Bleacher Report - SEC Basketball

Is This Arkansas Razorback Basketball's Darkest Hour?

Blake Stansbery — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:10:32 -0500

Arkansas basketball is having a hard time getting off the ground to start the 2009-2010 season. The Razorbacks are 2-3 coming off of losses to Morgan State and East Tennessee State. There are no excuses or positive spins to make following these losses to two teams that many Arkansas fans may mistake for exhibition teams.

As one who always works to rally the troops and show the glass as half-full I have to admit one thing; Hogs you are making my job almost impossible.

I have worked to put the spotlight on the newcomers playing well on this struggling team. I have written stories on the great newly signed 2010 recruiting class , and the great prospects of the 2011 class , and I will continue to do this very same thing because I do believe there are many signs that things are heading in the right direction.

But lets make no mistake this current Hog team is in a bad place, and the only people that can change anything is themselves, and unfortunately the Hogs are doing more than just losing games-they are losing fans, and fast.

John Pelphrey has worked very hard since arriving on campus and he has faced difficult odds since the day he took the job, but on a regular basis so far this season his team has been out-rebounded, outsmarted, and all around out-played. They have shown great effort, but more times than not they have been out-hustled by the opposing team.

The Hogs seem less prepared and less comfortable than they did to begin the season, and they look to be far worse than they were a year ago. Last season was already one of the worst in the history of Arkansas basketball when the Hogs only won two conference games.

So the question everyone is asking: is this the darkest hour or Arkansas basketball?

The answer is not simple. It may be, or it may not be. The Hogs have only played five games, but things do appear to be heading down a very dark and lonely road for John Pelphrey and this team if they keep it up the way they are playing and losing right now.

Pelphrey needs to pull a rabbit out of his hat or some sort of magic to get things going this season with his team. There is still hope that something will click and the Hogs will get it going. A lot of time remains in the season and this is a talented very young team that will be getting players back from suspension. When the Hogs get these players it will mark the first time all year they have been full strength.

However, when the Razorbacks lose back to back games to two teams easily mistaken for exhibitions people want to get down to the dirty truth. They do not want to hear how things may get better, or why to hope they get better.

So here it is...this is a very bad Arkansas basketball team, and this has the potential to be one very long and painful season. Understand it is early in the season, and there have been extraordinary struggles with suspensions and injuries, but right now excuses are just that to Arkansas fans. Excuses.

Like everyone else these losses and struggles by the Hogs makes me sick. I want to see them win, and I can see effort and talent in the youth on the Razorback team. Odds are against this team and they are short-handed, but the Hogs need to win and they need to do it now. It does not take a rocket-scientist to see that much.

Razorback fans attendance to the Arkansas games are at their lowest and will continue to drop if the Hogs lose games like these to inferior opponents. Recruiting has been looking great, but losing never helps strengthen your case or close a recruit. Losing also can instill bad habits in current players, and foster an environment of acceptance.

This team needs to show the determination and pride to win games and get people back in the stands, and more checks in the win column and turn this negative feeling across the Razorback Nation towards the basketball team around.

Yeah, I know it can be easier said than done, but it is as simple as that right now. The players and coaches need to light a fire among one another that enough is enough, and at least show that they are going to put up a fight for this season not to be a total waste.

It is possible that the team can catch fire and make some resemblance of a successful or improved season over last years awful season. It also is a possibility that the Hogs could continue their downward spiral and continue to have what could be one of the worst seasons in both recent and all-time program history.

Look I know this all seems harsh, especially coming from me, but it is the reality of the current moment. Arkansas basketball is not what the fans expect of Arkansas basketball right now, and it needs to be not what the Razorback players expect.

Many of my old-school family and friends talk about how the old Eddie-Sutton teams won games with less talent than their opponents on a regular basis all the time with fundamentals. It is about time that John Pelphrey finds a way to get the same thing done with his current team.

Better effort, fundamentals, focus, and preparation and this can happen. It has been done before and would not be the first time a team with their backs against the wall achieved what seemed impossible.

