FAYETTEVILLE - For 40 minutes last Saturday it felt like the old days of Arkansas basketball.
The Razorbacks played an outstanding game at Vanderbilt, winning 89-78 over the then-No. 19 Commodores. At 4-3 in conference play and a pair of winnable home games upcoming, some were even daring to dream of NCAA Tournament berths for the Razorbacks if the right cards fell into place.
Those hopes are long gone following a 69-60 loss to Ole Miss at Bud Walton Arena on Saturday. It was the second-straight for the Razorbacks to teams with losing conference records entering the game.
Arkansas lost to Georgia 60-59 on Wednesday despite travel delays that forced the team to fly into Northwest Arkansas less than eight hours prior to tip-off. In that game the Razorbacks hit just 55 percent of its free throws and were out-rebounded by 15.
On Saturday it was more of the same for Arkansas. The Hogs trailed 16-4 early on, battled back to take a second half lead and were then outscored 31-20 over the game’s final 13 minutes.
Arkansas missed 9 of 22 free throw attempts in the second half after making all eight attempts before the intermission. The Razorbacks were out-rebounded by nine by the league’s second-worst team on the boards (Arkansas is last) and had 12 shots blocked.
“It’s frustrating especially coming off that road win,” said Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke, who finished with 10 points in the loss to the Rebels. “We had an opportunity to get two here at home. It’s tough especially with us being undefeated (at home) and dropping two straight at home is frustrating.”
“It’s frustrating for anyone to beat us at home because of our fans and our crowds. We know we need to win for them.”
It was a fitting week as the only thing consistent with the Razorbacks this season has been inconsistency. Arkansas beat Alabama at home early in the conference season, after a loss to a bad LSU team just three days earlier. The Tigers have followed that win up with five straight losses by a combined 112 point, while the Crimson Tide are 7-1 and leading the SEC West midway through the conference season.
The Razorbacks lost at South Carolina in overtime and followed it up with a 32-point loss at Florida – the fourth loss of 30 points or more in 14 months.
Arkansas (14-8, 4-5 SEC) now has eight games left in the regular season, seven of which are conference games. Under John Pelphrey, the Razorbacks haven’t played well in the second half of the conference season with a combined record of 6-19 during his tenure, including Saturday’s loss to the Rebels.
As you might expect, Pelphrey was optimistic his team could rebound and turn its season around following one of the most disappointing weeks in his coaching career.
“It’s behind us now and we’ve got to start getting ready for this upcoming week,” Pelphrey said. “A lot of challenges lie ahead and there is a lot of basketball to be played.”
In addition to the challenges, a lot of questions lie ahead of Pelphrey and his team. Several fans are calling for a change in direction for the Razorbacks basketball program and following the worst-attended basketball season in Bud Walton Arena history, UA administrators might be forced to listen this time around.
Winning consistently down the stretch will cure all that, but recent history doesn’t leave much hope that remedy is in the works.
For more visit WholeHogSports.com. You can follow Matt Jones on Twitter @NWAMatt.
Its over. You have to fire him tonite.
Disgusting, let the Lady Razorbacks coach finish the season coaching both teams! Pelphrey has nothing that remotely resembles what our Razorbacks and their fans need and deserve in a coach!
That was terrible. If we fire him, who would take the job? If we do, three names come to mind. Lorenzo Romar at Wash, Steve Alford at New Mexico, and because of Jeff Longs connections at Pitt, Jamie Dixon. Give Pelphry one more year. His recruiting class and the fact at S Alabama he had good teams in his 4th and 5th season.
Give him one more year to prove what? At S. Alabama and mid-level schools like that you can run into success at times especially if you have an experienced team and all of the coaches in that league are on the same level. If you are a top tier coach in a small conference you when at higher rate. The talent coming in on paper is great but that doesn’t mean instant success.1) They have to be put in situations to succeed(coaching) 2) chemistry could be an issue. The incoming class could wind up great but you need coaching and if after this class then what fall back to mediocrity because Pel hasn’t been a stellar recruiter. These kids coming in have Arkansas ties. I give him some credit for getting them but I think that they are coming to Arkansas to play for the U of A and not because Pel is there. Every recruiting year is not going to be like this. We need a coach it’s just that simple. Coaching at Arkansas and coaching at S. Alabama is totally different. We had to settle for Pel he wasn’t a hot item and we had to beat people out to get him after that successful year at S. Alabama. We were intrigued by the pedigree from which he came(Petino-Kentucky).
