one of their co-aces, Kade Anderson or Anthony Eyanson, burning whichever one for the championship series. Now the Tigers can go into the championship round against upstart Coastal Carolina with their regular weekend rotation intact, starting with the best 1-2 punch in college baseball. You can't ask for much more. But just a warning to the Chanticleers. If things go awry for the Tigers this weekend, beware. They apparently have Rod Serling on speed dial. — Scooter Hobbs covers LSU athletics. Email him at
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arkansas' John Calipari makes case for Adou Thiero to be a first-round pick
Arkansas' John Calipari makes case for Adou Thiero to be a first-round pick Adou Thiero is highly touted as a prospect in the 2025 NBA draft, and his Arkansas head coach believes he has a strong case to be a first-round pick after a strong junior campaign. Thiero averaged a career-high 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals on 54.5% shooting from the field in 27 games. He was tied for the most points on the team (407), despite missing eight games due to a left knee hyperextension. John Calipari has helped dozens of players over the years hear their names called in the first round of the draft and believes Thiero should be the next in line. He explained why on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday. Adou Thiero is a first-round draft pick and let me tell you why: I love the physicalness of the league right now because you got to work to get a basket. ... Adou can play in a physical game and, athletically, be in the top 1%. He is somebody that, if you pass on him, they'll look back and say: How many people passed on him? He is that good and a good kid. Thiero registered eight 20-point performances with the Razorbacks, including a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds on Dec. 7 in a win over UTSA. He ranked second in the SEC in field-goal percentage and eighth in box plus-minus (plus-10.6). The 21-year-old is considered a potential late first-round pick because of his ability to score in the paint, athleticism, physicality and defensive instincts. He also boasts a 7-foot wingspan that has enabled him to get deflections and block shots. Thiero followed Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas after two seasons. He had his best season in a larger role and is now on the verge of being drafted into the NBA.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everything LSU's Kade Anderson Said after Beating Arkansas
Everything LSU's Kade Anderson Said after Beating Arkansas originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The LSU Tigers' starting pitcher, Kade Anderson, had a remarkable game against Arkansas. He pitched for seven innings and held the Razorbacks to just one run. After the game, Anderson talked about if he will pitch again in this tournament. He said, 'Yeah, I completely expect to pitch. Obviously that's not really up to me; it's up to Coach. But I want to pitch again. And this is a really cool moment for our team and we'll be ready to go.' Advertisement Kade also spoke about not letting the moment get too big for him. He said, 'I think just taking it all in. That's why you come here. Really just proud of our team. And at the end of the day that's all you need to do is win. And it doesn't matter the stat line kind of how this paper lines up. But we won the game and that's really all I care about.' Anderson talked about how the team has approached this College World Series. He said, 'I think Coach Johnson does a really good job in preparing our team. And when you treat every game like a playoff, you get used to it. LSU is used to being in Omaha and that's something that we do often. We're proud to say that. But we're meant for these kind of games, and we're excited to keep going.' And finally, Kade spoke about what it would be like to play Arkansas again in this tournament. He said, 'Like I said, we treated every game like a playoff. We'll be ready to go. We've faced them four times. I like the results of what we had. Advertisement Just continuing to go out there and battle. And we're not, like Coach Johnson says all the time, we're not playing Arkansas, we're playing the game. When you take that kind of note at it, it's just another game. And I think that playoff mindset has really helped us a lot.' Related: Jay Johnson Reacts to an Impressive College World Series Win Related: Arkansas' Dave Van Horn Reacts After Loss to LSU Related: Livvy Dunne Helps LSU Take Control in Jello Shot Competition Related: Livvy Dunne Shares Revealing Summer Photos This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
John Calipari Sends Pointed Warning to Teams Ahead of NBA Draft
John Calipari Sends Pointed Warning to Teams Ahead of NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks are starting to prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 college basketball season. After a very successful first season leading the program, Calipari is excited to turn the team into a legitimate contender. Advertisement During his first season with the Razorbacks, Calipari led the team to a 22-14 record. He helped guide them into the NCAA Tournament, where Arkansas made some noise. In the first round, the Razorbacks were able to defeat the No. 7-seeded Kansas Jayhawks by a final score of 79-72. They then knocked off Rick Pitino and No. 2 St. John's by a final score of 75-66. Sadly, their magical run ended at the hands of Texas Tech in the Sweet 16. One of the main players from Arkansas last season is a name to watch in the 2025 NBA draft next week. That player is none other than Adou Thiero. With that in mind, Calipari spoke out on Thursday during a segment on the "Pat McAfee Show." He sent a pointed message to NBA teams about his former star player. Advertisement "I wouldn't miss on Adou Thiero in this draft," Calipari said. "He can play in a physical game and athletically he's in that one percent. He's that good and he's a good kid." Throughout the course of the 2024-25 college basketball season, Thiero played in 27 games and made 26 starts. He averaged 15.1 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals, while shooting 54.5% from the floor and 25.6% from 3-point range. Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Chenault-Imagn Images Standing in at 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, Thiero has excellent size to go along with his elite athleticism. He will need to work on his perimeter shooting, but his game should translate well to the professional level. Advertisement It will be interesting to see where Thiero is drafted. ESPN's latest mock draft has him being selected with the third pick in the second round at No. 33 overall to the Charlotte Hornets. Only time will tell, but NBA teams will not be able to say that Calipari did not warn them about passing on Thiero if they choose to do so. Related: Arkansas Coach John Calipari Hints at Possible Future Retirement Plans on the Jim Rome Show This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Five takeaways from LSU baseball's win vs. Arkansas in College World Series