For the Razorbacks in 2009-2010 it appears it has come to either they achieve the impossible or this very well could be the programs darkest hour.

Image Courtesy of ESPN.com

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The Florida Gator Boys Are Hot Again!

Jim Folsom — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:08:59 -0500

We interrupt this most important football weekend to bring you the following message. The Gators are at it again. Friday night, the Gators ran their record to 5-0 with a 77-74 win over No. 2 Michigan State in Atlantic City. It appears that Billy Donovan hasn't forgotten everything he knows about basketball after all.

The Gators opened up the season with three cupcakes at home. In the opener, they hit one three-point shot in the last minute to keep alive a streak of 579 games. A streak that dates all the way back to 1992.

They beat Stetson easily despite the poor shooting but that was to be expected. Then they played host to Georgia Southern. In the first half the Eagles were able to stay withing one point as again the Gators could not hit a jumper. The second half UF pulled away to win by 20.

Game No. 3 vs. Troy went much the same way even though the threes did start to fall a bit. Troy actually led at the half by 1 point. Florida got it together in the second half again to pull away by 22. But at 3-0 and staring at an impressive and very tall FSU team and No. 2 Michigan State, there were plenty of doubters in Gainesville.

This was especially true considering the Gators last two NIT seasons. I myself made the comment at halftime of the Troy game that it looks like we'll be hosting the NIT again.

But an impressive defensive display against FSU in the first half along with some guys finding the range from deep and UF built a 20-point lead at the half. They then withstood an icy cold start to the second half and with the help of some more stellar defense, got a five point lead back up to 15 in a flash.

Then the Gators packed up for a road trip to New Jersey to face the Spartans. They jumped out to a 9-2 lead which the Spartans quickly erased at 11-11. Instead of folding the Gators hung tough and led by two at the half. The first part of the second half again saw the Gators go ice cold as MSU built a seven-point lead at the 15:00 mark, 50-43.

The Spartans seemed to get every rebound and had numerous easy buckets in the game but the Gators never quit. They pressed MSU into 23 turnovers (the same number FSU had) and they made every big shot down the stretch. Erving Walker hit a deep three to put UF ahead by one with a little over 3:00 to go, to make it 72-71. The Gators were again awful from three-point land but made the big one.

This Gator team was picked to finish fifth in the SEC East this year. But so far, they have a look of a team that may not be the most talented or the most athletic, but they will fight you for 40 minutes. They will press you into mistakes and they look to be very confident going to the free throw line in clutch situations.

With two wins over BCS conference schools already, they look to be a very good bet to make the NCAA Tournament. They play a Big East team tomorrow night (Rutgers) and another on Dec. 10 (Syracuse). A split with those two and going 9-7 in the SEC will be plenty enough to get UF in.

The 2006 Gators were similar to this team. Nobody picked them to do much, not even Gator fans. They went to an early season tournament and knocked off Syracuse in Madison Square Garden. Pretty soon that team was 22-0 in February. I know it's early yet. I know that Gator Nation has it's focus on winning three more football games. But keep an eye on these guys.

They may be up to something.

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Arkansas Basketball 2011 Recruiting: Breaking Down the Top Class in the Nation

Blake Stansbery — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:39:40 -0500

It has been over 15 years since the Arkansas Razorbacks won their 1994 NCAA National Championship. The program that spent much of the nineties a top the nation has been down for quite some time. However, the Razorbacks are getting geared up to make a quick return to the ranks in the coming years. It has been a process, but hard work by John Pelphrey is beginning to pay off. The following are six 2011 recruits either committed or with high interest in the Arkansas Razorbacks that will return the Hogs to the forefront of college basketball.

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Nick Calathes Denied His Due, but Are Florida Gators in Better Shape in 2009?

Malik Grady — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:29:45 -0500

Former UF point guard Nick Calathes' achievements have been a LITTLE discounted both because of the Gators' near misses of the NCAA tournament during his two years here and by his early entry into the professional ranks, something which Florida fans often take personally.