I like Pel as a person, but he has proven beyond a doubt that he is not a very good game coach. I don’t think that will change with his incoming recruiting class. Maybe Long should give Petrino a shot at coaching the last 9 games…
IdahoRazorback,
What was terrible? I did not quite follow? I am courious to know what you would have to see to NOT want to wait another year?
I kind of feel like Jerry Jones in that I believe there are a hundred coaches we could win with. Why so bleak to only think 3? Personnally, I want a Razorback Man. Corliss Williamson; “Hello”, what about Scotty Thurman? Just thoughts but it is a long list for Long. He got Petrino, he will handle this right; so I wil sit tight to wait on his move. I just hope it is soon. I admit Petrino is on my list of the hundred coaches, but I would give it to Willie Robinson (he has proven to take the pressure in stride) and let Bobby get a new Defensive Coordinator. Not to belittle Willie because his defense more than earned their stripes.
WPS anyway!!!
This team is simply not very good. We seem to only have one very good player in Marshawn Powell. Clarke is a great shooter, but his height is an extreme disadvantage when surrounded by players who can’t set adequate screens to get him open. I’ve not seen much of anything out of the other players, with the exception that Sanchez plays hard and really hustles, although he won’t ever be a consistent offensive contributor. We seem to play well when we get turnovers and speed up the tempo, but I didn’t see us apply full-court pressure tonight. The decline in Razorback basketball really started around 1999, and it’s only continued to get worse. A once proud program has really turned into an embarrassment.
Fire Pel now. Let Rob Evans finish this season. We will be better off. The job will be open, and maybe Mike Anderson will come. Dr. Long, please fire John Pelphrey. He is a good man, just not the coach we need.
TexasHog…are you high? Seriously. You went from talking about hiring Corliss or Scotty to coach basketball, to somehow talking about Petrino and giving it (what?) to Slick Willy Robinson. Your mind seemed to be in two places at once and your transition sucked, mainly because you provided none. Were you talking about giving the basketball coaching job to Willy? If so, I certainly want to know where you got whatever it is you’re smoking.
As for your question, directed at IdahoRazorback…about what would they like to see in order to “NOT want to wait another year”. I might suggest you try to find a tape of the LSU game for your answer. Probably the worst basketball game ever played with a Razorback jersey. Period. Pelphrey’s had more than enough time to at LEAST show a consistent playing style and some sort of progress. Hell, just fundamentals would be nice.
while these losses suck, you have to remember everybody wanted to run nolan off off early in his tenure as the hogs coach. it took him a while to get his kind of players. maybe it’s the same with pel.
are you kidding me geezerhog? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Richardson
please check it out before you tarnish nolan’s legacy. he is the winningest coach in arkansas history and i think he took enough slander from the racists that drove him out of the job (not that he could have stayed since they drove him crazy too)
but seriously he won 19 games his second year and went to second round of nit. he wont 21 the next year, made the big dance, and it was all up from there.
what has it come to when we measure the success of our team by the recruiting rankings instead of number of wins?
please let rob evans finish the year as interim. he was sec coach of the year for crying out loud.
COME ON MATT JONES, I WANT TO SEE SOME REASON IN THE PRESS, THIS IS THE ONLY INTRIGUE LEFT IN THE SEASON, YOU GOT TO GIVE IT SOME INK MAN
Since we continue to compare old and new here are some stats that will dispute that Pel is on the same path as past coaches. EDDIE SUTTON: YEAR 1 (17-9) Y#2 (19-9) Y#3 (26-2) Y#4 (32-4) NOLAN RICHARDSON Y#1 (12-16) Y#2 (19-14) Y#3 (21-9) Y#4 (25-7) STAN HEATH Y#1 (9-19) Y#2 (12-16) Y#3 (18-12) Y#4 (22-10) JOHN PELPHREY Y#1 (23-12) Y#2 (14-16) Y#3 (14-18) Y#4 (14-?). Of all coaches Pel is the only one to not show improvement record wise or even player development. It didn’t take these coaches long to put their stamp on the program. Heath’s brand may not have been exciting but we did have two consecutive trips to the NCAA tourney.
