Hogs a no-show in FoxSports.com’s power rankings
Arkansas' two top-10 wins, a 12-1 record and the good vibes from national personalities like ESPN's Andy Katz and CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish isn't impressing FoxSports.com, it seems.
The site released its latest college basketball rankings today and the Hogs are nowhere to be found. The only mention of Arkansas comes at ranking No. 10, where Texas is slotted. You know, the guys Arkansas beat last night.
Here's more on Texas from Josh Herwitt, whose inbox will surely soon be filled with not-so-nice messages by rabid Razorback fans:
The bad: Allowing Arkansas to creep back into the game and win in the final minutes on Tuesday was a tough pill for Texas to swallow, but Rick Barnes' team clearly still has some growing up to do.
You know, that 25-point lead Arkansas had on then-No. 4 Oklahoma last week was also a "creep back into the game."
Meanwhile, Katz and Parrish continue to pile up the praise. Parrish has Arkansas slotted as a five-seed in the NCAA Tournament today. At the Worldwide Leader, Katz spoke with Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey and assistant Rob Evans.
Here's more from Katz:
The expectations for this team have changed. No one in the SEC West outside of Arkansas has stood up to be noticed. LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Auburn are all flawed and have had their share of bumps, let alone injuries. Arkansas enters the SEC West as the clear favorite based on what the Hogs have done.
It also turns out Texas will be coming to Arkansas AGAIN next season.
Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com named Washington his "Stud of the Night," and also spoke with Pelphrey today.
Here's more from Goodman:
"There’s still three months left of college basketball,” Pelphrey added. “If we have a bad week or two, everybody will be talking a different tune. We need to stay focused.”
Pelphrey is right – and if he needs proof, he can ask Ole Miss’ coach Andy Kennedy, whose Rebels got off to a terrific start a year ago and then wilted down the stretch.
Very true. Arkansas is young, and with the style the Hogs play, there will be cold shooting nights and breakdowns on defense. There also will probably be struggles on the SEC road, But Arkansas' fast pace and star guards also give it a chance to knock off some high-profile teams, as we've seen in the last week.
– Brandon Marcello
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Ignore the rest, Goodman has it right. Washington is a stud. Frankly, I saw some of Corliss Williamson played out on the court last night by Michael Washington.
I say let the pundits continue to discount Arkansas. One thing's for sure, they're enjoying proving most every "expert" wrong. And, I'll bet the kids use this as energy to start bulldozing teams in the SEC.
Sometimes it takes awhile for the media to notice. After all, Arkansas was written off as too young to make much noise at the beginning of the season. It doesn't really bother me, because the country will eventually have to take notice that this team is pretty good. What I appreciate most is their hustle and teamwork. It's great that the home crowd cheers when the players dive for a loose ball. Though this team is talented, I think their hustle and desire to improve is the best thing they have going for them. I've won many pick-up games with a team that was less talented or experienced than the other team, but my team hustled and played together.
As long as Coach Pelfrey is the coach the University of Arkansas will get plenty of attention from the national media. He recruits and coaches very good basketball. It's been a long time since I was excited about the conference opener.
GO HOGS GO!!!
ESPN's latest power rankings have the Hogs at 17.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/powerranking?season=2009&week=9
Each contributors ranking of the Razorbacks:
Jay Bilas - 21
Hubert Davis - 19
Pat Forde - 10
Fran Fraschilla - 17
Doug Gottlieb - 20
Andy Katz - 11
Joe Lunardi - NR
Dana O'Neil - 20
Mark Schlabach - 20
Dick Vitale - 19