He had the best freshman season ever in Gainesville (check the stats) and is now listed all over the record books at UF.

HOWEVER...the Gators will match-up better this year especially defensively, not BECAUSE of him leaving, but by virtue of the four newcomers (versus two outgoing in Calathes and guard Walter Hodge) who will allow UF to achieve better overall balance.

First of all, last year UF was fundamentally flawed defensively. Calathes was 6-6 with quick hands but not necessarily quick feet, so he was probably most effective playing half-court zone defense. However, he was playing next to the 5-11 Hodge and 5-8 Erving Walker in a three-guard lineup often.

In addition, you had a 6-8, 215-pound center in Alex Tyus, a 6-7 power forward in Dan Werner, and a 6-9, 205-pound flamingo in Chandler Parsons who swung between the three and four, often starting.

Tyus and Werner were often overpowered in the half-court and the press was marginally effective as the team in effect started all THREE of its point guards.

This year, though, the team gains shooting guard Kenny Boynton, center Vernon Macklin, forward/center Erik Murphy and point guard Nimrod Tishman, all of whom shift the balance and depth in favorable ways. When all is said and done, I think the production of those four will equal or exceed what Calathes and Hodge brought on both ends of the floor.

Last season (Calathes and Hodge):
26.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 3.2 steals

First three games this year (Boynton, Macklin, Murphy, Tishman):
33.0 points, 14.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals

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The SEC Is Looking Weak Again in Men's Hoops

Jim Folsom — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:35:15 -0500

It's basketball season again. Contrary to popular belief, many SEC fans love basketball season. I am one of them. I was a bit miffed last season when the SEC only got three NCAA bids. I felt Auburn should have gotten one, too. I especially felt that way when I saw teams like Maryland and Arizona get in with their puny resumes.

But then, the three SEC teams, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and LSU were out quicker than a hiccup. There was no reason to argue then.

But looking at the teams who were almost good enough to get in, Auburn, Florida, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and South Carolina, and looking what these teams were bringing back, I thought the SEC was in for a good year this year. This was also enhanced by a highly ranked recruiting class among the SEC schools. Kentucky's was out of this world.

I was a bit ticked at the lack of respect the SEC was getting in the preseason. Many "experts" were saying that the league would get anywhere from four to six teams in the NCAA. Five seemed to be the average.

What? Surely with Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt being locks, the SEC could squeeze at least three more teams from the South Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU, pool? Well, maybe not.

So far the SEC has not exactly been mowing down the competition. Georgia is 1-2. They have lost to Wofford and UAB. Ouch. Auburn is 2-3. They have losses to Missouri State, (who?) UCF (which I am happy about) and NC State. South Carolina got waxed by Miami by 15. Alabama lost to Cornell. Ole Miss lost to Villanova by 12. No shame there.

Mississippi State has a loss to Rider. Vanderbilt has a two point win at St. Mary's and a loss to Cincinnati. Arkansas has a 30 point loss to Louisville. LSU, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky haven't lost yet.

Florida is playing Florida State on Tuesday. So far the Gators have trailed Troy at halftime and led Georgia Southern at the half by one. Look for their unbeaten streak to end soon. After the 'Noles they have games coming up against Michigan State and Syracuse.

LSU's next game is at UConn. They also have a road game at Xavier. Tennessee has a four point win over DePaul. Kentucky has a two point win over Miami of Ohio.

Right now it's looking like the SEC is digging themselves a huge hole. These early season games are how the NCAA measures conferences against each other. The SEC is stumbling out of the gate. As I type this, Tennessee has a slim lead over Purdue, C'mon Vols. We need this one. Florida vs. FSU tomorrow is also a big one.

The SEC better start winning some of these big games coming up. The SEC-Big East Challenge will be huge. And we need UK to beat Louisville and North Carolina, too. Otherwise we might be looking at a lot of NIT bids again this spring.

