[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   TRIBUTE TO COACH NOLAN RICHARDSON AND THE 1994 ARKANSAS RAZORBACK 
                            BASKETBALL TEAM

  Mr. PRYOR. Madam President, I rise today to congratulate Coach Nolan 
Richardson and the University of Arkansas Razorback basketball team on 
an exciting and brilliant season, which climaxed in a 76-72 victory 
over the Duke Blue Devils for the National Collegiate Athletic 
Association national championship on April 4, 1994.
  I think I can speak for the people of Arkansas when I say that we are 
all bursting with pride over the Razorbacks' achievements. We want to 
thank them for their hard work and for representing the State with the 
class of true champions
  Coach Richardson, in his 14th year as a major college head coach, 
owns a record of 339-112 for a winning percentage of .752. His 
percentage ranks fifth nationally among Division One active coaches who 
have coached at least 5 years and puts him at 13th overall. In his 9 
years at Arkansas, he boasts a record of 220-75. He is the only UA 
coach in history to produce more than one 30-game winner. His teams 
have played in the NCAA tournament 10 times and the postseason NIT 
three times.
  In the NCAA tournament, he has taken his teams to a national 
championship, been to the Final Four twice, the Elite Eight once, and 
the Sweet Sixteen once. He is the only coach in history to win national 
junior college, NIT, and NCAA titles. His teams have also won at least 
21 games in each of the past seven seasons.
  In the last six seasons, Coach Richardson led his Hogs to 168 
victories, an average of 28 per year. Three different sources named him 
Coach of the Year. He won the Naismith Award and the CBS-Chevrolet 
award. He was also named Kodak's Co-National Coach of the Year with 
Purdue's Gene Keady, a former Arkansas assistant coach.
  Madam President, the national championship crown capped off Arkansas' 
greatest season ever. Arkansas finished with a 31-3 overall record. The 
Razorbacks won the Southeastern Conference regular season championship 
with a 14-2 mark. It was the second overall SEC title for the Hogs in 
the last three seasons. For the third consecutive year, the Razorbacks 
won the SEC Western Division crown. On the way to the NCAA 
championship, Arkansas defeated North Carolina A&T, Georgetown, Tulsa, 
Michigan, Arizona, and Duke in the tournament.
  Madam President, I am proud of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks 
for their hard work, dedication, and amazing talent, and I would like 
to say a few words about each of these outstanding basketball players.


                               corey beck

  ``The heart and soul of our team. He is the glue that holds us 
together.'' Nolan Richardson's view of Corey Beck exemplifies how 
important he was this year to the Arkansas Razorbacks and their quest 
for the national title.
  Beck, a 6-2 junior guard, averaged 17 points per game his senior year 
at Memphis Fairley High School. He signed with Arkansas out of high 
school but spent a year at junior college in Texas where he average 12 
points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals his freshman season.
  In Corey's first season at Arkansas, he averaged 7 points, 5.8 
rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He took a total of 52 charges. 
Starting 20 of the 30 games in which he played, he led the Hogs in 
assists with 7 in each of 3 games during the 1992-93 season; 169 
assists gives Beck the fifth highest single-season total in Arkansas 
basketball history; and he ranks eighth on the career list with 269. 
Beck also led the Hogs in steals, and he average 8.8 points per game.
  Beck was named to the five-man All Final Four team after scoring 15 
points, pulling in a career-high 10 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists 
against Duke in the final game. In the six NCAA tournament games, Beck 
scored 60 points, pulled down 34 rebounds, gave 28 assists, and had 9 
steals. Corey Beck certainly came through in the Hogs' first NCAA 
national championship.


                               ken biley

  As Nolan Richardson once said, ``We will use [Ken Biley] in role 
situations; that may make him a better player for us. He can rebound 
and block shots.'' This is just what Ken Biley--a 6-6, 207-pound senior 
forward--has done for the Razorbacks. Ken Biley has lived up to Nolan's 
words by averaging four blocked shots per season, by being the high 
rebounder against Montevallo, and by starting the NCAA championship 
game.
  In high school, Ken averaged 15 points per game. He led the Fighting 
Zebras of Pine Bluff High School to a 29-3 record and a State 
championship. As a senior, Biley earned All-State and All-District 
honors. He was named the Most Valuable Player and Naismith Player of 
the Year in Arkansas.
  A 3-year letterman, Biley was the only true freshman in his class to 
play rather than being redshirted. Despite being bothered by a strained 
groin, he played 30 games his first season. He scored a career-high 14 
points against Jackson State as a sophomore. During his junior year, he 
scored 12 points against Jackson State again. This game against Jackson 
State also marks a season-high 14 rebounds for him.
  Ken Biley ended his playing career at the University of Arkansas on a 
great high-point of starting the final NCAA championship game. We wish 
Ken well in all his future endeavors and thank him for his dedication 
to the Hogs.