Five takeaways from LSU baseball's win vs. Arkansas in College World Series LSU baseball is on its way to the College World Series Final. Neither team had their ace on the mound, but we got a pitchers' duel anyway. LSU gave the ball to Zac Cowan to start, and Cowan delivered. In 5.1 innings, Cowan allowed just one run, struck out six, and didn't walk a single hitter. For much of the year, Cowan was among the best pitchers in the SEC, but he's struggled in the last month. Wednesday marked a return to form. Arkansas went with Landon Beidelschies, who pitched five innings, striking out nine and allowing just two runs. Cowan and Beidelschies then gave way to the pens. LSU carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, but Arkansas loaded the bases vs. LSU reliever Chase Shores. A chopper gave LSU the chance to get out of the inning. LSU got the out at second, but the ball got past Jared Jones, and two runs scored on the play to give Arkansas a 3-2 lead. Jones made up for the error in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game with a solo homer. We entered the ninth inning tied at 3-3. Arkansas kicked off a rally with a Reese Robinett single and followed it up with a Brent Iredale double. Justin Thomas took the lead back with a two-run single and made it 5-3 Razorbacks. LSU responded in the bottom of the ninth. With two runners on, Arkansas LF Charles Davalan got a bad read on a Luis Hernandez line drive, and LSU tied the game at five. Moments later, Jared Jones ended the game with a walk-off single. It was LSU's second win over Arkansas in the last week after the Tigers kicked off their CWS run with a 4-1 victory vs. the Razorbacks last Saturday. Both games were low-scoring affairs, decided by the bullpens late. Jared Jones plays the hero with two clutch hits Jared Jones began his College World Series with as bad a game as a hitter could have, going 0-5 with five strikeouts in the first game vs. Arkansas. It was the low point of what's been an up-and-down postseason for the LSU first baseman. But after the 0-5 performance, Jones woke up vs. UCLA with a home run, two hits, and four RBI. On Wednesday vs. Arkansas, Jones delivered in the biggest of ways. With LSU down a run in the eighth inning, Jones homered to right and tied the game. After Arkansas and LSU traded a couple of runs, Jones came to the plate in the ninth with a chance to win the game. He sent LSU to the CWS final with a walk-off single. With 64 career homers, Jones is one of the best sluggers in LSU history. His performance on Wednesday will be remembered for a long time. LSU keeps Eyanson fresh, pitching staff well-rested for finals The big question for LSU ahead of Wednesday's game: Would we see Anthony Eyanson? The LSU starter only threw 48 pitches vs. UCLA on Monday before the game was suspended, forcing Eyanson to end his start early. With a day of rest, Eyanson was ready to go if needed on Wednesday. Some even thought he'd get the start. LSU got the win without deploying the star pitcher. That means Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, LSU's ace 1A and 1B, are both fresh for the final series. Had LSU lost on Wednesday, the Tigers would have had to play a game on Thursday. likely using Anderson, Eyanson, or both. That would have granted Coastal Carolina an extra day of rest. Winning on Wednesday -- not burning Eyanson in the process -- was key for LSU. Zac Cowan rolls for 5.1 innings It's easy to get caught up in the theatrics of the final innings, but don't forget about Zac Cowan's starting performance. I touched on this earlier, but Cowan needed a bounce-back performance after a month of struggles. Cowan was a starter at Wofford, but his only previous start at LSU in 2025 was the regional final vs. Little Rock. That one didn't go well. Now on an even bigger stage, facing one of the nation's best lineups, Cowan delivered one of the best outings of his career. Cowan went 5.1 innings, and the only run surrendered was a solo homer carried out by the wind. Other than that, Cowan was flawless. He struck out six without issuing a walk and threw first pitch strikes to 18 of 21 batters. LSU was likely expecting two to three innings of work, but Cowan giving LSU 5.1 innings allowed Jay Johnson to work matchups later in the game and spare Eyanson. LSU did not walk one batter LSU's pitching staff did not walk a single batter on Wednesday. We mentioned Cowan's command, but the Tigers got more of the same from the bullpen. Jaden Noot was first out of the pen. He threw a scoreless inning and eight of his 11 pitches were strikes. Chase Shores was next -- and he did allow three earned runs -- but command wasn't the problem for the big righty. Of Shores 35 pitches, 26 were strikes. Jacob Mayers was the last LSU pitcher in the game. Mayers, who has struggled to command the ball this year, was 7/9 when it came to throwing strikes. LSU limited traffic on the base paths all night. This gave the pitching staff room for error, and LSU took advantage, pitching aggressively. When Arkansas did get the rare hit, the damage was minimal thanks to LSU not issuing free passes. LSU overcomes errors on defense It wasn't the prettiest night for LSU's defense. The biggest blemish came in the top of the eighth when the Tigers had a chance to end the inning on a double-play. Instead, the ball got past first basemen Jared Jones when LSU was looking for the second out and two Arkansas runners scored on the play, giving the Razorbacks the lead. At the time, this looked like a brutal mistake, but Arkansas' own defensive mistakes evened it out. Still, LSU committed three errors on the night. This isn't cause for concern just yet given how good the Tigers' defense has been in 2025, but LSU will want to tighten some things up for the final.
