COLUMBIA, Mo. -- John Pelphrey is covering the Southeastern Conference as a television analyst after spending years in the conference as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
"If you had told me a few months ago I'd be doing this and enjoying it so much, I probably wouldn't have believed it," Pelphrey said Tuesday night before working for the SEC Network's telecast of the Arkansas-Missouri game at Mizzou Arena. "It's not something I saw myself doing, but I really like it."
Pelphrey, who had a 68-59 record in four seasons as Arkansas' coach from the 2007-08 through 2010-11 seasons, was invited to audition for an analyst spot in the summer by a friend who had contacts with ESPN.
The audition went well enough that Pelphrey was offered a job with the SEC Network, which he accepted after it became clear he wouldn't be coaching this season.
Pelphrey, who played at Kentucky and also was the coach at South Alabama, had his second stint as a Florida assistant end when Gators Coach Billy Donovan left for the NBA to become coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"Certainly working on a telecast is a completely different perspective on college basketball than I've had before," Pelphrey said. "I've had the opportunity to learn from some great people who have been extremely helpful and encouraging.
"There are a lot of really talented people that put this thing together. If you're sitting at home watching on TV, you don't realize what all goes into it.
"I certainly have a new awareness and appreciation of what's involved."
Pelphrey has called games at Kentucky, Florida and Arkansas this season. He was back in Walton Arena analyzing the Razorbacks' 82-68 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday.
"I invested a lot being the Arkansas coach, but it's always fun and exciting to be back in Bud Walton Arena," Pelphrey said. "My family and I have a lot of lifelong relationships we developed there.
"The people of Arkansas have always treated me tremendously."
SEC Network play-by-play announcer Tom Hart worked with Pelphrey on Tuesday night.
"It's a growth process for anybody who hasn't done this before, and John is no exception, but he's working hard and doing really well," Hart said. "Guys like him that have lived basketball and have a passion for it, you can tell everything he says is 100 percent authentic.
"He brings an incredible amount of energy to the job. That's never a concern with John."
Pelphrey, who lives in Gainesville, Fla., said he misses coaching.
"I may keep doing this, who knows?" he said of working in television. "But I think I'd like to try coaching again at some point.
"It would need to be at the right place. A situation that I feel works for me."
Hot shots
Arkansas' 62.7 percent shooting from the field in its 94-61 victory over Missouri was the best for the Razorbacks in an SEC game, according to the UA.
The Razorbacks finished 37 of 59 from the field after starting 14 of 17 in the first 12 minutes.
Gray Razorbacks
Arkansas wore anthracite uniforms -- a grayish color -- at Missouri for the third consecutive season.
The Razorbacks are now 2-1 at Missouri in anthracite and 3-2 overall, including a victory at Vanderbilt and loss at California during the 2013-14 season.
Columbia Hog
Hayden Johnson, a fullback from Columbia Rock Bridge High School who has committed to sign with Arkansas, attended the game.
"Decked out in Arkansas gear," Johnson said in a text to wholehogsports.com. "So I'm ready to get criticized."
Managing to win
Arkansas' team managers beat their Missouri counterparts 69-62 in a pickup game Tuesday morning at Mizzou Arena.
Sports on 01/13/2016