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Florida Basketball Playing "D" in First Week: Now for Some Real Teams

Malik Grady — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:14:13 -0500

First of all, UF's depth chart—while the team is 10 deep theoretically, the players in bold have gotten the majority of the minutes so far:

PG: SO 5'8" Erving Walker, FR 6'5" Nimrod Tishman

SG: FR 6'3" Kenny Boynton, SO 6'4" Ray Shipman

SF: SR 6'7" Dan Werner, JR 6'9" Chandler Parsons

PF: JR 6'8" Alex Tyus, FR 6'9" Erik Murphy

C: JR 6'10" Vernon Macklin, SO 6'10" Kenny Kadji

The Gators were able to win at least 24 games each of the past two seasons, but key defeats down the stretch each year (they began each season 18-3 and then stumbled) kept them from the NCAA Tournament.

After losing four juniors after their second straight championship, UF has also managed to lose juniors early each of the last two years and is only now at a point where they have contributing upperclassmen on the roster again.

This team has the talent to make it to the real postseason, but little margin for error...just like the last two (see a theme developing?).

The brightest spot for this year's team is freshman guard Kenny Boynton, who is a tremendously efficient scorer but also shows great enthusiasm defensively. At a generous 6'3", his NBA position would be point guard, but as a collegiate performer, he has ideal size for the shooting guard position in the pressing system that Billy Donovan employs.

I will be impressed but not surprised if Boynton becomes only the second Gator in their history to average at least 20 points per game in a season.

His counterpart in the backcourt, Erving Walker, is another player most at home in a full-court game, especially defensively, where his 5'8" stature isn't nearly the liability it becomes in a half-court affair.

Offensively, he is a threat as long as he doesn't attempt too many shots in the paint. When he gets in the lane he is best as a distributor rather than getting his shot blocked, although he's shown some ability at drawing fouls. Thankfully he is a quick ballhandler, willing passer, and shooter to 25 feet.

The returning starters at forward—Dan Werner and Alex Tyus—are both actually adjusting to new positions made possible with the addition of transfer center Vernon Macklin, a 6'10", 240-pounder. Both are easing into the season, with Tyus showing good work on the boards and trying to integrate the jumper he's worked so hard on.

If UF gets 10 points, seven rebounds, and a block from Macklin all year in only 20 minutes per game, they'll be ecstatic, but don't count on it.

Off the bench, 6'9", 215-pound Chandler Parsons has been a versatile, confident threat off the bench, playing the 2, 3, AND 4, handling the ball, distributing (with varying success), crashing the boards, and even hitting some threes.

6'4" Ray Shipman has brought defense and slashing in limited minutes, while young big men Erik Murphy and Kenny Kadji have gotten into each game but haven't been able to earn extended minutes in the early going.

Kadji's length and Murphy's skill will likely show themselves positively as the season progresses, however, and I'd expect to see lots of minutes for both of them against a predictably physically impressive team like Michigan State on Nov. 27 and even FSU on Nov. 24.

The greatest difference this year so far compared to the last two, however, is the commitment to defense that the Gators have shown. Certainly the opposition has been nothing to write home to date, but the number of charges they've attempted to take as well as the minutes and effectiveness of both their half-court man-to-man defense and the press have been noticeable.

Instead of nightly displays of both Tyus and Werner getting overpowered and shot over at the 5 and 4, each of them looks to be able to match up defensively much better (most evident in Tyus' blocked shots). They may even (gasp) force matchup problems of their own offensively, with Werner posting up some swingmen and Tyus taking some power players out on the floor.

The only player who looks to be an obvious mismatch in the half-court is the aforementioned Walker because of his height, but he is a pest in a full-court defense. That underscores another problem for the team, however—the backup point guard position.

After losing Nick Calathes early, Donovan missed out on a startling number of prospects at the position, most notably Alabama guard Eric Bledsoe, currently starting for the top-five-ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

At the moment, Walker is backed up by Boynton, who is handling about five minutes there per game so far with few ill effects. How he fares bringing the ball up the court and running the offense against quality opponents remains to be seen, though Parsons and Werner will likely assist him with ball-handling duties in that area.

