Hog Calls

Razorbacks coach sizes up his options

Tennessee forward Willie Carmichael III, center, shoots a layup as Arkansas forward Moses Kingsley, right attempts to block during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Tennessee forward Willie Carmichael III, center, shoots a layup as Arkansas forward Moses Kingsley, right attempts to block during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

FAYETTEVILLE -- It doesn't take an Arkansas prophet to predict more of Moses.

Because without more Moses Kingsley stints refueling their energy, it seems Arkansas Razorbacks stars Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls could soon run out of gas.

They finished their last game "on fumes" Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said.

The Razorbacks have won three SEC games in six days against Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee. They have relied on Portis for 35, 37 and 32 minutes in those games and on Qualls for 38, 33 and 32 minutes.

That's a lot of minutes in any system, but especially at the frenetic, pressing pace that Anderson demands.

"They can't keep going at that pace, especially with the games we've had," Anderson said. "Those are quite a few minutes. So I'm sure they were going on fumes there at the end."

They will need some help. Anderson believes they will get it.

"I have the utmost confidence in the guys off our bench," Anderson said. "I think [freshman reserve guard Anton] Beard has shown he's ready to play. I thought Moses Kingsley really had a lot of pop in that [Tennessee] game the other night."

Beard and fellow reserve guards Manuale Watkins and Jabril Durham rotate to relieve starting guards Ky Madden and Anthlon Bell. They can sometimes relieve Qualls, a 6-6 swingman who is sometimes relieved by 6-8 forward Jacorey Williams, although Williams became too ill Tuesday to stomach his role against Tennessee.

Kingsley, the 6-10 sophomore, is the obvious alternate for the 6-11 Portis. He also can numerically help spell Qualls, Madden or forward Alandise Harris by playing in tandem with Portis.

Fans have yowled for a Portis-Kingsley tandem time since going into the first exhibition game Nov. 7. They were obliged with Portis and Kingsley starting together in the last nonconference game and three of the first four SEC games.

It did not prove the panacea some perceived.

However, during the second half last Tuesday against Tennessee, five of Kingsley's 13 total minutes were paired with Portis. Kingsley blocked two shots, and Portis blocked one.

"I thought a big change in the game was when Moses came in along with Bobby," Anderson said after the game. "I thought they did a good job of really defending the basket. Tennessee was attacking and laying us up, and we had some guys that weren't really doing a good job of defending the rim.

"Moses and Bobby and that group came out there and I thought they really sparked us during that stretch."

Watching film of the Tennessee game only enhanced Anderson's appreciation of the twin towers when he discussed them Thursday leading into today's game at Florida.

"I thought that period he [Kingsley] was in there with Bobby, it was probably a big difference in the game," Anderson said. "Tennessee getting to the rim, I didn't see much of that. We were playing a better brand of defense. Even on offense there was a good flow as well."

It marked by far the most promising Portis-Kingsley pairing.

"They played well," Anderson said. "They can play better, but they played well."

Sports on 01/31/2015

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