Man Oh Man

by Stephen Expat on Feb 7, 2009 4:57 PM CST in Arkansas Razorback Basketball

This is getting tough to watch. You have to wonder if this is the kind of defeat that will break the team's spirit. Perhaps that is a knee-jerk and melodramatic statement, but that was one tough loss.

Considering that we basically have no bench and that the game was on the road (and that Mississippi State apparently never misses a three-point shot), it shouldn't be all that surprising that the second half unfolded the way it did. Even with a 15-point halftime lead courtesy of a picture-perfect first half, I was far from certain that the Hogs had this one in the bag.

I was hoping that the Razorbacks could at least keep their lead around 15 points for the first five minutes or so of the second half. When the Bulldogs came charging back so quickly, I quickly got that sinking feeling.

I certainly can't complain about their effort. The obvious fatigue with which the Hogs - Fortson in particular - played down the stretch was testimony to how hard they competed. They simply don't have enough talent in the frontcourt or enough size in the backcourt - or even enough warm bodies to make it through a fast-paced game. We're just going to have to take our lumps this year.

Our good friend Jethro wrote the other day that one of the good things about young players is that they bounce back quickly. From a psychological perspective, hopefully that will be the case here. Despite the fact that they will almost certainly wind up with a ghoulish conference record, there is enough there, there to snag an unexpected victory or two (or maybe even three) down the stretch.

But I can't help but worry that today's loss is one that will linger.

Box score

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

well you can’t blame me for this one. i woke up sick this morning and decided against the two hour drive. guess my body was forewarning me.

by thebeave on Feb 7, 2009 6:33 PM CST reply actions

And I thought I was going to need therapy from football season.

by Drew on Feb 7, 2009 9:01 PM CST reply actions

Even when we are losing, its still better to watch this Pelphrey coached team than a Stan Heath team. I at least still watch the games coming up now, than with the past Heath teams.

by hog fan in Memphis on Feb 8, 2009 12:26 AM CST reply actions

I do agree with one point of the comment made by Hog Fan in Memphis I do not wish to watch any teams which are coach by Stan Heath. But I’m mad as “heck” that Coach Pelphrey and his team are the laughing stock of the SEC, I thought when they hired Coach Pelphrey that he would be just as good as coach as Nolan or Eddie had been in the past, since he was an outstanding player at Kentucky. Now I not so sure, because right now his team and him are an embarrassment to the fans of Arkansas. His team so far has done nothing in SEC play to deserve respect from the Arkansas’ fans.

by Disappoint fan on Feb 8, 2009 5:03 PM CST reply actions

This is how bad things are right now. Auburn and LSU in football and Alabama in basketball. If the Hogs don’t win another basketball game, those will be the only teams that the two major teams beat this year in SEC play. 3-21 in conference play for 2008-09. Would there be a year since we joined the SEC worse than that? Off the top of my head, I can’t think of one.

Well, here’s hoping for a rip roaring, home run producing, baseball season in the SEC for the Hogs. Dave Van Horn, our lonely eyes turn to you!

by KevinHog on Feb 9, 2009 8:37 AM CST reply actions

Oh, I forgot the basketball tournament! 3-24 is the worse case scenario right now. But I think we avoid it with a few more wins here and there in a blind hog finds an acorn every once and awhile scenario. One of those wins being against Kentucky. Why Kentucky? Because like OU and TX we have no business beating them.

by KevinHog on Feb 9, 2009 8:53 AM CST reply actions