                             roger crawford

  Crawford, a 6-4, 175-pound guard from Carver High School in 
Birmingham, AL, supported the Razorback team throughout his career. 
Assistant Coach Brad Dunn hails Roger as ``one of the best transition 
guards in the college game * * * often, we went to him on the bench and 
increased our lead. Not many teams can say that about a substitute.''
  Although he did not join his first basketball team until 10th grade, 
Crawford averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds per game as a senior. He 
earned All-State honors as well as being named the Carver High School 
team's Most Valuable Player. As a junior, he averaged 10 points and 5 
rebounds.
  In junior college in Walker, AL, he averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds 
per game, leading the team in assists as a sophomore even though he 
missed part of both seasons with injuries.
  Last season at Arkansas, Crawford averaged almost 7 points per game. 
He opened the season with 18 points to help the Hogs defeat Memphis 
State. A career-high 25 points accompanied his first start of the 
season against Georgia. In the victory over Kentucky, he scored 15 
points and hit 7 of his 10 shots.
  This year, Roger Crawford averaged 7.4 points in only 18 minutes per 
game before getting injured. He broke his ankle against Georgetown in 
the second round of the NCAA tournament. The team dedicated the season 
to this senior, wearing his number 31 on their jerseys throughout the 
rest of the tournament. This recognition by his teammates speaks to 
this young man's character and leadership qualities.


                              alex dillard

  Al Dillard, a junior from Bessemer, AL, played point guard for his 
high school team. Averaging 16 points per game in the final two 
seasons, he earned All-State and All-District honors.
  He then spent 3 years out of school before attending junior college 
at Southern Union. As a sophomore, he averaged 30 points per game and 
shot 44 percent from 3-point range. At a national junior college 
tournament, he put up nine 3-pointers in one game. He also set a school 
record with 52 points in one game. After attending 2 years of junior 
college, he earned a spot in Division I at age 25 with the University 
of Arkansas.
  Dillard has the deepest range of any shooter the Razorbacks have had 
since Richardson has been at Arkansas. His 75, 3-point field goals puts 
him at the third highest in school history. In the game against 
Delaware State, Dillard made 12-pointers, setting a school record and 
tying the SEC record for most trys in a game. With 12.4 minutes of 
playing time per game, he has a 8.9-point average. Three times this 
past season Alex Dillard was a high scorer. Coach Nolan Richardson 
said, ``He may be our best shooter.''


                              john engskov

  John Engskov, a 6-3, 180-pound guard from Berryville, AR, walked on 
as a freshman in the 1992-93 season as a redshirt. Playing guard in 
high school, he averaged 25 points per game as a senior and earned All-
State honors. He also ran cross-country track and played for the golf 
team.
  In his first year of eligibility, Engskov played in nine games, 
scoring a total of 14 points. He shot 63 percent from the field and 67 
percent from 3-point range. Engskov is in the record book for making 
the bucket that put the Razorbacks over 100 points for the first time 
in the new Bud Walton Arena. An excellent student as well as an 
athlete, Engskov majors in administrative management. He earned All-
Academic SEC honors this past year. Teammate Corey Beck says of 
Engskov, ``John is one of the hardest workers on the team. When I play 
against him, I can't take anything for granted. I can't let up or he'll 
make a great play.'' Arkansans look for great things from John in the 
years to come.


                              elmer martin

  Elmer Martin, a 6-8, 220-pound junior from Memphis, TN, attended 
Fairley High School along with teammates Dwight Stewart and Corey Beck. 
A knee injury cut Martin's high school basketball career short, and he 
missed his entire senior season after undergoing surgery. Along with 
basketball, Martin was also a good student, being a member of the 
National Honor Society.
  Being a November signee with the Razorbacks, Martin redshirted during 
the 1990-91 season while recovering from the knee injury. In the 1992-
93 season, Martin played in eleven games, starting in one. During the 
1992-93 season, Martin played in 29 games, starting two. In the victory 
over Jackson State, he scored a career-high 10 points, including a 3-
point shot. In the 1993-94 season, Martin played in 27 games, averaging 
5.9 points per game. Coach Richardson called Martin the most improved 
player of the 1992-93 season.