Now my criticism doesn’t stem from Pel not living up to a Nolan or an Eddie because he will never be them. I’m solely basing it on the product on the floor from an X’s and O’s point of view. The style, strategy, etc. I recall Bob Knight, love him or hate him, doing an Arkansas game and I’ll never forget him saying about R. Clarke “All they(Arkansas) do is run him off those little baseline screens and stand him in a corner.” He was basically speaking on the simplicity of our offense and I have yet to see much change and or improvements. I admit that I tend to get winded on this topic but we should want and expect better. Every coach is not going to go to a Final Four every year but when I see a Tubby Smith resurrect Minnesota or a Mike Anderson make Missouri relevant or a Bo Ryan win at Wisconsin and last Anthony Grant have Alabama playing for a division title in 2 or 3 years. What’s sad is we are struggling when the SEC West is really down compared to past years. I will wait and let this year play itself out but if don’t make the NIT I don’t know how we retain Pel.
Lets face it guys, the folks making this decision could care less what the average fan thinks! Sadly our great program has become a toy for the chosen few to tinker with! That said, I’m pretty sure this isn’t what Bud Walton had in mind when donating the funds to build the arena (half full or less, rare big wins, etc). Sad, so sad!
I will admit that I haven’t had the opportunity to watch many games this year, but I watched last night and was very disappointed. I would be OK with a loss, if you give 100%….but, I didn’t see it last night. When did we stop coaching the basics??? Playing defense, screening out and rebounding??? I didn’t see much life in our team and worst than that, I didn’t see much life in our coach. Eddie and Nolan would never put up with that lack of effort. Their players respected them….maybe feared them….but if you didn’t play hard for them, you were on the bench. I thought Pel would be a good coach, but I really don’t see it now. Razorback nation deserves a better product
GeminiHog,
I think you missed the full order of the threads. Mayve why you dd not follow. Re-Read comments by Orgegon Hog and then read mine.
Oregon Hog raised the notion of Petrino as new Head Coach of BB. While he did not say, I am sure he was saying so in jest. You guys need to relax. I along with his banter made note of Jerry Jones old reference that he could win a Super Bowl with one of 500 coaches or something like that. Then I stated I want a Razorback Man. Corliss Williamson; “Hello”, what about Scotty Thurman? Then I was tryng to state to go along with Oregon Hog’s desperation that Petrino would be on my list of the hundred coaches or so, but I would give it to Willie Robinson not Petrino. That was just me being cute to say no lets don’t give it to Petrino, but Willie instead and force Bobby to hire another DC.
GeminiHog,
As for comment, directed at IdahoRazorback…about what would they like to see in order to “NOT want to wait another year”.
I think you missed that as well. Idaho Hog was sugegersting to wait another year? I wanted him to tell me what he needed to see to so that he would not say he wanted to wait another year.
I agree 100% with your statement that should be directed to Idaho Hog. You stated and suggested that “he try to find a tape of the LSU game for your answer. Probably the worst basketball game ever played with a Razorback jersey. Period. Pelphrey’s had more than enough time to at LEAST show a consistent playing style and some sort of progress. Hell, just fundamentals would be nice.”
In summary we all agree that it is time for Pel to go. I admit I must have been smoking on something when I had the Pipe Dream of making NCAA Tournament. I have got off that wagon and threw away that Pipe.
The one example of how far this program has fallen is the fact that for the second consecutive game, student are admitted free and the basketball arean is still half empty. It pains me to see this once great program has fallen…
I am now officially off the Pelphrey bandwagon.After driving 3 hrs. to witness what I consider lazy play,and directionless players and downright apathy from the fans,I can only surmise this.The players are a reflection of their coach.If Pelphrey stays he will instill the same confusion these poor players have endured on the new recruits.When was the last technical drawn by this coach.Excite and incite the fans John.He just stands there with that stupid look on his face when our players get hammered.Even if he did have success here he would say AMF so quick it would make our heads spin.
Fire Pelphry hire Mike Anderson at the end of the season.enough said
Fire pelfry(doesn’t deserve proper spelling) hire Mike Anderson at end of season.This years shot.Enough said
Just wanted to confirm to Texas Hog and GeminiHog that yes, it was (mostly) in jest that I suggested Petrino take over for Pel. And no, I have not been smoking ganja (it’s not even noon yet here in Oregon). Among other things, the Hogs’ b-ball team lacks mental discipline and competitive drive which others have pointed out are a direct reflection of the Pel’s lack of ability to coach either during practice or in the heat of the game. At least Petrino (certainly not Rob Evans) would resolve the lack of discipline and drive for the rest of the season, then we could put on an aggressive campaign to find the right fit for a long-term coach. So it was a tongue in cheek suggestion, but at the same time I would be overjoyed to see it happen. AD Long – are you listening???
