Wake Me When We Win a Road Game

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

That way, I will almost certainly be in for a long, deep and restorative sleep. Seriously, how can such a seemingly talented group of players be so bad on the road?

I went into yesterday’s game hoping for a signature road win that would announce a new era in Hog hoops, much the way the January 1989 victory over Texas in Austin kicked off the MayDay/Big O era in earnest or the Arizona and Missouri wins in December 1992 jump-started the Corliss/Scotty years.

Instead, what we got was an unpleasant reminder of the preceding five seasons, when Stan Heath guided Arkansas to a truly remarkable 9-37 road record. 9-37!!

What was particularly frustrating about Saturday’s game was how winnable it was. Despite shooting only 22 percent from three-point range and 53 percent from the line, the Hogs were right there until the end. But then, it seems like so many of the road losses in the Heath era were close as well.

Rainer Sabin of The Slophouse has a nice post on this subject, in which he asks, “Has losing on the road become a psychosomatic disorder for the Razorbacks?” I’m confident that Pelphrey will find the cure for these road woes, but the patient may be tougher to treat than expected.

Filed under: Basketball — Stephen at 9:14 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2007

3 Comments »

Comment by Whit E. Knight

December 17, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

I too was hoping for a statement victory, something that would show the team is not stuck in the Heath mindset. Instead, after tying it at 60-60, they were outscored 23-12 the rest of the way, and players are still showing up late for the team bus.

Maybe it is time for some of your promised Dwight Stewart stories, they might be just what it takes to inspire the current group.

Comment by Stephen

December 17, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

Whit,

I think you’re on to something. If Sy Dog doesn’t inspire them, then all may be lost.

–Stephen

Comment by thebeave

December 17, 2007 @ 3:59 pm

I’ve never attended an Arkansas basketball win. They’re something like 0-11 when I’ve been in attendance. The common thread? All road games. It’d be fantastic for this streak to be broken.

On the flip side I’ve never attended an Arkansas football loss. 7-0, all road games.

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