Hog Calls

Hogs finishing with Beard, Watkins

Wake Forest's Mitchell Wilbekin (10) is closely guarded by Arkansas defenders Manuale Watkins (21) and Anton Beard ( 31) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fayetteville, Ark., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Sarah Bentham)
Wake Forest's Mitchell Wilbekin (10) is closely guarded by Arkansas defenders Manuale Watkins (21) and Anton Beard ( 31) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Fayetteville, Ark., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Sarah Bentham)

FAYETTEVILLE -- On his Miked Up radio show Thursday, Mike Anderson had just finished discussing Anton Beard and Manuale Watkins finishing games when an audience member started on if Beard might soon start.

Neither has started an Arkansas Razorbacks game.

So the Arkansas coach reapplied the finishing touches to why it's most important his two tough, young guards finish what is started regardless whether they are among the starters.

"He [Beard] is gravitating that way, but it's not about starting," Anderson replied.

This time last year neither Beard nor Watkins were in position to start or finish for the Razorbacks. Beard was a high school senior then for North Little Rock.

Watkins, a sophomore who played at Fayetteville High and the son of top Arkansas assistant coach Melvin Watkins, rode the pine last season as a walk-on, mopping up just 27 minutes in eight games, only one of which came in SEC play.

This season Watkins has logged 272 minutes encompassing every game for the Razorbacks (13-3, 2-1 SEC) going into tonight's conference game against Ole Miss at Walton Arena. The 6-3 guard leads Arkansas in steals with 25.

Missing one game because of injury, Beard has logged 201 minutes.

Both played the most important crunch-time minutes of Arkansas' SEC season-opening 79-75 victory at Georgia and were the ones protecting the ball while their teammates couldn't finish in Tuesday's 74-69 SEC loss at Tennessee.

Arkansas committed 18 turnovers that led to 27 Tennessee points.

Watkins and Beard committed zero turnovers in a combined 45 minutes, 27 for Watkins and 18 for Beard.

That did not go unnoticed by their coach. Nor did the defense that Beard and Watkins played.

"You look at Manuale, you look at Anton, those guys didn't have any problems taking care of the basketball because I think they value that," Anderson said. "I call those guys my blue-collar guys because they will play the type of defense we want to play. When you play in tough venues or just tough games, those guys have the pride about stopping people."

Trailing 72-69 with 5.1 seconds left at Tennessee, Beard missed the critical first two free throws (then was compelled intentionally to miss the third) after being fouled attempting a three-pointer. But as Anderson affirmed, the Hogs stood no chance without Beard's 12 points, which included hitting 3 of 4 three-pointers with one pulling the Hogs to within 70-69 with 14 seconds left.

Beard dished out three assists with a steal at Tennessee. Watkins, 3 of 4 from the free-throw line, had 2 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds with a steal.

Most importantly to Anderson, while Arkansas gave it away with turnovers, Beard and Watkins unceasingly gave all their effort in every way.

"I think Anton gives you a guy that's got a big heart," Anderson said. "I think Manuale Watkins fits that bill when you talk about guys that play with toughness. They don't back down from anybody."

Sports on 01/17/2015

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