Iterim coach right now Long, you might surprise yourself with the way the season ends with hope in the players hearts as well as the fans. It was an instant change for the Cowboys this year even though too late, but there is now a bright new perspective on next year already. DO SOMTHING NOW! and atleast maybe put more fans in the seats to end the year and I bet you see an instant change in this team.
I have been with Pel from the beginning, though don’t get to see many games in this area – which from last night’s performance, is probably a good thing. That was one of the most uninspired, unorganized games I have ever witnessed.
I find it interesting that Anthony Grant and Pel were team as well as coach mates and essentially have a very similar philosophy. The difference, however, is glaring. Alabama knows how to play defense and rebound.
I don’t think Long should fire Pelphrey without having a clear candidate in mind to replace him. Otherwise we’ll have a repeat of the Altman situation. With that said, and it pains me to think this is a possibility, I’m not sure Long can find a candidate that wants to come here. I’m not convinced Anderson would come back to Arkansas. We couldn’t persuade Bill Self to come here. The program is not in a place where top-flight coaches are eager to coach basketball at Arkansas. I think finding a replacement for Pelphrey will be harder than we think, and it just shouldn’t be that way.
Could it be that the u of a is like many high schools with good football programs that could care less about basketball? Looking across the country it seems that schools with really good football and basketball programs are very rare. Anyone know anything about Duke football? Back when Arkansas won the ncaa championship in basketball, what was the football program like?
4-7 (2-6 SEC)Just seems for strong basketball and football programs to co-exist is very difficult. From a coaching viewpoint, great players make great coaches and bad players make bad coaches. How does the talent in football program compare to the talent in the basketball program? This basketball team has only average players at best.
wyohog is right in saying it would be hard to find a coach that would want to come to Arkansas which is partly because we have let our program go so deep in the hole. But money talks and to find a good coach you have got to be willing to pay, pay, pay. You are thinking we can’t afford that, hey, we can’t afford not to unless we want to close down Bud Walton and forget all about bb. Our problem the last two hires is the AD wants to hire on the cheap instead of hiring a proven winning coach which is going to cost the big bucks. I say lets go for broke and hire a good, proven coach this next time.
I say look for someone with fire in his belly! Someone that takes no crap from anyone! Someone with enough belief in himself and his methods to instill them on his players! Someone that actually coaches the game and adapts to the play! Someone that visibly pains when things are bad and rejoices when they’re good! That someone is a COACH! They are out there find one and lets take our chances on the wins and losses! Hell were whinning about getting one of the best when scores of them would be an improvement!
MC,
I think you hit the nail on the head. We were brought into the SEC because of basketball and track, and those programs were where our priorities were in the beginning. Since ’98 with the stadium expansion, the financial priorities have clearly shifted.
I don’t think it’s difficult for programs like Florida to maintain top flight BBall and Fball teams because they have the budget to pay both. We don’t have the same luxury, so when we dump all the money we are into the football program, the basketball program will suffer. This has been happening for around 12 years now, which is a pretty big coincidence given that this was the time when Nolan started grumbling and the basketball program started sliding. The foundation, or the university, doesn’t have bottomless pockets.
The point is, we can fire Pel, but don’t expect to get a coach that will demand a large salary. We may strike gold and get a young and hungry coach, but he’ll eventually leave if we have to pay him. I’m not saying whether this is right or wrong, but this seems to be the way it is. And it’s not just an Arkansas problem, but an SEC problem outside of Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, and Vandy. They have been the only consistently good programs over the past five years.
I don’t think our upcoming recruiting class would leave if Mike Anderson was hired. I think they’d love to play his style of game and I think Mike would jump at the chance to coach these guys.
I’m with dickenson brothers. Mike Anderson would no doubt be our best chance to keep the recruiting class. Didn’t he just sign a new contract extension last though, with MU when Oregon came after him with supposedly 3 mil a yr offer. I can’t imagine anything better than getting Mr. Anderson though.
Hiring a coach for U of A is not a problem. Forget Altman. His sudden departure is overstated. He just changed his mind and embarrassed the University. It is not like he saw Rats in Bud Walton and had to get the hell out of Fayetteville and no coach will ever want to coach here
Altman was similar to Petrino changing his mind at Atlanta and coming here. Coaches coach for money and Arkansas can pay a going rate. There are tons of coaches available better than Pelphrey. We do not necessarily have to have a big name. The below coaches are all first year coaches that are on track to make NCAA in their first year. My point is there are many more and the notion we can’t find a coach is absolutely ridicules. There is no reason to stick with Pelphrey ANY longer. It is not Mike Anderson or bust. It is bust now with Pelphrey, so we must take step to make a change with the best availble option NOW!!!