The Gators also have 6'5" freshman Nimrod Tishman at the position, added late during the summer, and his development into someone Donovan feels comfortable putting on the court could be a welcome gift as well.

Florida will get tests this week with the ACC's Florida State on Nov. 23 and the Big Ten's Michigan State on Nov. 27 and then face the Big East's Syracuse Dec. 10 and the Atlantic 10's Xavier on Feb. 13 during the SEC schedule.

In the SEC, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ole Miss seem demonstrably above the Gators, which will leave the Gators to fight among Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and whatever other teams emerge from the West for the best of the rest...

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10 Days and Already 10 Losses for SEC Basketball

Rick Gillispie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:59:27 -0500

For the Southeastern Conference, needing to lift themselves up after a year where the sent only three teams to the tournament, things have started a little rocky.

Ten combined losses already in the Conference is not what they need. Kentucky and Tennessee have each started strong, going to 4-0, but both have a struggle in a game or two. LSU, Florida, and Vanderbilt are still undefeated but haven't played any quality competition yet, so that's where the should be.

Here is a recap of the 10 losses so far:

Rider 88, Mississippi St. 74: The preseason hype must have been to much for the Bulldogs as they can't get by the Rider Broncs. Mississippi St. has rebounded, getting two straight wins since then, but they should be 3-0. BAD LOSS

Cornell 71, Alabama 67: The Crimson Tide can't stop the big Red. Alabama has a new coach and there is going to be a learning process here, but you cannot lose games like this. Alabama has won two straight since this loss. BAD LOSS

Missouri State 73, Auburn 62: Auburn has struggled this is the first loss of three on the list. Jeff Lebo has his hands full with this Tiger Team. BAD LOSS

Lousiville 96, Arkansas 66: Nobody thought the Hogs would beat Louisville, but to lose by 30 is unacceptable. Arkansas was riding high after a opening game blowout and then laid a goose egg. Arkansas is better than this. BAD LOSS

Wofford 60, Georgia 57: Georgia lacked the fight to win this game. This is another totally unacceptable loss for the conference. The Bulldogs need to win this game every time. BAD LOSS

UCF 84, Auburn 74: The struggles continue for the Tigers. BAD LOSS

UAB 72, Georgia 56: The Blazers are 4-1 on the season, but should not be beating an SEC team by 16. The Bulldogs need to play with more heart. BAD LOSS

Villanova 79, Mississippi 67: The Rebels looked good throughout this tournament and played good in the final. Villanova is a better team but the Rebels played tough. Look for good things from this team. GOOD LOSS

Miami 85, South Carolina 70: The Gamecocks have looked good this year and Miami is not a bad team. I would have liked this game to be a little closer for me. Eight to nine points is a good range for this game. SO-SO LOSS

N.C. State 60, Auburn 58: Of the three loses by the Tigers the actually played good in this game. Losing by only two to a quality ACC team is ok. The Tigers still have lots of questions after starting the year 2-3. GOOD LOSS

So there are the 10 losses by SEC teams so far this year. Some of these teams that I said were bad losses might be good teams and win their conference. But, to me, no SEC team should be losing to a team like Wofford or Missouri State.

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College Basketball 2009: The Youth Movement of the SEC

Rick Gillispie — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:03:59 -0500

Every year, young men make their way to the class room and the hardwood for their first taste of the college life.

Freshman have a history of helping their teams right away and basking in the spotlight that is college basketball.

As college basketball enters its second full week of the young season, lots of talented young freshman are showing their worth.

To me, the SEC has the best group of talented freshman in the nation. There might be a better individual player, but as a group, the SEC is No. 1.

Everybody has heard about the great freshman @ Kentucky, but trust me, there are a lot more talented freshman in the league.

The top 10 freshman in scoring entering Saturday's games for the SEC.

