Sports Talk With Bo Mattingly's Podcast

Chris Lykes wants to do two things: play basketball and win. He rose to basketball prominence in the same hotbed that produced Kevin Durant, and spent the first four seasons of his college career at the University of Miami. So how did Lykes end up here? A season-ending injury renewed his desire to achieve more. After testing the NBA waters, Lykes decided it was in his best interests to return for another year in college. And it was obvious what the perfect fit would be. Lykes is ready to learn what it takes to make it to the next level from Eric Musselman, and help the Hogs reach their full potential. And as Arkansas basketball analyst Matt Zimmerman sits down with Chris Lykes, it’s time to get to know one of the newest Razorbacks.

Anna Podojil is a scorer. How else would you describe someone who’s scored 34 goals in three seasons for a Razorback soccer team that has become a top-25 mainstay? What separates her is a desire to be the best. That drive helped Podojil become one of the most sought-after high school talents, attracting interest from the best programs in the nation. But she had her heart set on the Razorbacks, and helping the Arkansas program reach new heights. And Podojil has been at the forefront of the Razorbacks’ rise to the top of the SEC. She’s been an SEC Freshman of the Year and Forward of the Year, and a two-time All-American. But more importantly than any individual accolades, Podojil and her teammates have accomplished the goal of raising the bar at Arkansas, which earned its first ever No. 2 seed at that NCAA Tournament in 2021. No matter how many goals Podojil scores in her Arkansas career, she’ll have accomplished her mission of elevating the Razorback program.

Treylon Burks isn’t like other top players in college football. Hailing from Warren, Ark., Burks would rather spend time in the woods than playing Fortnite. And he grew up as a water boy for a high school team featuring three future NFL players—Jarius Wright, Chris Gragg and Greg Childs. On the field, Burks always had potential. So much that his youth league made a rule to slow him down. But becoming a superstar wide receiver almost didn’t happen. Burks suffered a nearly catastrophic knee injury in high school that almost cost him his football career. And he almost didn’t choose the Razorbacks. But in the end, representing his home state and staying close to home won out. And it’s been a nonstop highlight reel since. For Treylon Burks, the only question left is if he’ll break as many records as he does defenses.

Few coaches are as obsessed with learning and getting better than Mike Neighbors. For proof, look no further than the fact that he keeps track of every mistake he makes in an effort to learn from them. It’s that attention to detail that has the Razorbacks on the rise. Arkansas has finished back-to-back seasons above .500 in SEC play for the first time in school history. And now, they’re holding their own against the nation’s elite. Last season, Neighbors led the program to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. And despite the early exit in March, a lot of progress was made. That first-round NCAA Tournament loss provides plenty of motivation. And when you combine that with what Neighbors and his staff have been building, you have a chance to take another big step forward. Talent alone doesn’t win games. Neighbors knows this. But for a program that has its eyes set on being in the national spotlight, Arkansas is well on its way.

Razorback basketball hit high marks last season that hadn’t been seen in 25 years. The first Sweet 16 since 1996. The first Elite 8 since 1995. And the program’s best winning percentage since the Hogs came within a game of back-to-back national titles. In short, Razorback basketball was fun again. And that’s just the way head coach Eric Musselman likes it. Old school or new school—whatever you want to call it—it’s working. In just two years, Musselman has revitalized a program. His 45 wins through two seasons are the most by any coach in program history, and his 20 conference wins are tied with Eddie Sutton atop the Razorbacks’ all-time coaching list. It’s fun to win. But there’s a lot of work that goes into it. And it’s that grind and a relentless quest to get better that has defined the Razorbacks so far under Musselman. It’s elevated Arkansas back among the SEC elite and to national prominence. And as Year 3 of the Musselman Era begins, Hog fans are ready to see what comes next.

As easy as she makes things look on the golf course, you’d think Brooke Matthews was always destined for greatness. But it wasn’t always that way. In fact, growing up as a multi-sport athlete, golf was more of an afterthought. But once she decided to focus her full attention on the golf course, the Rogers native starting winning junior events, and caught the eye of her home-state Razorbacks. And while playing for Arkansas was a dream for Brooke, things didn’t go as expected in the beginning. On a roster loaded with future pros, she didn’t qualify for a single tournament as a freshman. And so, Brooke made the decision to redshirt. That redshirt year and decision to take the more challenging road has paid off. She’s won four individual titles since, represented the U.S. in the Curtis Cup, and played in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. And along the way, she shattered the 54-hole NCAA scoring record by a whopping six shots. She's kinda a big deal. And she has big dreams of a future in golf. But none of it w

For KJ Jefferson, there are two things that have always been intertwined as part of his life: sports and family. That family and the Sardis, Miss., community saw something in KJ: the potential for something more. And they helped him stay on the right path. Eventually, KJ saw that opportunity to escape to better things, and bought into himself. At the center of it all is KJ’s relationship with his biggest supporter: His mom. KJ is a self-admitted momma’s boy, and she has no problem holding him accountable for what he does on the field. Now, KJ continues to emerge and develop as a big-time player for the Razorback football team. His future looks brighter than ever. And as he continues his football journey, his mom, his family and the whole community back home will be with him every step of the way.

