Boogie Fland returns, plays critical role in Arkansas basketball's upset of Kansas
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — No one knew what to expect from Boogie Fland. After missing 15 games with an injury to his right thumb, Fland returned for Arkansas basketball against Kansas on Thursday night in the first round of the men's NCAA Tournament.
The numbers might not jump off the page, but Fland exceeded all hopes with an impactful performance. He played 24 minutes and was a plus-6 on the floor in the No. 10 Razorbacks' (21-13) 79-72 victory over the No. 7 Jayhawks.
And most surprising, Fland was on the floor in crunch time. John Calipari subbed Fland in with 5:43 on the clock, and the freshman didn't exit the game, finishing the night with six points, three assists and one rebound.
More: March Madness veterans power Arkansas basketball, John Calipari past Kansas in first round
More: Boogie Fland surprised himself by returning for Arkansas basketball's March Madness run
"Coach (Calipari) trusts me, 100%," Fland said. "To come back first game and have that trust in me, it was great, and I had that trust in myself. My teammates did also, to make the plays down the stretch."
Fland's best play of the night came with Arkansas on the ropes. The Hogs trailed 67-64 with 3:01 remaining when Fland jumped a pass from Hunter Dickinson and darted toward the basket for a layup. It was his first basket of the second half and started a 15-5 run that pushed the Razorbacks into the second round of the bracket.
Fland had a slight wrap on his injured thumb. He admitted after the game there was rust, and Fland finished 2 for 7 from the field and 0 for 4 on 3-pointers. Still, he was poised in the biggest game of his collegiate career, and Calipari believes he will improve with more minutes as long as Arkansas stays alive.
"I really believe in him," Calipari said. "The last thing that's going to come is the shooting. He's running and he hasn't done that in a while. When you watched him shoot yesterday, making 75% of his shots, yeah, go run seven times and now make a shot. It's different for him, but he was two out of three getting to the rim."
Fland rejoined the team for full practice after the SEC Tournament. He had four days to prepare for the bright lights of March Madness, and Arkansas might not have beaten Kansas without his game-altering steal.
With another strong performance from Fland against St. John's on Saturday (1:40 p.m., CBS), Arkansas could reach its fourth Sweet 16 in the past five seasons. Playing into the second weekend might also allow for another meaningful return from Hogs' forward Adou Thiero.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@gannett.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Boogie Fland returns, helps Arkansas basketball upset Kansas in first round
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Freshman catcher becomes 7th Florida baseball transfer departure
Freshman catcher becomes 7th Florida baseball transfer departure Florida catcher Brock Clayton entered the transfer portal this week, adding to the Gators' growing list of departures after a lackluster. Roster turnover is inevitable in this era of college baseball. Getting on the dirt early is every player's priority, and a year of waiting can be the difference between staying and going. That appears to be the case for Clayton, who did not play as a true freshman. While Clayton can take a redshirt and retain all four years of eligibility, he'll be draft-eligible next offseason, regardless of playtime. He's right on the cutoff, but Clayton will be 21 years old when the draft between his second and third college seasons takes place. It's a good thing for him because of increased leverage, but he's still the same prospect he was in high school until there's game film on him. It's hard not to read the tea leaves here, though. Florida's catching situation is dire next season unless Brody Donay or Luke Heyman is staying. Donay is going to the draft combine and would be taking a Ty Evans-like gamble on himself if he came back, and last offseason's JUCO addition Cole Bullen left earlier this month. Florida Baseball 2025 Transfer Portal Movement Clayton is the seventh player to leave Florida for the transfer portal this offseason. Left-handed sophomore Jacob Gomberg was the first to depart, followed by right-handers Alex Philpott (So.) and Carson Montsdeoca (Fr.). JUCO catcher Cole Bullen (Jr.) and right-handed freshmen Niko Janssens and Felix Ong made up the next wave of transfers. Of course, Florida's early exit from the NCAA Tournament allowed Kevin O'Sullivan to make recruiting calls ahead of schedule, and the Gators have brought in four names. Notre Dame senior Ricky Reeth and UCF sophomore Russell Sandefer are the new right-handed arms, and the recent addition of Jacksonville's Jaden Bastian gives the Orange and Blue an elite outfield. Catcher AJ Malzone from the JUCO ranks rounds out the group. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
UConn's Dan Hurley is Trending After Major Knicks Coaching News