Tad Boyle, Colorado
Record: 15-8 overall, 4-4 in conference play
Brad Brownell, Clemson
Record: 15-7 overall, 4-4 in the ACC
Mo Cassara, Hofstra
Record: 14-9 overall, 8-4 in the Colonial
Steve Donahue, Boston College
Record: 14-8 overall, 4-4 in the ACC
Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland and Virginia Billy Donlon, Wright State
Record: 14-9 overall, 7-4 in the Horizon
Tom Herrion, Marshall
Record: 15-7 overall, 3-4 in Conference USA
B.J. Hill, Northern Colorado
Record: 11-9 overall, 7-2 in the Big Sky
Dan Hurley, Wagner
Record: 10-11 overall, 6-4 in the Northeast
Steve Lavin, St. John’s
Record: 13-8 overall, 5-5 in the Big East
Let me reference some of my background data on first year coaches to Steve Megargee, Rivals.com College Basketball Staff Writer.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=rivals-1185134
I don’t know what to say… These guys are not even playing hard… they look defeated.. Reminds me of Stan Heath’s teams just without all of the bellyaching…
It is time for change… I think it will be easier to find a coach this time around… Especially with the players we have coming in… If these kids are as good as everyone says, they need to learn now that this is nothing personal, just business…
This is just pitiful coaching… A good coach takes the talent he has, and maximizes their potential in order to win games. Jeff Peterson and Marshawn Powell are two prime examples of this.. GREAT high-school players… They both even made all conference as freshman… Now they both stink… Period… They have literally gotten worse at basketball during the time they have been coached by John Pelphrey…
Anderson turned down Oregon (Nike $$$) as well as Memphis (the #1 game in town). Let that dream die, he is not returning to Arkansas, that ship has sailed. As of now, he has a better gig. The SEC has no rivals for KU, KState, Baylor, A&M or even OkSt. He is in the premier conference not in New England.
He was snubbed, his mentor feels he was disrespected and Mike Anderson has found a home in Columbia.
Best bet is to find a mid-major coach (see Fox at GA) or a great assistant, although a conference with the press coverage of the SEC is a tough place to break your maiden.Pel fit this mold, unfortunately it was not a good fit. He had all the attributes you could hope for, it just didn’t work. Cut your losses and move on for the University’s sake and for coach Pel’s sake. He could use a new venue.
This “great recruiting class” deserves better…
Keeping John Pelphrey at this point would just frustrate the fan base even more… The ticket sales will fall off the planet…
I would say by the above posts that this issue does not need to be put to a vote. As with myself, these folks know basketball x’s and o’s.
We know enough time has been given to Pel, a nice fellow, but he is not the man for the job. A search and replacement after we fail to go dancing again would be the right time for change. We (our program) cannot afford another year of this, the fans know it and the way the players play, they don’t want it another year either. Please, Mr. Long, wake up , read the paper, the Razorback nation is unhappy !! We know what it takes to win……we are wondering if you do or if you even care ??
give Billy Gillespie or Tim Floye a second chance, i’m sure they have ton of fire in their belly to rebuild their names. look at what Bruce Pearl has done at Ut
As far as the vote goes, we have 37 posts so far and it looks to be 36 in favor of change and 1 on the fence. Wake up Mr. Long, the attendance next year will be worse than this year…..heaven forbid !!
The Swinging Gate – that is the exact same play Ole Miss used to win their game last week. Their top shooter goes thru the lane and curls straight thru the top of the key with his team-mates collapsing immediately after he passes thru and he turns and has a wide-open look at a trey; and he nails it ! The biggest thing I see with the Hogs that is definitely a thing of the past – Defense ! Our’s is very poor.
Anyone who remembers Ole Miss beating us every time we played then when Rob Evans was coaching there knows that he has way more fire in his belly than Pelphry. I guarantee we win some games if he is the interim.
There are plenty of proven coaches out there besides Anderson that would consider coming to the hill should he be offered and decline the job. We need to open the position up and start our search now.