                             clint mcdaniel

  Coach Nolan Richardson called junior Clint McDaniel the best 
defensive player on the team. At Washington High School in Tulsa, OK, 
he averaged 27.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists per game as a 
senior. He earned All-State and All-Conference honors as well as being 
named City Player of the Year.
  In the 1991-92 season, McDaniel scored a season-high 13 points 
against Ole Miss. He shot 74.4 percent from the foul line and made 26 
steals. In victory over Jackson State during the 1992-93 season, he 
scored a career-high 19 points. Against North Carolina, he hit 3 treys, 
a season and career high. He took a career-high 5 steals against 
Northeast Louisiana. McDaniel finished strong with 36 points in three 
NCAA tournament games.
  McDaniel thrilled Hog fans the entire 1993-94 season with chaos-
creating defensive moves. He made the All-NCAA Midwest regional team 
this year. With 7 rebounds, he was the high rebounder in the semifinals 
game against Michigan. He also tied his career high of 19 points 
against Tulsa in the Midwest regional semifinals. Clint McDaniel's 
knack for attack was a key to Arkansas' power season.


                             reggie merritt

  Reggie Merritt, a 6-1, 165-pound sophomore who plays guard, attended 
Little Rock Central High School. An outstanding player in high school, 
he averaged 16 points and 4 rebounds as a senior. Merritt earned All-
State, All-Conference, and All-Conference tournament honors as well as 
lettering three times. In one game, he hit 9 out of 12 shots from 3-
point range, finishing with 35 points.
  Merritt walked on and was redshirted during the 1991-92 season. 
During the 1992-93 season Merritt scored a career-high five points 
against Holy Cross in the NCAA tournament. He played in seven games, 
with an average of 2.1 points per outing. In the 1993-94 season, he 
played in nine games, scoring an average of 2.3 points. Reggie has 
another gift besides basketball, which is drawing. He is a talented 
artist.


                              davor rimac

  Davor Rimac, a 6-7 junior from Zagreb, Croatia, came to the United 
States to attend a basketball camp hosted by Nolan Richardson. When he 
decided he wanted to stay in the United States, Coach Richardson took 
him in.
  Rimac played two seasons at Fayetteville High School. His averages as 
a junior were 18 points and 8 rebounds per game. As a senior he 
averaged 27 points and 8 rebounds per game, earning All-State honors. 
While at Fayetteville High, Rimac scored a school-record 1,245 points 
in two seasons. Rimac also won the 4A State championship in tennis.
  Rimac redshirted in the 1990-91 season as a true freshman. During the 
1991-92 season, he played 21 games. He shot 51 percent from the field 
and hit 13 of 14 free throws. In the 1992-93 season, Rimac hit 7 of his 
8 free throws, leaving his UA career percentage at .909 from the 
charity stripe. Outside shooting is Rimac's most valuable strength. In 
the 1993-94 season, Rimac was high scorer against Texas Southern with 
18 points. Against Tennessee, he scored 12 points. His 9 rebounds made 
him high rebounder for the game. He has started 12 times. Assistant 
Coach Brad Dunn said of Davor Rimac, ``He's an incredible athlete.''


                            darnell robinson

  Coach Richardson says Darnell Robinson ``has a lot of potential and, 
as time goes by, he could be one of the best players ever at 
Arkansas.'' Robinson, a 6-11, 260-pound freshman from Oakland, CA, 
plays forward/center.
  At Emeryville High School in California, Robinson made every All-Star 
team there was, including McDonald's All-America. Earning All-State 
honors, he was the State's Most Valuable Player. He set the State 
record for career scoring with 3,361 points. As a sophomore, he 
averaged 35.6 points and 21.1 rebounds in a 22-7 season. He led the 
team to a 31-5 record and the State title in his final season. Robinson 
shocked national recruiting experts when he signed with Arkansas in 
November of his senior year.
  Also known as ``Tank,'' Robinson was the high rebounder in three 
games during the 1993-94 season. In the Delaware State game, he had 9 
rebounds. This season Robinson averaged 7.6 points and 5 rebounds per 
game. Arkansans look to Darnell as the ``future franchise'' for the 
Hogs.


                             dwight stewart

  Dwight Stewart, a 6-8, 260-pound center/forward from Memphis, TN, 
started his road to the Final Four as a sophomore in high school, 
averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. During his junior year, 
he averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds. Before graduating he helped his 
team to a season record of 33-2 with an average of 23 points and 14 
rebounds.
  A high school and junior college teammate of Corey Beck, Stewart 
earned his eligibility after transferring from junior college after 
only 1 year. In the 1992-93 season, Stewart started 24 of 31 games. He 
scored in double figures 12 times, and he shot 54 percent from the 
field. Due to the Hogs' lack of size, he played center; however, he 
surprised his opponents by hitting 8 of 17 3-pointers.

  In the 1993-94 season, Stewart used his unorthodox ``big dog'' skills 
to place as the high rebounder in nine games. In the second round of 
the SEC tournament, Stewart went four for four beyond the 3-point 
range, and in the next round he went two for two. Opposing coaches no 
longer allow junior Dwight Stewart to roam freely beyond the 3-point 
arc.


