Bird-Magic. Chamberlain-Russell. Kleine-Koncak.

OK, so maybe the last pair doesn’t belong on the list of all-time great player rivalries. But in the mid-1980s, few of college basketball’s individual rivalries were more prominent or more heated than the one between Joe Kleine of Arkansas and Jon Koncak of SMU.

For those of you who weren’t around then or who know the two only as the quintessential NBA journeymen, we know that statement sounds kind of crazy. But, it’s true. That was the Era of the Shaggy-Haired Hulking White Center, and Kleine and Koncak were considered the crème de la crème of the breed. (Other notable examples include Bill Wennington of St. John’s and Uwe Blab of Indiana, both of whom, incredibly, were drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1985 NBA draft.)

We were reminded of the Kleine-Koncack battles recently while digging through the SI Vault, Sports Illustrated’s online archive of all of its issues. (To see the articles we found on Alvin Robertson, click here.) “A Double Helping of Very Special K”appeared in the Jan. 14, 1985, edition of Sports Illustrated and was written just after SMU’s 63-60 overtime victory over the Hogs nine days earlier. The article notes that the win was Koncak’s first in five tries against Kleine. “Arkansas is like that mosquito in my bedroom,” Koncak told the writer, Jack McCallum, before the game. “The one I could never swat dead.”

(Arkansas would defeat SMU in the regular season rematch and then again in the conference tournament, meaning that Smokin’ Joe from Slater, Mo., finished his Razorback career with a 6-1 record against Koncak and the Ponies. Take that, Jon.)

Some items of interest from the article:

*  At the 1984 Olympic trials, Michigan State Jud Heathcote, apparently confused by the various similarities between the two, introduced Koncak to a group of fellow hopefuls by saying, “Fellas, I’d like you to meet Joe Kleine of Arkansas.”

* McCallum writes, Kleine and Koncack “are likely to be high first-round picks who may not ‘make’ an NBA franchise but who will get one back on its feet.” Well, at least he got the part about the high first-round pick right.

* Like all good rivals, they didn’t much like each other. Koncak on Kleine’s demonstrative on-court persona: “Why does he have to do that stuff?” Kleine on Koncak: “Early in his career he said some really ignorant things.” Trash talk like that is truly not for the faint of heart.

* Eddie Sutton recruited both Koncak and Kleine out of high school, meaning that, had things turned out differently, the 1981-82 Hogs could have featured Koncak, Kleine and Scott Hastings. Wow. That team would have been the Traveling Wilburys of slow white centers.

Alas, that didn’t happen … and the rest is mid-1980s college basketball history.

I think we can all agree that it’s time for a break from the current unpleasantness of Razorback basketball, so with that in mind let’s discuss a more appealing subject: which ex-Hogs should have their numbers retired and jerseys hung from the rafters at Bud Walton? (This topic comes directly from Arkansas Sports 360, which has a good article asking why Arkansas doesn’t retire basketball numbers, so definitely check that out for your background research.)

As a starting point, here’s a very hastily put-together and poorly researched list of possible candidates…feel free to pick it apart and/or suggest your own version in the comments section.

In rough chronological order:

Sidney Moncrief
Ron Brewer
Marvin Delph
Darrell Walker
Alvin Robertson
Joe Kleine
Eddie Sutton
Todd Day
Lee Mayberry
Corliss Williamson
Scotty Thurman
Corey Beck
Nolan Richardson

This doesn’t include the larger-than-lifesize statue of Dwight Stewart that we’re recommending be placed outside the entrance of Bud Walton. That one is such a no-brainer it’s almost not worth mentioning here.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts…

Feb. 12, 1984.

That’s the day that Arkansas defeated the No. 1-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, who brought a 19-0 record into that Sunday afternoon nationally televised contest in Pine Bluff and featured the greatest basketball player who has ever lived. Jordan’s teammates weren’t too shabby either. They included Sam Perkins, who would go on to enjoy a 17-year pro career, and Brad Daugherty, who was the No. 1 pick in the 1986 NBA draft and who played in the pros for eight seasons before injuries forced his retirement. Also wearing Carolina uniforms that day were Matt Doherty, who was coach of the Tar Heels for three seasons earlier this decade, and Buzz Peterson, who coached the UT Vols from 2001 to 2005. (Kenny Smith was on the Tar Heels that year but didn’t play in the game because of a broken wrist.)

The Hogs, who were led that year by Alvin Robertson and Joe Kleine, brought an 18-4 record into the game but were not ranked. The day before, they had defeated SMU in Dallas and were only able to arrive in Pine Bluff a couple of hours before tip-off after a line of severe thunderstorms played havoc with their travel plans. Suffice to say, not exactly an ideal way to get ready for the game.

No matter.

The Hogs came out roaring and led by as many as seven in the first half before going into halftime with a 38-34 lead. The second half was a tight affair, and Jordan put his greatness on full display and was basically unstoppable in the final 20 minutes, finishing the game with 21 points. With under a minute to play, he drilled a jumper to put the Tar Heels up 64-63.

That’s where the score stood when forward Charles Balentine etched his name into Razorback history by hitting a game-winning, eight-footer from the baseline with seconds left to play. Carolina guard Steve Hale fired off a buzzer-beating shot that rimmed in and (thankfully) back out to give the Hogs a 65-64 win (NBC broadcaster Al McGuire famously screamed, “It’s good!” as Hale’s shot approached the rim).

(Read on …)