Wow…interesting discussions on what most of us have been saying all year. Here’s what bothers me. We have had talent under Pel and we haven’t exploited it because of coaching. This year, I had low expectations because other than Powell and Clarke, we have a bench full of underachievers. Ok, Johnson has suprised me, but Wade is terrible and Petersen hasn’t played well since Iowa…Sanchez is a hustler and hard player, but he can’t score to save his life (other than Vandy game).
Bottom line: we aren’t coached well, we are inconsistent, fan base is at its lowest, and we basically have no offensive strategies and can’t even shoot free throws. For those that are calling for another year…why? Because of the recruiting class? I agree with others, those kids probably would be here without Pelphrey, it’s time for a change! I wouldn’t be so hard on Coach, but if you watch the games and know anything about basketball, we are not a well coached team…at all.
Guys, nobody is getting fired this week. Jeff Long is a good AD and will only give him the hook when he has to. He knows that he will have another hard sell to bring in a good coach and will just be rolling the dice again on another “up and comer”.
Absolutely 0 chance that Mike Anderson comes to Fayetteville. I hate to admit it, but Missouri is a better job right now. He has no incentive to come here.
I was one of those suckers that looked at the remaining schedule and thought we had a shot at making the tournament, but that’s gone now with the two home losses. Winning at home is harder because home court advantage isn’t what it used to be. I can remember being in Bud Walton and not being able to hear the person next to me. I can remember not sitting down for the entire game. Now, there are times when you can hear a pin drop. If you can hear the players’ sneakers squeaking on the floor, the crowd is not an advantage.
Long is not going to make a move ubtil those above him tell him to do so, and or he fears that his next job review will be his last if he doesn’t! It is obvious that he is searching for an out (free admission, promises of a brighter tomorrow, etc), but lacks the where with all to take the Hog by its tusks and turn this thing around! I fear it will only get worse before anyone does anything! Sad, we were once top 5, now were struggling to remain relevant in the SEC East!
West, East is even farther away!
Isn’t it amazing to think that the class that would be seniors this year was a top 15 recruiting class? I think it’s pretty clear Pel has not developed that talent into a top 15 team. I think the incoming recruiting class is the very reason Long SHOULD get rid of Pel. I am afraid he would coach the incoming talent into mediocrity!
I’m almost positive Pelphrey has a future in selling cars in Kentucky, just not as the basketball coach at the University of Arkansas. Best of luck young man.
It would have to be used cars south texas hog, those blue bloods wouldn’t touch him now!
hogfan1509
Since we can’t have fun watching the games, we can at least try to humor ourselves while we wait.
How about The Conspiracy Theory? Maybe those Blue bloods have been paying Coach Pel behind our back all of this time to keep the program in the gutter? To which if true, he has been doing a wonderful job and they would be touting keeping him for another year. You see, Quality is in the eye of the beholder.
This is an average team with at best average talent. Do some player evaluation while you are evaluating the coach. How would Eddie Sutton or Nolan Richardson do with this group? Don’t see any Sidneys or Rons or Marvins. No MayDays or Corlisses but Scotty is setting on the bench. Coaching is not the cure all. There is talent issue here. If this recruiting class is as good as advertised it want take long to determine if there is a coaching issue or a talent issue.
MC you have got to be joking. Do we need to determine if there is a coaching issue? To anybody that knows even the slightest bit about basketball, it is so glaringly obvious that Pelphrey can not coach. Im not saying he’s a bad guy, but he needs to find another line of work or something. This team is not even a shadow of the worst teams that Nolan had, and its not because of the players. Let’s put it this way – Every game that this team wins seems to be in spite of the poor coaching. I guarantee you if you put another coach in there, they would improve even if the coach did absolutely nothing and just told them to go play.
MC,
Average teams with good coaching make NCAA all the time. No average team with poor coaching ever makes the NCAA. Above average teams with poor coaching make the NCAA or NIT. There are 347 Division I NCAA basketball teams. If you think for one moment we have average players then you are saying they around the 173rd backetball team in the contry!!! You are nuts, the players on this team and in the SEC period are above average. We should be in NCAA every year PERIOD. That is the coaches job. You didn’t say so, but do you suggest to say that Pelphrey is an above average coach? If not; then you have to agree that he is either an average coach or below average. That being the case, we should be seeking an above average coach. All of this is just common sense.
C’mon man!!!!
A good coach would have us in the tournament this year. We have enough talent to compete. There were years when Nolan had simply good to decent players and made the tourney because they played hard,fundamentally soundly, and as a team. The lack of fundamentals and terrible offense is what screams that the coaching is poor.