Positionless basketball is a buzzword in the sport today. Having guys capable of playing any position creates flexibility and matchup nightmares for the opposition. And that’s what Eric Musselman is doing at Arkansas. And so Au’Diese Toney, a senior transfer from Pitt, seems like the perfect fit. Last season, he averaged career highs of 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 16 games before a car crash and a concussion knocked him out for the season. After that disappointing end to his junior season, Toney entered the transfer portal, and was greeted with offers from more than 20 schools. But he chose Arkansas for two reasons: a desire to win at the highest level, and a chance to take his game to the next level with the help of Musselman. As one of the latest transfers to join the Razorback program under Musselman, Toney is ready to make his mark at Arkansas.

Despite what he may say, Bumper Pool is unique. There’s the name: Bumper, which began as a nickname but is now his legal first name. There’s the fact that he chose to live out his dream at Arkansas over so many top programs. And there’s the fact that he’s the latest in a line of great Arkansas linebackers from Texas. None of that would matter, though, if it wasn’t for his high school coach convincing him to give up playing quarterback and make the move to defense. Since then, Bumper has enjoyed tremendous success on a personal level. He’s been an SEC and national defensive player of the week, an All-SEC selection, and finished in the top 10 nationally in total tackles last season. But the wins weren’t there. And for a guy who cares so much about turning this program around, that mattered. And that’s where Sam Pittman comes in. Two wins over ranked teams and a top-10 national ranking later, it seems like Bumper Pool is well on his way to making sure he leaves a mark—on opposing offenses AND the Razorback progr

According to the NCAA, only 3 percent of high school football players make it to Division 1. And of those players, less than 2 percent make it to the NFL. Getting there is hard enough. Locking down one of only 32 long snapper spots seems impossible. So how did Brett Goode go from snapping against the goal posts in high school to walking on at Arkansas, lasting a decade in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl title? To him, it was just hard work and a determination to live out a life-long dream. And along the way, he got to be a part of some incredible moments at Arkansas, and was a part of some incredible teams. That helped prepare him for the NFL: His first game was Aaron Rodgers’ debut with the Packers on Monday Night Football. That game was the first of 152 in the NFL for Goode, who won a Super Bowl along the way. It’s a storybook career for a guy who found a niche in high school and worked hard to become one of the 32 best in the world.

Hayden Henry understands that he’s probably not the first member of the Henry family that comes to your mind. You might think of his older brother, Hunter, a tight end for the New England Patriots. Or Hudson, his younger brother and tight end for the Razorbacks. Or maybe even his dad, Mark, a pastor in Little Rock and former Razorback himself. But now, Hayden is making a name all on his own. And when he hears his name called, he's reminded his final season as a Hog almost never happened. When you want something bad enough, you’re going to put in the work. And Hayden has done that, going from walk-on, to scholarship player, to SEC Defensive Player of the Week. But perhaps most importantly, he has the trust of his teammates. Playing for Arkansas has been a source of pride for the Henry family. And now Hayden is making the Razorback family proud.

Arkansas running back Trelon Smith is on a path to be a big-time playmaker for the Razorbacks. But if it wasn’t for football, his life might’ve taken a different turn. A Texas high school football standout, the sport gave him the opportunity he wanted. But after a couple of seasons at Arizona State, Smith entered the transfer portal—landing him an Arkansas offer he was quick to accept. It might not have been that easy at first. He had to sit out a year due to transfer rules. And he was behind Rakeem Boyd on the depth chart. But he knew he’d get his chance. And when the chance came, Smith was ready, piling up 710 yards on just 134 carries in 2020. Had football not kept Smith on the right path, Arkansas may never have been in the picture. Now, he’s looking to become the next Razorback 1,000-yard rusher.

Make no mistake: Sam Pittman is fired up to be Arkansas’ head coach. And that passion for the Razorbacks has united the state behind the Head Hog, led to T-shirts and catch phrases, and has Razorback fans excited to see what’s next after a solid debut season. While it’s refreshing—and incredibly important—to have a head coach who embraces the state and relates to the people the way Pittman has, it’s not the only thing that matters. This is a proud program that wants to win games. And Pittman knows it. As he continues to revive a program—and a fan base—that’s starving for success, Year 2 can be a major step in the right direction.

