LITTLE ROCK — Some frequently asked questions about Arkansas basketball going into the season:Q.
Will the Razorbacks play in a postseason tournament?
A.
The NCAA Tournament appears to be a long shot given the team’s 2-14 SEC record last year. But with every starter returning and an influx of newcomers, the Razorbacks should put themselves in position to make the NIT. That may not be what fans want to hear, but it would represent progress and an opportunity for extra practices and games for a mostly young team.
Q.
Which newcomer will have the greatest impact?
A.
The best bet is freshman forward Marshawn Powell.
He’s an athletic big man who should be a strong inside presence, but who also can score on the perimeter.
Q.
Is Coach John Pelphrey on the hot seat going into his thirdseason?
A.
Well, it has to be getting kind of warm based on lastseason’s struggles on the court and a well-documented series of off-court problems for the program.
Chancellor David Gearhart and Athletic Director Jeff Long continue to express strong support for Pelphrey, but the Razorbacks clearly need to show improvement.
Q.
What will the starting lineup be?
A.
Senior forward Michael Washington and sophomoreguards Courtney Fortson and Rotnei Clarke figure to stay in the lineup. Sophomore forward Michael Sanchez started 28 games last season, but he hasn’t been able to practice because of foot injuries and probably will be replaced by freshman Marshawn Powell as a starter. The other spot could go to junior college transfer Jemal Farmer or senior Stefan Welsh.
Q.
Will Arkansas’ defense be better this year, especially onthe perimeter?
A.
It certainly needs to be if the Razorbacks want to be a factorin the SEC West race. Improving on defense has been a point of emphasis in practice, and the team has gotten bigger and more athletic with some newcomers, so that should help.
Q.
Amidst the mountain of negative publicity in the offseason, did anything good happen to the Razorbacks ?
A.
Yes. Michael Washington removed his name from theNBA Draft and returned for his senior season. It’s hard to measure how big that is for Arkansas. He should be one of the SEC’s top players.
Q.
How good can Courtney Fortson be?
A.
He can be real good, given his fearless driving ability andtenacity. A key for him will be playing more under control and cutting down on turnovers.
Q.
John Pelphrey has been hit with six technical fouls ineach of his first two seasons at Arkansas, so what’s the over/under for this year?
A.
We’ll predict Pelphrey will get seven technicals. He needs tooverachieve.
Q.
Will Arkansas beat Louisivlle or Kentucky this season?
A.
No. If the games were in Walton Arena, the Razorbackswould have a shot. But it’s tough to see them beating the Cardinals on a neutral floor in St. Louis or beating the Wildcats at Rupp Arena. There will be some Razorbacks suspended for the Louisville game, which will hurt them.
Q.
How many games will Arkansas win?
A.
We picked the Hogs to be 15-14 last year going intothe SEC Tournament, and we were only one game off, as they were 14-15. But we were way off in SEC play, picking 6-10 as they went 2-14. For this season, we’ll say Arkansas will be 16-15, including 5-11 in the SEC, going into the conference tournament.
Special, Pages 124 on 11/08/2009
Print Headline: Razorbacks FAQ
Comments on: Razorbacks FAQ
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Read our Terms of Use policy.
You must login to make comments.