Marshawn Powell (Arkansas)—20.3

John Wall (Kentucky)—20.0

Kenny Boynton (Florida)—19.0

Eric Bledsoe (Kentucky)—15.0

DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky)—14.7

Tony Mitchell (Alabama)—13.0

Dennis Harris (LSU)—9.3

Julysses Nobles (Arkansas)—8.7

Earnest Ross (Auburn)—7.3

John Jenkins (Vanderbilt)—7.0

And there are plenty more young freshman just waiting to make their mark.

As we all know scoring is not everything, but it surely helps a young man's mind set and confidence when he can score and earn the praise of teammates.

One of the greatest things about watching freshman play is watching them mature before your eyes. I truly wish all players would stay at least three years, but I understand the lure of the NBA.

With that said some of these young men will leave after one season and take their game to the next level. Hopefully, they all succeeded in whatever choice the make.

I would tell all fans to enjoy the seasons that these young men are here and remember that they will make mistakes and their will lots of ups and downs, but never stop supporting them and wait the will shine once again.

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John Calipari, Young Kentucky Team Starting To Mesh

Jonathan Lintner — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:42:44 -0500

Kentucky’s defense was so bad against Sam Houston State, even the Wildcats found it funny.

So Head Coach John Calipari said Kentucky (4-0) responded Friday by learning how to defend the three, how to communicate on the court, and find what it’s like to play with a sense of urgency.

“We watched film of the three point shots from the Sam Houston game,” Calipari said. “We showed them the lack of communication and transition defense where we did not match up well. Some of it was almost hysterical, they were laughing at each other.”

A day later, the result was a Kentucky team that lived up to its billing.

The Wildcats knew they were bigger, stronger, and more talented than their first three opponents, but they waited until Saturday’s 92-63 win over Rider (2-2) to show it. In a game of massive Kentucky runs, the Wildcats outscored the Broncs 51-26 in the first half, never allowing Rider to have a say in the final result.

John Wall led Kentucky with his second straight 21-point performance and added 11 assists. Wall, an 18-year-old freshman, said his success has all to do with how he responded to Calipari’s criticisms.

Wall turned the ball over only twice Saturday. Coming into the Rider game, he was averaging 5.5 turnovers a game.

"We felt much better about today's game,” Wall said. “In practice we watched film and coach showed us where we were making mistakes. None of us have played under Coach Cal and we didn't know how he taught. We’re just learning from our mistakes and listening to what he's telling us.”

Calipari said Wall isn’t alone in being lost, four games into the season. He’s just another part of the first-year coach’s five-player recruiting class trying to adjust to college basketball.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, there wasn’t much time to learn before they were tested.

Miami of Ohio’s Nick Winbush pushed Kentucky into a one-possession game last Monday, setting a record for three-point field goals by an opponent in Rupp Arena with eight. Sam Houston State’s Corey Allmond set a new standard on Thursday night with 11 threes.

After fighting off some pesky opponents, implementing Calipari’s “dribble drive” offense was put on the back burner in favor of teaching youth to play defense.

“We talked about it and said to find your men early and keep your head up,” Calipari said. “This is old. John (Wall) is 18-years-old. I have a whole team of 18-year-olds. It is a learning process for us all.”

From the other side, Rider coach Tommy Dempsey said Kentucky’s defensive woes aren’t as bad as Calipari makes them out to be.

The Wildcats forced the Broncs into 31 percent field goal shooting for the game and 23.5 percent from three. Rider’s 63 points were the second lowest the team has scored this season.

“I think they took their foot off the gas here and there, but when they are engaged, start playing the big-time programs and start locking in, they are going to have a special team,” Dempsey said.

Senior guard Ramon Harris, however, is taking Calipari’s words to heart. Following the Wildcats’ 102-92 win over Sam Houston State, Calipari said that at this point, this is the worst defensive team he’s had since 1988.

Harris, one of three seniors on Kentucky’s roster to play under three different coaches, said the Wildcats have more work to do despite a good outing against Rider.

“We still made our mistakes, and like I said before, it's the beginning of the season and we have a lot of new guys and we are all still trying to learn a new coach’s system,” Harris said. “I think once the season goes on, we will become a better defensive team.”

Kentucky hosts Cleveland State next Tuesday.

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