Ask most Razorback fans, and they’ll tell you that Year 1 under Sam Pittman was a resounding success. There were SEC wins—something the Razorbacks had gone two full seasons without—but more than that, the fight, effort and toughness had returned to a proud Arkansas program. The season wasn’t without its ups and downs, but Pittman took it all in stride and wouldn’t change a thing. He knows there’s a lot to build on. And so as Pittman and his staff enter Year 2 at Arkansas, where are the Razorbacks in the building process? And what has he been pleased with? Under Pittman’s leadership, Arkansas seems well on its way to making the state proud of Razorback football once again.

When it comes to new Razorback tight ends coach Dowell Loggains, you’d be forgiven for thinking time is a flat circle. Yes, he’s back at Arkansas, where his football dream began. But that’s about it when it comes to history repeating itself—he’s no longer a backup quarterback or holder extraordinaire. No, he’s an accomplished and well-traveled coach, who has led offenses at the highest level in the game. That resume has granted Loggains incredible opportunities and a great career in the NFL. But there’s always just been something about Arkansas. Coaching football has been a dream for Loggains, one that’s brought him back home to Arkansas. And it’s the guys like him—those who desperately want to be Razorbacks—who end up having the biggest impact.

Casey Dick had some huge moments in his Arkansas career. He took down Tennessee when College GameDay came to town. He had back-to-back legendary victories over LSU—including a triple OT win & the Miracle on Markham 2. But his career wasn’t all big moments. He was in the middle of one of the biggest QB controversies in Razorback history when Mitch Mustain came to campus. On top of that, he went through one of the most drastic coaching changes a quarterback could imagine when Bobby Petrino took over for Houston Nutt. Dick went through it all and came out with a career that may not have been filled with Hall of Fame numbers, but was made up of Hall of Fame moments. Want more? Follow The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly on social media.  Twitter: @TheHogPod Instagram: @TheHogPod Facebook: facebook.com/thehogpod

Arkansas wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton has had a rapid rise through the coaching ranks of college football, landing his first Division 1 assistant job before he turned 30. But before he was a coach, he was a boy who wanted to make his dad proud playing the sport he loved. After being lost on the depth chart at Ohio State, he began to stray from the ideals and work ethic his father had instilled in him. He hit a crossroads—continue down his path and likely transfer, or redefine himself and return to his roots. The change in perspective changed the trajectory of his career on and off the field, and led him to the path he's found himself on today.   Want more? Follow The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly on social media.  Twitter: @TheHogPod Instagram: @TheHogPod Facebook: facebook.com/thehogpod

When people in the basketball world hear the name Keith Smart, they think of the Indiana guard that made 'The Shot' to win a national title, a long-time NBA coach and a former JUCO star. But apart from all of his on-court accolades, Keith Smart is something more. He's a cancer survivor. We sat down with Coach Smart to talk about how battling and beating a rare form of skin cancer changed his perspective on life and coaching forever.  Want more? Follow The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly on social media.  Twitter: @TheHogPod Instagram: @TheHogPod Facebook: facebook.com/thehogpod  

NCAA Champion. World Champion. Olympic silver medalist. All of these things describe former Arkansas track star and professional pole vaulter Sandi Morris. Before she arrived on the Hill, she was just a little girl who paid a boy a quarter to race her, and fell in love with track forever. Morris' journey at Arkansas and professionally has been a ride: From finding a coach that changed the entire approach to the sport, to helping the Hogs win their first-ever national title in a women's sport and breaking a bone in her hand eight weeks before her first Olympic trials. They all culminated into the moment that has fueled her every day since 2016: a split second of feeling what it was like to be a gold medalist before the bar fell on her final jump in Rio. We sat down with Sandi as she prepared for the Tokyo Olympics to tell her story as she vaults for another chance at gold in 2021.  Want more? Follow The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly on social media.  Twitter: @TheHogPod Instagram: @TheHogPod Facebook: facebook.com

Heading into the 2020-21 school year, no one even knew if college sports were going to be a thing. But universities found a way to safely allow their student-athletes to compete in the sports they love. Arkansas excelled in that area: Despite millions in revenue loss and the safety concerns that came with the pandemic, the Razorbacks were successful both on and off the playing field.  We sat down with Arkansas Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek to break down how Arkansas navigated a global pandemic and achieved unprecedented success along the way.  Want more? Follow The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly on social media.  Twitter: @TheHogPod Instagram: @TheHogPod Facebook: facebook.com/thehogpod