UConn's Dan Hurley is Trending After Major Knicks Coaching News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley, who has won two NCAA titles with the program, could have been hired by the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2024. In fact, the New Jersey native turned down their six-year, $70 million contract offer to remain with the Huskies, via ESPN. Advertisement The Lakers then hired 2006 No. 11 overall pick JJ Redick, who had never previously coached other than volunteering with his nine-year-old son's team at Brooklyn Basketball Academy. Los Angeles went 50-32 and earned the Western Conference's third seed under his leadership this season before getting bounced in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Hurley took UConn to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 77-75 to No. 1 Florida. Now, he's being mentioned by fans on social media as a worthy candidate for the New York Knicks after they fired Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday. Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley.© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK Knicks Film School's DJ Zullo floated the idea that New York could have a better shot at landing Hurley than Los Angeles did in 2024. Advertisement "The same people that felt confident Hurley would turn down the Lakers do NOT share that same optimism should the Knicks come calling," he said. "If there was ever a time and a team for Dan Hurley to jump to the NBA…it's now. The Knicks are the one job he would covet," another person said. "They are a championship contender with great leaders and an All-NBA lead guard." "I absolutely hate this [Thibodeau's firing]. Awful. Terrible. But... I've said that if the Knicks make change there's only 1 name. Dan Hurley," another one said. "I think Dan Hurley to the Knicks is like a 35% possibility, but I think they will go another direction," another one said. "Just a hunch, but time moves quickly and he's not the flavor of the month anymore." Advertisement "The Knicks need Dan Hurley," another one said. "This guy is one of the best basketball coaches in the world at any level. He will take them to a level they won't even believe, like he did with UConn, and bring a championship back to NY for the first time in 52 years. It's an obvious move." Related: NBA Legend Dwight Howard Was in Tears After Major Personal News Related: Luka Doncic's Former Mavericks Teammate Posts Immediate Reaction to Cooper Flagg News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
11 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Coastal Carolina's 6-2 win over Oregon State at College World Series extends its streak to 25 games
Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Coastal Carolina's unbeaten Jacob Morrison was dominant into the eighth inning and the Chanticleers capitalized on Oregon State's early mistakes to extend their win streak to 25 games with a 6-2 victory in the College World Series on Sunday night. Morrison went 7 2/3 innings for his longest outing in over two months. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound right-hander retired 16 straight over the middle innings and left with two outs in the eighth after allowing five hits, walking none and striking out seven. Coastal Carolina had to win five elimination games on its way to the 2016 national championship in its CWS debut. The Sun Belt Conference's team of teal hadn't been back to Omaha until this year, and its 2-0 start puts them in control of their bracket. The Chanticleers (55-11) would advance to the best-of-three finals with another win Wednesday. Their opponent will be either Louisville or Oregon State (48-15-1), which meet in an elimination game Tuesday. Morrison (12-0) had a 3-0 lead when he went to the mound for the bottom of the first. All three runs were unearned and the result of an unusual sequence of events. Leadoff man Caden Bodine reached on star shortstop Aiva Arquette's throwing error — only his sixth error of the season but second in two games — and went to second on a balk by Ethan Kleinschmit (8-5). The next batter, Sebastian Alexander, was down 0-2 in the count when he was called out for not being alert to the pitcher, as required, when the 20-second clock hit 8. Blake Barthol walked and Walker Mitchell and Blagen Pado were hit by pitches, but Pado was called out for not trying to get out of the way. Colby Thorndyke then delivered a two-out, bases-clearing double into the right-center gap. Oregon State's Easton Talt homered leading off the third to make it a two-run game, but the Chanticleers pulled away by scoring on an error and wild pitch in the fourth. It was 6-1 in the fifth when Thorndyke was hit by a pitch and scored from first on Dean Mihos' double. The Beavers went into the NCAA Tournament seventh nationally in fielding (.982) with just 35 errors in 54 games. They've committed 10 errors in 10 games since, including five in their first two CWS games. Two errors on the same play led them to blowing a ninth-inning lead against Louisville in their CWS opener Friday. They survived that, scoring in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 walk-off win. Oregon State wouldn't overcome its two errors, two hit batters, two wild pitches and six walks Sunday. Gavin Turley hit his 20th homer leading off the bottom of the ninth against Hayden Johnson, and the Chanticleers had to call on closer Ryan Lynch to get the last out when the Beavers put two runners on base. The Chanticleers improved to 42-0 when leading after six innings. ___ AP college sports: recommended
