Hogs’ bigs in gameplan against Tennessee
Oh, little ol’ me. No. 4 Tennessee, off to its best start in school history with the help of the SEC’s career leader for 3-pointers (Chris Lofton), is riding high. Pressure defense, fast-paced offense and turnovers galore have been the factors that make the Volunteers the conference’s best.
They’ve got everything. Shooters, the No. 1 turnover margin in the league, 10.7 steals a game, 19.22 assists a game and the SEC’s most potent offensive attack.
But they may be short just one thing.
“One edge we do have on them is our post players,” senior UA forward Sonny Weems said Monday before a Monday afternoon practice. “We’re going to pound it inside. We’re going to get Darian (Townes), Steve (Hill), Mike (Washington) and Charles (Thomas). We’re going to give them the ball inside. We’re just going to pound them up. “
For a team that has relied heavily on the shooting of Patrick Beverley and Weems on the perimeter in recent weeks, could Arkansas’ bigs be in for a showcase night Wednesday?
Washington, who will most likely start against the Vols, has come on strong recently. The sophomore has averaged 7.3 points per game during Arkansas’ three-game home stand. Hill has also been impressive, hitting turnaround shots from 8 feet and near the basket in the last few games. He’s connected on a staggering 18 of 26 shots in the last six contests.
Townes heated up off the bench against Florida and Ole Miss last week, hitting 11 of 17 shots in back-to-back 14-point games.
And of course, there’s Weems’ team-leading 19.5 points per game in SEC games.
Much has been made of the Razorbacks’ cohesiveness during their four-game winning streak. The 1:30 a.m. practice after the 82-69 road loss to Georgia woke the players up.
But the four-game winning streak, thanks to a struggling LSU squad on the road and three consecutive home contests, will be strongly contested Wednesday at Knoxville and later on when the Hogs face Mississippi State on Saturday in Starkville, Miss., UA coach John Pelphrey said.
“Whatever they’ve done to this point in time with their change in attitude and their togetherneess and being a team is good, it’s a foundation,” Pelphrey said. “But it’s going to have to go to even another level to withstand the challenges that lie ahead of us.”
Can the Hogs continue to improve in a road-heavy schedule in the latter half of the conference season, and maybe give Tennessee its first home loss of the year?
We’ll know Wednesday.
7 Responses to “Hogs’ bigs in gameplan against Tennessee”
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If the Hogs can finish strong in the second half of the schedule with 5 of the 8 games on the road, then all the credit needs to go to Coach Pel. The road record the past few years has been beyond embarassing.
At home, players feed off the crowd. On the road, the only fans the players have are on their own bench. Road wins are a reflection of the players’ talent and the coach’s leadership.
Tomorrow and Saturday are huge games. If they lose to Tenn, I won’t be too concerned. But if they lose both games, then I’ll be worried. It would be nice to be thinking about tournament seedings instead of the bubble for a change.
GO HOGS!!
Once Pel gets his own players in place - and the incoming class is suppose to be outstanding - and his mindset takes hold, the problems on the road will be a thing of the past.
I’m still not sure that this group of seniors get it, though we will find out soon enough. If the current group truly understands Pel’s team concept and way of doing things, they will easily make the NCAA tournament. If not, and there is a return to “me” instead of “we” ball, it will be another year on the bubble.
Regardless, with some time and his own recruits, coach Pel will get the job done. This dude is going to be a very good one.
I’ve got a good feeling about tomorrow’s game with the vols! I believe, as the team does…..that the BIGS are going to have to be HOSS HOGS tomorrow…….and I believe they wil! Not cockiness……just confidence! I believe that both coach Pel and the TEAM have gained more confidence…as the season’s progressed! Won’t hurt though, for all of us to put in a little victory prayer for the HOGS! God Bless Coach Pel and The HOGS!!!!!
HOGS AT KNOXVILLE….
OFFICIATING SUCKS!!!!
I am currently watching the game on the internet. While the Hogs certainly are not playing their best. The refs are unbelievable one sided! 3 Blocking fouls in about 6 or 7 minutes called on the Hogs. Come on!!!! You can watch college basketball games all day on a Saturday & not see 3 blocking fouls called all day. SEC Refs are absolueley terrible & love to call lopsided games!
i think the lopsided-ness happens more with TN. Ask the Memphis Tigers…I hope Mfs smokes ‘em on the 23rd.
Was that some home cookin or what?! Way to protect the conferences top team, and make sure they fill those seats to pay for their $19 million dollar renovation. I really hate this good ole boy league sometimes. Except for free-throws, the Hogs played well when the refs let them play. There was about a 6 minute stretch in the second half where the officials just completely took over the game and snuffed out any chance Arkansas might have had. So sad to feel like you’re team was literally cheated, but some of those calls were just ridiculous. Coach needs to send that whole game in for the officials office to look at, its unbelievable.