Going the wrong way
Needing a big possession Tuesday night at Ole Miss, Arkansas senior Gary Ervin lost control of the basketball, turned around near the sideline to face the media table and watched the basketball roll out of bounds.
His first instinct? Point to his right, mimicking the scoreboard’s possession arrow. Problem was, the senior was pointing in the wrong direction with 17.4 seconds remaining.
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But he was right. It was the Rebels’ ball and their night.
Hogs
NCAA Tournament hopes are growing slim for the hapless road-stumblers. The Hogs may be setting themselves up for the need to win the next two games (Auburn on Saturday and against a team-to-be-named in the second round of the SEC Tournament) to secure a bid. It could prove to be pretty interesting if that’s the case, as the Hogs may face Kentucky in their opening game in the SEC tourney.
If so, that would pit Arkansas coach John Pelphrey, a former Kentucky “Unforgettable,” against the Wildcats for a second time this season. Perhaps it would be a time for redemption and a bitter-sweet win for Pelphrey, or yet another bitter-bitter ending.
There’s also the chance Ole Miss (20-9, 6-9) may go on a tear to finish the season and win a few games in the SEC Tournament. If that happens, it may not matter what Arkansas does against Kentucky or whatever team they face in the second round next week.
No matter how you stack it, word it or describe it, the game tonight was a huge loss for the Hogs. The Razorbacks finished the season 2-6 on the road in SEC games. Their RPI, amazingly, is at No. 40. They dropped just one spot after the loss.
Meanwhile, another Arkansas “team” is winning on the road tonight. Former Arkansas first lady Hillary Clinton was just projected to win the Ohio democratic primary by CNN.
No word yet if she can pull out another come-from-behind win in the Longhorn state. That race is too close to call.
Kinda like Arkansas’ NCAA Tournament chances.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda…. same song and dance - though I suppose the [NCAA] “dance” remains to be seen.
Regardless, I wish them well, but am ready for this so-called “talented” group of seniors to hit the road… for good.
What a collective bunch of softies. Stan Heath seemed to be a genuinely nice guy, yet should to take the hit for his “talented” group’s consistently fragile mindset and lack of physical development.
In my opinion, albeit young, there will be more talent in hog land next year and a much tougher mentality to go along with it.
yeah, dwp, there does not seem to be one ounce of toughness on the road for this group. They just don’t get mad or passionate enough about winning. There is no emotional leader that has any clout to get in their faces on the court and bring them all back into a tough focus. Corey Beck had that with the ‘94 team. And, Corliss Williamson didn’t have to say it to the team. Every time he would go into that lane wildly grab a rebound while yelling to the top of his lungs, while putting the ball in the basket over 3 defenders. No one had to question his passion and toughness. This year’s team does not have that leader, nor that kind of heart/toughness.
Agree, frisco. Corey Beck was the engine which drove the car. And that was one hellacious car he got to drive.
The current group, while undoubtedly nice guys, have no engine - or heart. And on the road, it’s almost as if they go through their listless motions, waiting to be surpassed and eventually beaten. Many of us, as fans, have grown into similar expectations involving these guys.
In fairness, PEL’s system requires a certain type of athlete, physically. Help is on the way and next year’s recruiting class looks very solid. However, the mental part of it, consistently imploding and playing poorly away from home, as these dudes have now done for the better part of four years, is really disappointing.
Time is running out senior guys. Make a run.
Brandon, I watched the game and I’m pretty sure Ervin was pointing at the Ole Miss player to say the ball went off of him. It was still a bad play and a terrible time to lose the ball, but he wasn’t pointing the wrong way afterward.
That play along with a couple of inexplicable 3 point bricks by Hunter, soft defense in the lane, and Ole Miss shutting down Weems did them in.
Back on the bubble!! Does anyone else remember the good ol’ days when we were discussing whether or not we would get a #1 seed?
I’ve read this story before. We scrape to make the tournament, only to lose to a team that has more discipline and isn’t afraid to play on the road. Spare me. I don’t think we deserve to make the tourney. I like Pelfrey’s style, but this group is what it is. Hopefully, he’ll start clean with a hungrier group.
Oh I sure think that we should get a #1 seed…in the NIT…and i hope Pelphrey takes the bid and doesnt allow any of the seniors to play. It has been really apparent that Pelphrey has quit on the team during the games b/c he is sooo frustrated. I hope he doesnt do that with his own boys cuz i think he is amazing!!!
A Team full of seniors and none of them want to step up and be the man. There is no trust on this team, on the floor or in the locker room. That results in no leader, and no heart. They never did mature under Coach Heath so now they play like sophomores instead of seniors.
And Sonny Weems… everytime I looked for him he was standing on the wing… STANDING. MOVE MAN! He made it way to easy for them to guard him.
Hogs could have won that game, even though Ole Miss was jacked for SR night. They were close, and it was ultimately their mistakes and lack of execution that doomed them, not the play of Ole Miss. We should have hung 85 or 90 on them with the pace of the game. That’s assuming the team has heart.
See ya SR’s, sorry I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it.
I said before we would lose to OLE Miss. I know I now live in Miss but I am a Hog throught. We had a chance to win if we would have played better defense. I also saw several bricks for 3 pt shots. In my day, I’m 67, Arkansas would work hard to get the ball in for a close shot. The result was usually good, a score or a foul inside. I look for us to beat Auburn Sat and win the first game in the turny. We may only make the NIT but we might win a few games there. Coach needs to set up some free throw practice times.