# 1988–89 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

The 1988–89 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas as a member of the Southwest Conference during the 1988–89 college basketball season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Nolan Richardson, and played its home games in Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This Razorbacks team won the first of three straight SWC regular season and conference tournament championships before moving to the Southeastern Conference for the 1991–92 season. After earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, Arkansas defeated Loyola Marymount in the opening round before losing to Louisville in the second round.

## Roster

A very strong recruiting class, highlighted by 1988 McDonald's All-Americans Todd Day and Lee Mayberry, and that included Oliver Miller, formed the team's nucleus.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Exhibition ||||||
| Nov 19, 1988* | | Yugoslavia | W 116–86 | | Barton Coliseum Little Rock, AR |
| Nov 23, 1988* | | Arkansas Express | W 109–85 | | Barnhill Arena Fayetteville, AR |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 27, 1988* | | Rider | W 98–69 | 1–0 | Barnhill Arena (8,162) Fayetteville, AR |
| Nov 30, 1988* | | at Virginia | L 65–75 | 1–1 | University Hall (8,864) Charlottesville, VA |
| Dec 10, 1988* | | Maryland | W 73–68 | 2–1 | Barnhill Arena (9,388) Fayetteville, AR |
| Dec 13, 1988* | | vs. Ole Miss | W 74–68 | 3–1 | Mid-South Coliseum (7,034) Memphis, TN |
| Dec 21, 1988* | | Texas Southern | W 97–79 | 4–1 | Barton Coliseum (6,816) Little Rock, AR |
| Dec 23, 1988* | | Sam Houston State | W 97–79 | 5–1 | Barton Coliseum (6,680) Little Rock, AR |
| Dec 28, 1988* | | at No. 11 Missouri | L 78–83 | 5–2 | Hearnes Center (13,454) Columbia, MO |
| Jan 2, 1989* | | South Alabama | W 103–71 | 6–2 | Pine Bluff Convention Center (5,260) Pine Bluff, AR |
| Jan 4, 1989 | | Texas Tech | W 69–62 | 7–2 (1–0) | Barnhill Arena (9,062) Fayetteville, AR |
| Jan 7, 1989 | | at Texas | W 99–92 | 8–2 (2–0) | Frank Erwin Center (12,647) Austin, TX |
| Jan 11, 1989 | | at TCU | L 45–51 | 8–3 (2–1) | Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (7,086) Fort Worth, TX |
| Jan 14, 1989 | | SMU | W 93–73 | 9–3 (3–1) | Barnhill Arena (9,286) Fayetteville, AR |
| Jan 16, 1989 | | Texas A&M | W 75–60 | 10–3 (4–1) | Barnhill Arena (9,318) Fayetteville, AR |
| Jan 18, 1989* | | No. 14 Florida State | L 105–112 $^{OT}$ | 10–4 | Barton Coliseum (7,980) Little Rock, AR |
| Jan 21, 1989 | | at Baylor | W 88–58 | 11–4 (5–1) | Ferrell Center (7,549) Waco, TX |
| Jan 24, 1989* | | Southern Utah | W 109–76 | 12–4 | Pine Bluff Convention Center (6,744) Pine Bluff, AR |
| Jan 28, 1989 | | Rice | W 81–77 | 13–4 (6–1) | Barnhill Arena (9,302) Fayetteville, AR |
| Feb 1, 1989 | | at Houston | W 88–87 | 14–4 (7–1) | Hofheinz Pavilion (4,391) Houston, TX |
| Feb 4, 1989 | | at Texas Tech | L 73–84 | 14–5 (7–2) | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum (8,174) Lubbock, TX |
| Feb 8, 1989 | | Texas | W 105–82 | 15–5 (8–2) | Barnhill Arena (9,388) Fayetteville, AR |
| Feb 11, 1989 | | TCU | W 100–60 | 16–5 (9–2) | Barnhill Arena (9,364) Fayetteville, AR |
| Feb 15, 1989 | | at SMU | W 81–68 | 17–5 (10–2) | Moody Coliseum (5,691) Dallas, TX |
| Feb 18, 1989 | | at Texas A&M | L 71–82 | 17–6 (10–3) | G. Rollie White Coliseum (3,583) College Station, TX |
| Feb 22, 1989 | | Baylor | W 89–54 | 18–6 (11–3) | Barnhill Arena (9,092) Fayetteville, AR |
| Feb 25, 1989* | | Tulsa | W 118–69 | 19–6 | Barnhill Arena Fayetteville, AR |
| Mar 1, 1989 | | at Rice | W 83–70 | 20–6 (12–3) | Tudor Fieldhouse (2,553) Houston, TX |
| Mar 6, 1989 | | Houston | W 107–79 | 21–6 (13–3) | Barnhill Arena (8,418) Fayetteville, AR |
| SWC Tournament ||||||
| Mar 10, 1989* | | vs. Rice SWC Tournament Quarterfinal | W 108–72 | 22–6 | Reunion Arena (15,758) Dallas, TX |
| Mar 11, 1989* | | vs. Texas A&M SWC Tournament Semifinal | W 94–84 | 23–6 | Reunion Arena (16,240) Dallas, TX |
| Mar 12, 1989* | | vs. Texas SWC Tournament Championship | W 100–76 | 24–6 | Reunion Arena (16,240) Dallas, TX |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| Mar 16, 1989* CBS | (5 MW) | vs. (12 MW) Loyola Marymount Midwest Regional First Round | W 120–101 | 25–6 | Hoosier Dome (37,232) Indianapolis, IN |
| Mar 18, 1989* CBS | (5 MW) | vs. (4 MW) No. 12 Louisville Midwest Regional Second Round | L 84–93 | 25–7 | Hoosier Dome (37,444) Indianapolis, IN |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||
Sources

## Awards and honors

* Nolan Richardson – SWC Coach of the Year