Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Dave Van Horn downplayed controversy following his team’s recent showdown with the Tennessee Volunteers, labeling some of the opposing team’s questionable in-game behavior as “just gamesmanship.” The remark came during a post-game press conference after tensions simmered between the two SEC baseball powerhouses.
When asked about several incidents during the game — including extended mound visits and delayed substitutions by Tennessee — Van Horn kept his response measured. “It’s all gamesmanship,” he said. “You see stuff like that in competitive series, especially with two good teams going at it. We’re focused on playing baseball and staying locked in.”
The Razorbacks and Volunteers are no strangers to intense matchups, and this series lived up to its billing. With SEC tournament implications on the line, emotions ran high on both sides. Arkansas fans were quick to express frustration with what they perceived as deliberate time-wasting tactics by Tennessee, but Van Horn refused to feed the narrative.
“There’s a lot riding on these games, and everyone’s trying to gain an edge,” Van Horn added. “We talk to our players about staying composed and letting our play speak for us. That’s how we’ve always approached it, and that’s how we’ll continue.”
Despite the on-field tension, the Razorbacks remain firmly in contention for a top seed in the SEC tournament. Van Horn’s poise and leadership continue to serve as a stabilizing force for a team looking to make a deep postseason run.
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