                             SCOTTY THURMAN

  Scotty Thurman set school records for 3-point goals in each of his 
first 2 years at Arkansas. With 51 seconds left in the championship 
game of the NCAA tournament, his long-arching 3 broke the 70-70 
deadlock and proved to be the decisive shot in the Razorbacks' 76-72 
victory over Duke.
  This 6-6 forward from Ruston, LA, averaged 27 points and 9.2 rebounds 
per game as a senior in high school. In addition to his involvement in 
athletics, he served as president of the student council and placed on 
the honor roll, graduating with a 3.5 grade point average. Thurman also 
played the tuba in high school.
  Thurman's excellence in school and basketball continues at 
Fayetteville. His academic record as a sophomore communications major 
with a 3.1 grade point average earned him a place on the SEC's All-
Academic Honor Roll. Thurman has also been named to the All-SEC 
basketball team for the past 2 years. In the six tournament games this 
season, he averaged 16.2 points per game. Coach Nolan Richardson says, 
``The way Scotty scores in bushels, he easily could have averaged 25 or 
30 points if I had played him more--and most players get most of their 
points against weak teams. But Scotty's just the opposite--he gets his 
points against the teams that can play.''


                           CORLISS WILLIAMSON

  Corliss Williamson, a 6-7, 245-pound sophomore from Russellville, AR, 
shows a tremendous career with the Razorbacks after only two full 
seasons. His basketball career began early when he shattered a 
backboard as an eighth grader at Gardner Junior High. In high school, 
Williamson earned many basketball honors in Arkansas as well as being 
named a McDonald's All-America. He was regarded as the top college 
prospect in Arkansas and a top pick in the Nation by most recruiting 
gurus. He averaged 28 points and 9 rebounds per game his senior year 
and set a school record with 52 points in one game. A three-time All-
State and All-Conference selection, he was named the Most Valuable 
Player of the 1992 State tournament and the National Gatorade Player of 
the Year.
  Even though Williamson missed 13 games with a stress fracture in his 
foot, he had an impressive freshman year. He made the SEC All-Freshman 
team, and he was named one of the top five freshmen players in the 
country. In 15 of the 18 games he played, he scored in double figures, 
and he has never scored less than 6 points in a game. Williamson 
averaged 16 points in each of three 1993 NCAA tournament games. Against 
North Carolina, he made all seven field goal attempts and two out of 
three free throws.
  Williamson's success only increased during his sophomore season. He 
led the Razorbacks in scoring 19 times this year as well as being the 
high rebounder 15 times. Averaging 20.4 points per game, he claimed a 
total of 695 points and 262 rebounds for the 1993-94 season. As a 
member of the John Wooden and the Basketball America teams, Williamson 
became the first sophomore in school history to earn first team All-
America honors. He was also second team Associated Press All-America. 
Named SEC Player of the Year, he was a unanimous All-Conference choice. 
After being named to the NCAA Midwest regional and the SEC All-
Tournament teams, he gained recognition as the Final Four Most Valuable 
Player. His 695 points marks the fourth highest total ever at 
Arkansas--23 times he scored at least 20 points, and he scored in 
double figures 32 times. In nine career NCAA tounament games, Corliss 
Williamson has hit 74 of 114 shots from the field for a percentage of 
.649, the fourth highest of all time. It's hard to believe, but Corliss 
is just a sophomore. We are proud to have a player of his caliber, and 
we cannot wait to watch him in the years to come.


                               LEE WILSON

  Lee Wilson, a 6-11, 250-pound center from Waco, TX, created quite a 
buzz around the State of Arkansas entering his freshman year. With the 
arrival of Wilson and another 6-11 freshman, Darnell Robinson, the Hogs 
appeared to be stocked at the center position.
  As a high school senior, Wilson averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds 
per game. He earned All-State, All-District, and Parade All-America 
honors. Fifteen blocked shots in a game gave him the school record. As 
a junior, he led his team to a 30-7 season record with an average of 
fifteen points and eight rebounds.
  In only 9.6 minutes of play per game, Wilson averaged 3.4 points. 
Against Memphis State and Ole Miss, he was the high rebounder with 7 
and 9 rebounds, respectively. Unfortunately, an old injury to his right 
knee flared up again and kept him sidelined for four games while he 
underwent arthroscopic surgery and rehabilitation. Despite the injury, 
he still placed third on the team in blocked shots. In just 13 minutes 
of playing time against Northwestern State, he scored 11 points and 
pulled down 9 rebounds. While playing only 5 minutes against Duke for 
the national championship, he scored 4 points and pulled down 4 
rebounds as a critical role player for the Hogs.

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