Rocky road to Rocky Top

How do you beat a team you haven’t defeated in 12 seasons, is now the No. 2 team in the nation and presents a powerful player (Candace Parker) who can dunk and play several positions on the floor?

No one seems to have the answer for the Lady Razorbacks (16-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference), who travel to take on the defending national champions, Tennessee, on Thursday. And, again, Arkansas will be without the services of Lauren Ervin, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee against LSU on Jan. 10.

Ervin, who led the Lady’Backs to a 15-0 start to the season, would have guarded Parker, most likely.

Maybe you slow the tempo. Maybe you play and react against Tennessee’s pressure. Maybe you play a 2-3 zone on defense like the Lady’Backs did last season that — at least — forced overtime before Arkansas ultimately fell, 75-68.

Certainly, head coach Tom Collen has a lot to figure out when Arkansas tips off at 6 p.m. against a team that has defeated SEC opponents by an average of 24 points this season.

“Getting off to a good start is pretty crucial to us,” Collen said. “We’re not going to be able to fight back from a double-digit lead against them.”

Collen said he did not know who would guard the 6-foot-4 Parker, but whoever does will have an unenviable task.

Check out Parker’s two dunks as a freshman in the 2006 NCAA Tournament against Army below. She’s definitely got game.

Filed under: SEC Basketball, Arkansas Women's Sports by Brandon Marcello. Posted on: January 23, 2008 at 5:03 pm