Comment by Ron Carter

March 5, 2008 @ 3:28 am

If Simon Cowell were “judging” Arkansas’ performance against Ole Miss, I think it would sound something like this:

“That was utterly horrific! Did you really think that you’d not need to rebound the ball? Last week you were terrific you played well and it looks as though now you don’t know what you are doing. Regardless of what Paula thinks you should find a different career.”

I too jumped in with only 9 minutes left in the game. I watched 45 seconds and decided that I’d rather watch hockey (which shouldn’t be a sport in my book).

Comment by Michael

March 5, 2008 @ 6:28 am

In the glory days of the ‘backs (’75-’96), the question on the road was always which player would step up. Now, it’s which player won’t even show up. I don’t know what the answer is, other than passage of time. Pelphrey seems to be one piece of the puzzle.

I think we will be in the tournament either way, though. Too many wins against good teams (Mizzou, Baylor, Vanderbilt). I just wouldn’t make reservations at the playing site past Friday.

Comment by J. Hawg 3

March 5, 2008 @ 6:41 am

I went to ESPN360 and watched the game on the webcast until Ohio State finally extinguished Purdue. Frustrating, because it lagged about a minute behind the real time scores on the TV.

I agree with Ron about the rebounding. But my biggest criticism was with the atrocious defense, usually a strong point even when these Hogs can’t buy a basket. Last night it was simply awful. Ole Miss drove by us, passed around us, and beat us weakside on the rebounds until I was nauseous.

So, we’ll beat Auburn. Maybe win one in the SEC Tourney. Limp in to the NCAAs as an 11 or 12 seed. Lose. Really, what is the point of watching? This group has definitively proven they can’t be any better than this.

I am now in “next year” mode. I can’t see that we’ll be very good, with only three non-seniors getting significant playing time.

But watching a new bunch grow and learn has to be better than this, right?

Comment by pigsinzen

March 5, 2008 @ 8:18 am

Weems was MIA almost the entire game, sans the last 4 minutes when he racked up 5 points. Hard to win if the offense is short handed.

Still, there was a point, with less than a minute or so to go, when we were down by 5, and we got the ball, and then instead of nailing the clutch 3, ala Mayberry, or Day, or Thurman, or Bradley, we turned it over.

Always proud to be a Hog fan, but this and so many other games this season were lost opportunities.

Comment by CharlieHog

March 5, 2008 @ 9:46 am

Wait, Brett Favre retired? When did that happen? You’d think ESPN would cover that.

Comment by KevinHog

March 5, 2008 @ 4:06 pm

Given Arkansas’s history in the tournament these last two years, I don’t think they are going to get any benefit of the doubt – at all. I’ve been telling people that I thought the Ole Miss game would be our Waterloo. Not Elba or St. Helena, but the NIT will be our exile unless we win the SEC tournament. Part of me wants to be wrong about their expected NIT fate, but the other part of me says that the NIT is just about what this group deserves. They can play at least some of those games in Bud Walton where their heads seem to be screwed on better.

Two Arkansas expatriates examine Razorback sports from the outside-in. razorbackexpats at yahoo dot com