Tip-Off Time ‘09
November 11, 2009 at 7:35am by TipsterHog
Filed under Arkansas Razorbacks, Basketball, SEC
Question: How do you make season predictions for a Razorback team when you don’t even know who will be playing for them?
Answer: The same as we always do — just look at the schedule and then take an educated wild ass shot in the dark.
In the wake of yesterday’s suspensions, Hog fans are at the point where they just hope there will be enough Razorback basketball players to tip-off the 2009-10 season against Alcorn State on Friday night in Bud Walton Arena.
It’s a difficult and embarrassing situation that John Pelphrey and his team now find themselves in. But there will be plenty of time to talk about that in the coming weeks and months.
For now, just like we did last year before basketball season, here are our predictions for both the Razorbacks and the rest of the SEC.
| Arkansas | HogBaller | TipsterHog | Sunshine | HogBlogger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 17-14 | 15-16 | 15-16 | 15-16 |
| Conference Record | 6-10 | 6-10 | 5-11 | 6-10 |
| Hogs’ Most Valuable Player | Mike Washington | Mike Washington | Mike Washington | Mike Washington |
| Advance to Tournament | NIT | No | No | No |
| Rotnei Clarke Breaks Single Season 3-Point Record (102, Scotty Thurman, 1995) | No | No | Yes | No |
Uh…yeah. Not exactly a rosy scenario that we’re predicting. Having said that, it doesn’t take much time watching this team to see who the best and most valuable player will be this season. As for Rotnei Clarke, he finished with 83 three-pointers last season. Can he make 20+ more this year?
| SEC West | HogBaller | TipsterHog | Sunshine | HogBlogger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | Mississippi State | Mississippi State |
| 2. | Ole Miss | Ole Miss | Ole Miss | Ole Miss |
| 3. | LSU | Alabama | Alabama | Alabama |
| 4. | Alabama | LSU | LSU | Arkansas |
| 5. | Arkansas | Arkansas | Arkansas | LSU |
| 6. | Auburn | Auburn | Auburn | Auburn |
Overall, the SEC West is not in the same class as the Eastern Division. Shuffle the position of any of the bottom four teams and you might end up being right. It’s very disappointing to think that the Hogs can’t be more competitive in this division.
| SEC East | HogBaller | TipsterHog | Sunshine | HogBlogger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kentucky | Kentucky | Tennessee | Kentucky |
| 2. | Tennessee | Tennessee | Kentucky | Tennessee |
| 3. | South Carolina | South Carolina | Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt |
| 4. | Vanderbilt | Florida | South Carolina | Florida |
| 5. | Florida | Vanderbilt | Florida | South Carolina |
| 6. | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia |
For a team that finished 8-8 in conference and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament last season, we all sure seem to think that Kentucky is back. But with a new big-time coach reeling in a big-time recruiting class, it appears the Wildcats are poised to reign supreme yet again.
| SEC | HogBaller | TipsterHog | Sunshine | HogBlogger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season Champion | Kentucky | Kentucky | Mississippi State | Mississippi State |
| Player of The Year | Jarvis Varnado | Patrick Patterson | Devan Downey | Jarvis Varnado |
| Coach of the Year | John Calipari | John Calipari | Rick Stansbury | Kevin Stallings |
So that’s what we think. What are your predictions for this year? Will the Hogs be better than expected or will they play another season to forget?
Wow, you guys are making me sad! What a pitiful outlook. Let me say that we look to be stronger inside than last year. Powell will be better than Sanchez. Fortson? Was he more positive or more negative last year? Lots of unforced errors and crazy shots combined with some spectacular play——-at times. I admit to having cardinal eyeshades on, but I will be surprised if we do not win 20-22 games and break even or better in the SEC.
T-towner, why are we making you sad??? We’re predicting a 150-200% improvement in our conference victory total.
One thing we really didn’t touch on. The conference as a whole was pretty young last year. Most teams in the SEC should see improved play this season. With 6 new, fresh faces, how much are we going to improve? Stay tuned.
Dudley Do-Right and Hell’s Angels. What a fine mess. How can a guy that white bread recruit thugs? I don’t get it.
I think you guys are optimistic with 6 conference wins. Sunshine is closer. I fear 4.
How very pathetic. It’s a deliberate strategy: lower expectations so that even when you lose you can claim some sort of moral victory. You can also play wide open, have fun, even be fun to watch, while sneaking up on people and preparing for the future. Another upside, silver-lining kind of thing: no player should be complaining about lack of PT. Lack of breath, maybe, but not PT. Seasoning, it’s called.
And don’t forget: it’s much more fun to write about what’s wrong with the team, the players and coaches, when things are going badly. Personally I kinda like Fortson’s sense of humor about the situation, regardless of how politically incorrect it may seem to some. Why so dour and glum, prithee? There’s some juicy stuff to comment on with this basketball team. Don’t squander the opportunity. It should be a fun season for bloggers. Not as much fun as the Houston Nutt endgame, perhaps, but lively nonetheless.
The bloggers have almost single-handedly righted the ship of the football Hogs. Pelphrey’s team is sure to get the same care and consideration, once the Cotton Bowl trophy resides securely in Fayetteville. By the end of the season the bloggers will have whipped the Hogs into a team nobody wants to play (my prediction). [Or be seen with, possibly.]
I am wondering how Rasputin on Arkansas Expats is calling the season. He’s the one whose style of prognostication most impresses me, even if his accent is a little off betimes. Maybe you guys have a reputation for accuracy that you need to uphold, but not me. It costs no more to be an optimist. I’m going with T-towner: 20-22 wins, at least, counting post-season, a win or two in the NIT, in Bud Walton, of course. Conference wins: a bunch.
Player of the Year? Mike Washington.
Coach of the Year? Razorbloggers