Is Roy Williams a good coach? Why is North Carolina not in the top 10? Could it be the players he has? The Cleveland Cavs have lost 25 straight because they fired their coach last year or because Lebron is not there? Not defending pelphrey, didn’t think he was the right fit at the time. Bottom line, coaching is not the only problem in ua basketball program.
MC,
Q: Is Roy Williams a good coach? A:Yes
Q:Why is North Carolina not in the top 10? A: Good question because they are 1 game behind #5 Duke in ACC and have won 5 in a row. There are 55 other good teams with good coaches that are not in the top 10. We are here today because Arkansas is not one of the 55 not because they are not in the Top 10.
Q: Could it be the players he has? No, Do you actually think that North Carolina has player problems being ranked #19?
Q: The Cleveland Cavs have lost 25 straight because they fired their coach last year or because Lebron is not there? A: Both they had fall off in coaching and players. What is your point here? Better example is Miami Heat. Look at all of their loses at the beginning of season with all of their talent. They were losing because of poor coaching philosophy. Once changed, they are on a roll. Do you think the Heat’s coach would have got 4 years if they did not start winning?
Q: Not defending pelphrey, didn’t think he was the right fit at the time. A: We still do not agree because I thought Pelphrey was a good hire at the time. He had Nolan’s support and all of that. I was behind him 100% even some of this year. He is just not getting it done. If you are not defending him, let me hear you type IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE.
Q: Bottom line, coaching is not the only problem in ua basketball program. A: It is the only problem that matters for the program and the one that needs to be fixed first before tweaking anything else. I am behind the players 100% and refuse to throw them under the bus labeling them as untalented; because they are doing what their coach is asking them to do.
C’mom man!!!! Next Question?
In every sport when things aren’t going well the answer seems to always be fire the coach. Pelphrey was once Coach of the Year in the SunBelt. So what has happened? Can he not coach or can he not coach in the SEC? He has Rob Evans as his top assistant. What players does he have with the talents of a Moncrief, a Brewer (either one), a Delph, a Day, a Mayberry, a Thurmann, or Wiliamson? He has recruited an amazing incoming class. Should he not get to coach them? If he gets the chance to coach that group and they dont perform, then a change has to take place.
Jeez – and then when the new players come in and they almost make the ncaas next year but not quite, there will be some people saying we really improved because we made it to the NIT – so lets just give him one more year. Are you happy with barely making it to the ncaas and then losing in the first round once every 6 years? I mean come on – if you watch the games you know that this dog is never going to hunt.
MC,
We are going to convert you yet…
Q: In every sport when things aren’t going well the answer seems to always be fire the coach. A: Welcome to America, it is a called a Microwave society. Even so, its not one year and fire, it is his body of work over 4 years that fans are touting.
Q: Pelphrey was once Coach of the Year in the SunBelt. So what has happened? A: Are you taking about Nolan Richardson or Eddie Sutton, or Houston Nutt? Things change. All of those were GREAT coaches, Pelphery is not, all of those deserved to get fired when they got fired. Pelphery has earnd the right to be fired now. Why do you think the outcry keep getting intense?
Can he not coach or can he not coach in the SEC? A: He cannot coach. I do not believe he will ever coach in the SEC again.
Q: He has Rob Evans as his top assistant. What players does he have with the talents of a Moncrief, a Brewer (either one), a Delph, a Day, a Mayberry, a Thurmann, or Wiliamson? A: We will never know as long as Pelphrey is coach because he cannot bring out the best in his players. Think of Peyton Hillis, he had raw talent that was never fully realized due to his coaches philosophy. It was deemed OK because the team won.
Q: He has recruited an amazing incoming class. Should he not get to coach them? A: No. As a matter of routine,every coach that has ever been fired has an incoming class. I have never heard of us having a very poor incoming class, we always believe they are talented and they always are.
Q: If he gets the chance to coach that group and they dont perform, then a change has to take place. A: He has done that 3 years in row, what in world are you possibly thinking? If you Pel or are a relative of Pel, I understand and will give you a pass. Sometimes you man up and cut bait. It is that time.
MC Who says some of these kids could not become as big of these players you have mentioned with the right coaching. Thats one of the big issues here isnt it, these players usally play their best ball in the early part of their career here at Arkansas and then fade in time to a lesser all round player, again it starts with coaching!
