Grant Hill has a “bitter” feud between Scotty Thurman and the Arkansas show
Grant Hill and Scotty Thurman took to Twitter for Hill’s comment during the Razorbacks’ Sweet 16 win of the 2022 NCAA tournament last Thursday.
In an interview with KNWA-TV last Saturday, Thurman — whose Arkansas team defeated Hill’s Duke’s team in the 1994 NCAA championship game when Thurman hit a clutch 3-pointer with 51.7 seconds left — said he believes Hills Commentary during the Razorbacks’ games against Gonzaga and Duke signaled he was still “bitter” about the game-winning shot.
In the first interview, the reporter said, “I just thought it was funny that someone out there said, ‘I think he’s still a little bitter about the recording.’ Did you enjoy that? What was your reaction to that?”
Thurman said, “I liked it,” adding that he laughed at the idea.
“I got several text messages about it. I thought it was kind of funny,” Thurman said. “But he sounded like he was a little irritated by Arkansas and the way we were playing. I just felt like maybe he’s getting flashbacks from his time playing against us.”
Hill got wind of Thurman’s comments and responded in a tweet on Tuesday.
“@RustonRifle Bitter? That’s funny!!” Hill wrote, according to Yahoo Sports. “Yeah, you never get over loss, especially in an NCAA championship game (UCLA?). But to think I’d take that out on this current team is hilarious I have a job to speak my mind.”
UCLA defeated Thurman’s Arkansas team in the 1995 NCAA national championship game.
Hill was on the phone alongside Jim Nantz and Bill Rafter for Arkansas’ Sweet 16 upset of Gonzaga and their subsequent loss to Duke in the Elite Eight.
Thurman hit back via Yahoo, tweeting: “We all have opinions and I expressed mine in the interview. I agree there were some questionable calls in this game BUT I felt like you wanted every Gonzaga in question to go your way! @realgranthill33.”
In a separate tweet on Tuesday, Thurman said Hill was a “great analyst!”
Thurman played in Arkansas from 1992 to 1995 and abroad from 1995 to 2006. He is currently the head coach of the boys’ basketball team at Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hill played at Duke from 1990 to 1994. From 1994 to 2013, he had a successful NBA career – earning seven All-Star nominations and one All-NBA first-team selection via stints with the Pistons, Magic, Suns and Clippers.
Hill then raged a series of three tweets that appeared to have been deleted.
“I want every player to experience what we were able to experience many, many years ago. The unique thing about my job is the opportunity to get to know the players and coaches of all teams. Coach Muss and his boys were great with us when we met them before the Sweet 16,” Hill tweeted, according to Yahoo Sports.
“I might not care who wins. Actually, I want them all to win. When Villanova beat Carolina in the final, my heart went out to the guys in the Tar Heels locker room. When UNC won the next year, I was really happy for them. I left after the game and congratulated the Carolina family. We analyze, explain and give our opinions on what we see in game, while understanding that not everyone may agree.
Thurman simply replied, “Got it!”
When a fan tweeted that he’d like to see an “impromptu interview” between the two, Thurman said he had a “tremendous and healthy conversation” with Hill on Tuesday.
“Much respect to @realgranthill33!!” Thurman replied to the fan. “Guys, let’s not get confused by this platform! We are all REAL people!! Easy-to-press buttons, but conversation (healthy) STILL rules the nation!!”
On Wednesday, Hill responded to the exchange, tweeting, “The passion that fans have for their respective schools is what makes college basketball the absolute best. But make no mistake, I have nothing but respect and admiration for LEGEND @RustonRifle. He had one of the most iconic moments in NCAA Finals history… #respect.”
Hill will broadcast the 2022 Final Four and national championship games with Jim Nantz and Bill Raftery on TBS.
https://nypost.com/2022/03/30/grant-hill-has-bitter-scotty-thurman-feud-over-arkansas-broadcast/ Grant Hill has a “bitter” feud between Scotty Thurman and the Arkansas show
