Grant Hill will be the first person to admit he's not exactly unbiased. There's a poorly acted commercial poking fun at that on TV right now. But former Arkansas guard Scotty Thurman thinks Hill's bias bled into his commentary during the Razorbacks' Sweet 16 win over Gonzaga's, a claim Hill is definitely not mad about.
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Thurman's trash talk began before Arkansas played Duke in the Elite Eight.
Our very own @MimsCourtney sat down with @RustonRifle as the Razorbacks face the Duke Blue Devils tonight, and Grant Hill may still be salty about that 1994 matchup. Watch the full story tonight at 6 on @KNWAFOX24 @KARK4News #NWANews #WPS pic.twitter.com/k4Kld2wn0U
— Pig Trail Nation (@PigTrailNation) March 26, 2022
After Arkansas anchor Courtney Mims shared that someone was saying Hill was still bitter about Thurman's go-ahead 3-pointer in 1994 vs. Duke that spurred the Razorbacks to their first — and only — NCAA championship, Thurman figured it was open season.
"I did like [the implication]," Thurman said, via Pig Trail Nation. "It was funny. I was laughing. I've been getting several text messages about it. I thought it was kind of funny. But he did sound like he was a little irritated with Arkansas and the way that we were playing. I just felt like maybe he was getting flashbacks from his time when he played against us."
While this seems like silly banter on a local broadcast leading into a huge game, Hill took it personally. He responded Tuesday, three days after Duke defeated Arkansas 78-69 to advance to the Final Four.
@RustonRifle Bitter? That's funny!! Yes, you never get over a loss, especially in a NCAA championship game (UCLA?).. But to think I'd take that out on this current team is hilarious.. There were some questionable calls in that Gonzaga game, and I have a job to give my opinion.. https://t.co/dg49AVvm2g
— grant hill (@realgranthill33) March 29, 2022
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The UCLA dig is because Arkansas lost to the Bruins in 1995, a year after Thurman's famous shot against the Blue Devils. But Thurman didn't back down, further implying that Hill had a bit of a rooting interest in the game.
We all have opinions and I expressed mine in the interview. I agree that there were some questionable calls in that game BUT I felt like you wanted each one in question to go Gonzaga’s way!💯@realgranthill33 https://t.co/gc6PE3irzy
— Scotty Thurman (@RustonRifle) March 29, 2022
He added in a follow-up that Hill is a great analyst.
To be clear, Thurman wasn't alone. Samuel L. Jackson concurred with Thurman on the overall tone of the broadcast.
Anybody beside me think these commentators are Gonzaga fans?
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) March 25, 2022
Hill responded to Thurman in kind, sending three tweets on Tuesday to say it's all love of the game.
I want every player to experience what we were fortunate to experience, many many years ago. The unique thing about my job is the opportunity to meet the players and coaches from every team. Coach Muss and his guys were great with us when we met them before the Sweet 16. https://t.co/AwqKRpN95d
— grant hill (@realgranthill33) March 29, 2022
I could care less about who wins. Actually, I want them all to win.. When Villanova beat Carolina in the Finals, my heart went out to those guys in the Tar Heels locker room. The next year when UNC won, I was genuinely happy for them. I went and congratulated the Carolina family https://t.co/AwqKRpN95d
— grant hill (@realgranthill33) March 29, 2022
after the game.. We dissect, explain and offer our opinion on what we see in the game, understanding that everyone might not be in full agreement.. https://t.co/AwqKRpN95d
— grant hill (@realgranthill33) March 29, 2022
This is an interesting, if silly, wrinkle to Saturday's broadcast. Hill will be part of the TBS crew calling Mike Krzyzewski's last Final Four game and potential last game against Duke's most hated rival, North Carolina. Expect this little worm in his brain to affect how he offers analysis.
On the other hand, Hill seems perfectly content with how he has called games to this point, so perhaps nothing will change.