Upon the hiring of Bryan Hodgson, the burly and bearded coach made a public appearance at the Red Wolves Football Spring Game, where he took the microphone at halftime and openly challenged then Razorback head coach Eric Musselman to a game between the Red Wolves and Hogs. It was a brash and boisterous moment that introduced fans to Hodgson’s penchant for bravado – and it was embraced. Neither Musselman or his replacement John Calipari took Hodgson up on the offer, but Hodgson did manage to bring a few pieces of the Razorbacks to Jonesboro – Derrian Ford and then Joe Pinion. If you won’t play us, join us.

By contrast, Ryan Pannone has taken a quieter approach in assimilating to his new job. There was no pot stirring from Pannone at this year’s Spring Game. His reputation is more brain than brawn. In his brief time as head basketball coach, he has carefully put together a solid staff and has assembled intriguing pieces for his roster. Among his signees is Chudi Dioramma, a 6’10” Englishman, and Chandler Jackson, a transfer from Florida State who played his high school ball at Memphis. Also in Pannone’s stable, TJ Caldwell, a Texan who transferred from Ole Miss, Matt Hayman, a Louisianian who transferred from Stephen F. Austin, and Jalen Hampton, a Missourian who transferred from Missouri State.

What’s missing, at the moment, is some Natural State flavor. Hodgson’s teams were overflowing with Arkansans – Ford, Pinion, Rashaud Marshall, Avery Felts, and Zane Butler. Those guys are gone, leaving a homegrown void. Pannone is under no obligation to infuse his roster with local talent (his obligation is to win), but bear in mind that there were two reasons Hodgson filled seats in cavernous First National Bank Arena: 1. Victories, and 2) homegrown storylines.

There are qualified Natural State contenders, such as Terrion Burgess, a 6’8″ power forward out of Benton who’s currently uncommitted, and 6’8″ forward Jai’Chaunn Hayes from Hot Springs, who’s committed to UA Pine Bluff but who knows? Commitments are commitments. The point remains that Arkansas State loves a home-state hero. Let’s dress one in the Scarlet and Black.

Image AI generated from a photo provided by Arkansas State Athletics