PROVIDENCE, R.I. — There was a moment of realization for the Arkansas basketball team as Billy Richmond headed to the free throw line with 4 seconds left during Saturday’s game against St. John’s.
With the Razorbacks leading 74-66, math was math. There was no 8-point play for the Red Storm.
Richmond threw up his arms in celebration, sending an outnumbered Arkansas crowd at Amica Mutual Pavilion into a frenzy.
Arkansas had survived and advanced in the NCAA Tournament, and 16 was the lucky number Richmond.
His career-high 16 points helped send the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16.
“It was crazy, man,” Richmond said. “I dreamed of this my whole life, watching this as a little kid even seeing Arkansas doing this. I was just trying to repeat the same thing. But we’ve got a goal, and we’re still trying to finish that goal.”
Arkansas (22-13) knew it was in for a battle against a St. John’s squad that prides itself on being the tougher team.
The game took the form of a typical Red Storm victory: Ugly and scrappy. The two teams shot a combined 4 of 41 (9.8%) from three-point range.
But in a grind-it-out dogfight, it was Arkansas that left with a 75-66 victory.
“We just followed what our coach said,” Richmond said. “Two dogs, one bone. We just wanted the bone.”
John Fanta of FOX Sports later asked Arkansas coach John Calipari about the saying.
“I tell them, ‘You’re in a pack of dogs. If you throw a bone in, one eats. The rest don’t eat,’” Calipari said. “And you know, we’ve got some dogs. We’ve got some guys that are physically playing.”
Richmond had the matchup assignment with St. John’s star RJ Luis. Having a freshman defend a second-team All-American on a big stage demonstrated the faith Calipari and his staff have in the 6-5 forward from Memphis.
He was an integral part of the best defensive game plan a team has schemed against Luis this season.
Luis was held to 9 points on 3-of-17 (17.6%) shooting. When the game was close near the end, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino had his best player on the bench.
Richmond’s length seemed to give Luis fits, as did his motor. The freshman made nothing easy for Luis.
“I love a scrappy game,” Richmond said. “This was my type of game. As soon as I got on that floor, I was ready. I was ready to get out there from the jump.”
Calipari was asked about his three freshmen — Richmond, Karter Knox and Boogie Fland — who combined for 37 points.
“Billy just has a different mindset: ‘If I turn it over, so what?’ He goes on to the next play,” Calipari said. “Karter and Boogie are still freshmen. They miss two, they end up missing five. The other side of Billy doing that, he’ll turn it over some. ‘Why did you try to do that?’…’I thought I could do it.’ The lob we had late where D.J. [Wagner] wouldn’t throw it, Billy would throw it. He may throw it over the backboard, but he would throw it.”
Nelly Davis, a graduate transfer from Florida Atlantic, secured his sixth career NCAA Tournament victory. He was part of a Final Four run for the ninth-seeded Owls in 2023 and knows the mentality needed to survive and advance.
“It’s just how hard he [is] fighting and the toughness he plays with,” Davis said. “The things he do [aren’t] on the stat sheet but it shows up to the coaches and everyone else.”
Richmond is among a list of impactful Arkansas basketball players who have hailed from Memphis: Todd Day, Corey Beck, Arlyn Bowers, Ron Huery and Dwight Stewart, to name a few. He is the son of Billy Richmond Jr., who played for Calipari at Memphis from 2002-04.
Richmond accomplished a feat his father’s Tigers were one victory shy of when Memphis lost to Oklahoma State 70-53 at the 2004 NCAA Tournament second round, the final game of his career.
Growing up across the Mississippi River from Arkansas and parented by someone who played for Calipari, Richmond senses the impact his career performance Saturday had.
“I’ve been to Arkansas a lot of my life,” Richmond said. “It’s really like a second, third home. Arkansas has got a very special place in my heart.”
As he exited the postgame news conference podium, Richmond took a souvenir with him. He wanted to keep the name tent on the table in front of him — a token to keep for the rest of his life to remember the moment.
“It means a lot,” Richmond said. “I just wanted to win, and doing it with my brothers, that’s all I could ask for. We fought hard and it was a real physical game against physical, great team. But we just wanted to win.”
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