Pelphrey challenges Hogs’ frontcourt
Arkansas coach John Pelphrey called his frontcourt out after the Kentucky game Saturday. After pulling down just 3 offensive rebounds and being out-rebounded 38-23 in a 63-58 loss, Pelphrey was a bit disappointed in his senior-laden big men.
“Everybody talks about our advantage up front, and you didn’t see that today,” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. “I’m still waiting for this great frontcourt we’ve been talking about… I hear all this talk about pros and stuff.
hit counter“Well, pros are supposed to get offensive rebounds.”
Hogs
Here’s the good news for Razorbacks fans: Arkansas’ frontcourt of 7-foot-1 center Steven Hill, 6-10 senior Darian Townes and 6-8 senior Charles Thomas have taken their coach’s challenging words to heart.
“I’m sure he’s just trying to send a message and he’s probably telling the truth, honestly,” Hill said Monday before practice. “Big men as a whole just have to pick it up.”
“I want them to play to their potential and beyond,” Pelphrey said. “… I have total belief they will. If they don’t, they won’t play.”
The first-year Arkansas coach doesn’t have much room to maneuver and shake the lineup, however. Pelphrey joked Monday about taking freshman Michael Sanchez‘ redshirt off if his senior group doesn’t perform well at the power forward position.
“Take Sanchez’ redshirt off? No, there’s nothing we can do. We have to deal the hand we’ve got,” Pelphrey said. “Those guys are going to play better, or they’re going to be very uncomfortable.”
When asked if Hill had heard personally from Pelphrey about his disappointment in the frontcourt’s production against Kentucky, the senior’s answer was simple.
“You guys got to know that whatever he tells you he definitely tells us,” Hill told a gathering of sports reporters Monday before practice.
Speaking of practice, Hill may not have been looking forward to dealing with a fired-up Pelphrey who has his sights set on the towering Hill and Co. on Monday.
“We had an off day yesterday and we’re coming off a bad loss, so it’s probably going to be pretty terrible,” Hill said of the impending practice. “It’s how it goes.”
More coming up as the Razorbacks prepare to hit the road Wednesday again to face improving Alabama.
14 Responses to “Pelphrey challenges Hogs’ frontcourt”
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Give ‘em hell, Pel. The negative rebound margin summarizes a chronically underachieving group of seniors. If these guys would just get the message, they would soar to new heights. Regardless, Pel will get both talented AND tough minded players next year with a highly touted incoming class. The seniors are quickly running out of time. Beat Bama.
I’ve got no problem with Pelphrey, his comments or his work ethic. He is exactly what we need and if people like Nate Allen would just shut up, maybe he’ll be around for a long time. Read Nate’s column today folks. He loved Nutt, hated Hatfield and shows his true colors about other past and present coaches at other schools. I just hope our coaches don’t read such crap.
87 I have never known or heard of a coach that gave a damn what the press thought. I sure will be glad when Pel has his own players. I think we will see a resurgence in Razorback football. Lookout for those young “Diamond Hogs”. they will be something special in a couple of years. you meatheads watch them baseballers!
I’m with you, crittco. Dave Van Horn is a really good coach in his own right. A good friend of mine is a Nebraska grad and believes Broyles made a great hire when Norm retired. The coaching pedigree now at Arkansas is exactly what it should be.
PEL is one HELL of a coach and I believe [and hope] he will be in Fayetteville for a long time.
Winning on the road is much more mental than physical and this group of seniors, developed under Stan Heath, has always had a soft and fragile mindset.
I remember when May/Day decided they could win anywhere and Nolan saying that he could see it in their eyes during a timeout. PEL knows “the look” and the senior dudes, conceivably, may never find it.
Regardless, once he gets his own guys playing for a while, the look [and swagger] will return. The “talented” senior group, however, is quickly running out of time.
Pel is the real deal. Some of these people in the media wouldn’t have a job if they could not create “issues.” I just hope Gillespie succeeds at KY so they will stay the heck away from FV.
I hope coach had them bigs jumpin all practice, slap that backboard 50 times, run to the other end and slap it 50 more. I’m 5′ 8″ and I could out rebound Hill… really. His technique is pitiful, he can’t get a man on his back AND go for the ball. And the other SR bigs are just soft. I’m bout ready to see those boys go on their way. I was excited about each of the big men as freshmen and sophomores but they all still play like freshmen and sophomores. I have a better post game.
Let me see here tdbennet 5′ nothing ; Stephen Hill 7′+ . TD bennet either a has been or a wanna be; Stephen Hill - SEC starting center. Get real tdbennet not even on your best day and Hill playing on his knees. A cream puff he maybe, but get real dude you are talking out of the end that the lord made for the purpose of relieving your guts.
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I used to take to Oliver Miller quite often back in the day.
Pick up games in Barnhill were lots of fun.
But I’m sure my 37 year old knees would not quite get it done now-a-days. I’m trying to make a point, the kid has poor form, poor enough that smaller men out rebound him consistantly. But I would like my chances at getting to 3 or 4 out of every 10 rebound opportunities against our bigs. The only one to really worry about is PB.
Dudes, these guys with the so-called seniority need to realize - before it’s too late - that not only CAN they win on the road, but they WILL win on the road. May/Day and Miller understood that. The kids coming in next year will eventually understand, as well. PEL will see to it.
As to the senior guys, well, who knows? Tonight would be a good place to start. Beat Bama.
I just finished watching the ARK / ALA game tonight and I don’t see how we can expect to win another game this year. We attempted 21 3 ptrs making only 3. ALA attempted only 10 but made t least made 2. Every time we got the ball we ran down the court as fast as we ciuld and threw up a 3 ptr. This is really bad planning on our part. Then look at the free throws record tonight. We would have trouble hitting the floow with the ball. I lost count of the turnovers we made. I will be glad when this group graduates or gets arrested and we can get some better players. I have been an Arkansas fan since 1957 and I cannot remember ever having such a sloppy team. Coach, I hope you have these guys out shooting all day tomorrow on free throws and field goals. Forget about the 3 ptrs, lets just play some old fashion basketball.
This team can’t move the ball properly to get an inside game. They either dribble drive or shoot a 3. The guards don’t know how to make a post entry pass and the bigs don’t know how to present themselves for the ball on the post. They play like they just got to Fayetteville. Coach Pelfrey looked pretty frustrated on the sideline last night, I don’t know what the man can do if the players won’t respond. I’d sit the seniors and let the underclassmen start the rest of the season. Let the seniors come off the bench for the rest of the season. They have just about blown any chance at post season play.
Not having the physical ability is one thing, but to not learn proper technique and extend some effort on the floor is just lazy. These boys need to RUN for a few days, then they might appreciate a regular practice.
It will get better(but not this year), I have faith in Coach.
GO HOGS GO!
This over rated group of bums is never going to do anything. Bench these losers and Beverly and let the rest of the team play. Vandy is going to destroy the UA and I’m sure they’ll finish the season off with losing to Ole Miss and Auburn, just for icing on the cake.
My sign at the Auburn game shall read. THANKS FOR THE YEARS OF DISAPPOINTMENT YOU SENIOR BUMS! GET THE HELL OUT!!!