Should Michigan State fire Tom Izzo? Is he the reason why they may not make the ncaa tourney this year? All of a sudden he cant coach. Fire him right? If the football hawgs, dont go back to a BCS bowl there will be people who will be calling for BP’s firing. There are always going to be people with a fire the coach mentality, most of whom have never coached anything. Sure it is easy to see why many are calling for Pel’s firing. Not winning games at home, a terrible sec road record, and most of all inconsistant play. Maybe it is time. My question is why is the U of A not taking any action. If the U o A fires Pel, I’ll support that and hope they evaluate the entire program.
MC,
You win. Arkansas should not fire John Pelphrey because Michigan State has not fired Tom Izzo? I am surprised you did not compare Pel to Coach K. Izzo has enough skins for a lifteime at MSU. I respect your opinion however.
Not comparing coaches, comparing situations of not winning. Izzo is a winning coach no doubt. So could it be the talent is down at MSU right now? But no one seems to want to address that at Arkansas. Only fire the coach is what we seem to hear. Doubt anyone on this site has been to a razorback basketball practice to see how these players practice, dont practice or what they practice. An evaluation needs to be made of the entire program coaches, players, even the AD.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships” Michael Jordan
Don’t blame the Alcohol, nor the student atheletes? If you are comparing situations, ANY coach incuding Izzo or Coach K; if they had been here the last 4 years and had the exact same results, you would be hearing the same thing. Maybe even worse, because some may say or think those successful coaches attitudes did not fit the program. Every year every program is always evaluated. The change starts at the top of the BB program and taht is why you only hear fire the coach. Ever heard of Peyton Manning? Remember how Coach Mora just prosecuted the poor guy after throwing 4 interceptions in one game and went off about “Playoffs”? The Colts changed Coaches and has been in the playoffs every year since. 11 years in row. You mention Michael Jordan, I bet you that if he was at UA now, at his prime we would still have some blaming the talent trying to defend the coach that does not know how to use it. Get me a coach that makes our players the best they can be consistently is all we ask.
Will be interseting to see if Miss. St. and Coach Stansbury can overcome not having their best player tonight. Hawgs and Coach Pel better take advantage of this oppportunity. The SEC west is not that strong and you have to take advantage of what the other teams are lacking.
MC “Hammer”
BTW, what kind of talent was Tavaris Jackson? What kind of player could Sanchez really be if he was given the coaching to develop along with game around his capabilities and limitations. On the right team Clarke could be legitmate top NBA pick. Wade just looks like he could a baller, but it is hard to tell? where tyhere is smoke thee is fire. These guys beat Alabama, they beat Vanderbilt on the road, the had 3 other games snatched from the jaws of victory to jaws of defeat. So talent is there, we just just do not know how to harvest it game in and game out.
C’mom man, one more time to jump off the fantasy wagon and get on board back to the future!!!
Fantasy Wagon? Clarke top NBA, National Basketball Association, pick? Now that’s fantasyland stuff. So when you see Clarke, you see John Wall? On the right team Clarke would be, okay I see. So it depends on the talent around him. Like Lebron understood and left Cleveland for Miami. He didnt leave for the great Miami coach.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships” Michael Jordan
MC
I am sorry, what were we blogging about? NBA, John Wall, Lebron, & Michael Jordan? No basketball issue there is it? What about the Arkansas Razorback Coach? Let you tell it, you should never have to fire a coach because all they need is talent. You are still entitled to your opinion, but someone should be working on a new law to make it illegal to support Coach Pelphrey in Arkansas. Poor talent, bad officiating, and SEC road venue is what cost Coach Pelphrey an otherwise perfect opportunity to showcase his coaching. I don’t think soooooooooooo.
The shame of it all.
Don’t know what Arkansas does in practice and I’m sure no one on this site has watched a practice. Don’t know how Pel relates to his players. I do know he didn’t miss any freethrows or shots, didnt make any bad or stupid passes, didnt make any turnovers, didnt fail to block out on reboounds, didnt fail to give help defense, and didnt get beat down the floor and out hustled tonight. I give MSU credit they responded to having their idiot player on the bench and credit to Coach Stansbury for putting him there and having his kids ready to play.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships” Michael Jordan
The movie “Its a Wonderful Life” comes to mind.
I wander if Michael Jordan would have ever made that statement, or if he would have even been relevant if he played basketball for John Pelphrey at Arkansas.
If you watch the games, it is pretty obvious what they do not do in practice. What they do is the responsibility of the coach, not the talent of the players.