I think the SEC tourney will tell you alot about the West – I personally don't think the west is that bad; there have been some very close games in the bottom half of the conference that could have gone either way.

But if it's the players that aren't listening to what's being coached, then how long do you wait until he gets the players that WILL listen?

What could be telling are the quotes issued by Pel and Clarke after yesterday's game. Things might be a bit shakier than we think on the sidelines.

Overall, 7 wins in the SEC is MUCH better than 2. The problem, only one of those wins are against a team with a winning record in the SEC. Progress? Sure. But, Soupd, you have to agree that our competition in the West this season is awful. Being in the top 3 of the West isn't saying much when you can't beat the East's 4th best at home. We have quite a way to go with our progress — and two real seasons with Pel hasn't been much to write home about.

I still have faith that he can do some good for Arkansas, but he needs to make me believe. When he says things like he did yesterday, well, that doesn't scream confidence to me.

You may get your wish in a few years, but again I say, in the short term no established or up and coming coach will touch Arkansas.

Just win Baby! That's the big picture, always has been, always will be.

The Razorback program has been in a decline for many years, starting when Nolan left disgracefully. The handling of Heath, who was a good coach, was horrible. No coach would touch Arkansas, hence the Altman fiasco. After that, we were lucky to get anyone to come to Arkansas, much less a capable coach.

I think that the program bottomed out last year. We are on the road back, having won 7 games and poised for 2nd in the West. The program and the administration have to show some stability in the program if we are to be able to be a contender – that will draw recruits and big coaching opportunities.

I've posted this before, but it's easy for schools competing with the Hogs for recruits to bad mouth Arkansas and turn good players heads the other way. With the rise of Arkansas football and the positive momentum in the SEC this year, we are gaining credibility again. Would I like it to happen faster? Sure, but you have to be realistic. You can't turn a beaten down, depleted program in two or 3 years.

I truly hope at some point the fans start looking at the big picture and stop beating down the program at any opportunity. You know, recruits read message boards and blogs – they don't want to go to a school with a cranky and fickle fan base.

I suggest looking at the big picture and be patient rather than drastic reactions to low points.

I don't believe you can say I jump on and off the bandwagon. Yes, I have given the hogs credit for playing well three times this year. I hoped to see something stick that might give a little hope. But, I really havn't seen any coaching in two years. And, you haven't either. If you want to believe, fine. Stan was a better coach. But he left a mess so bad that it sent a qualified coach running. Pelphry? well I don't know what to make of this mess. It ain't goin' nowhere. There must be some reason to ignore that for another year or two. But we will never know what it is.

Easy wins? You call Miss St and Miss easy? 7 wins in the SEC is an improvement. Some would say the league was more down last year when we won 2 games.

Second place in the SEC West is a good thing – and an improvement. Should we have won some games we lost? Sure – but THAT HAPPENS TO EVERY TEAM, EVERY YEAR.

I agree some adjustments should have been made against LSU – on Defense. But can you blame Pelphrey for the kids not hitting shots and throwing the ball away so many times? I think that game is as much on the players as it is on Pelphrey. A coach can have a game plan, but if kids don't execute they don't execute. It was clear to me that Pelphrey's strategy was to hit some 3's to loosen the zone, then pound it in to Powell. Well, the kids couldn't hit any outside shots – is that Pelphrey's fault?

These kids are still young, and Pelphrey has coached them to 7 wins in the SEC. It's ridiculous to beleive that these kids have won on their own without any coaching. If you've ever played ball, you know you just can't get a group of kids together, throw them out on the court and expect to win. Even if they have more talent…well, unless you're Kentucky this year.

Just have some patience dude. Don't throw away the future of the program based on one or two losses – look at the big picture. Who you gonna get besides Pelphrey? I've got news for you..Mike Anderson ain't touching Arkansas with a ten foot pole – nobody will. Maybe after 2 more years and the program gets stable – and we graduate some seniors so we don't lose scholarships.

The Truth:

Pelphry has not coached this team all year. I don't know what Long said to him in September after the rape charges but, it took the starch out of him, every bit. Taking Fortson for the non-conference may have pissed him off. I have no idea. But he has phoned it in. He has shown no character, or fire, or passion for the entire season. They won the easy non-conference games and went on a five game win streak in conference based almost exclusively on Fortsom taking over the emotional leadership of this team. But, beyond that, nothing. There have been three games this year out of 30 that this team has looked like an SEC basketball team. They have coached themselves.

It has been sad to watch. No one wants to accept it. We want to see something of value here, not judge or pre-judge. But, as sure as his team has quit on him, he quit on his team, months ago.

I hate it.

One of the great things about the interview over on Arkansas Expats, besides reminding you of better days, was that it also told a story of when 5 of the top 15 rated basketball players in America came from within Arkansas or driving distance thereof. The west is down because the SEC is not producing players the way it has in a while. I'm sure it some sort of cycle that will come back around. Even Nolan had to have players.

But, Mike could take us back to where we want to go. I have no doubt about that. We have the facilities, the money, the fan support that is needed for a top 25 program. All we need is a committment and a coach.

I guess where I have finally arrived on my Hog Basketball Journey this year is acceptance. I accept that we are not a premier program, and we have decided that we are going to give Pelphrey at least 3 more years. I personally don't believe he has what it takes, but I don't write his check, so I can't do anything about it. In my mind, for the next 5 years at least, we are going to be "Georgia Basketball" – they win a few games every year – may even go on a "5 Game Winning Streak" here and there, but nobody really circles the Georgia game on the calendar. We are just another SEC conference game – one most other teams expect to win. We are going to come close to another Western Division lead – might win a game or two in the SEC tournament – maybe even luck out a tournament win and get to the big dance. But we are no Kentucky. For the next 5 years at least.

Pelphrey is not a good coach. He isn't an Xs and Os guy, and he cannot get his guys to play as a good team to win. These are his guys – and they were horrible against LSU. We aren't going to risk firing him and losing these "star recruits" we have coming in. I guess we can't get a better coach. Hopefully in a few years when we finally part ways with Opie there will be a new up and comer looking to make a name for himself that will work out better. If we won't go get Mike, that is our best hope.

I like John, but I just don't think it's a good fit. I would rather have someone busting those boys butts – running, pressing, 40 minutes. 18 points at half? A coach should be able to call a time out and fix things. Coaches earn their millions adjusting at half time and coaching these boys to victory.

I still would rather cut bait today and throw a pile of money at Anderson. But it's not going to happen.

Acceptance. It's better than frustration. It's better than apathy. Getting to the NIT is a goal. .500 is a goal. I bet we can beat Georgia next year, it'll be a battle of mediocrity.

I like Mike.

You and I are on the same page. I remember reading some quotes by in-coming recruits Mardracus Wade and Ricky Scott, that suggested either Courtney wouldn't be here or possibly wouldn't be here next season.

I think that probably had more to do with him getting suspended/taking some time off, more than anything else.

Either way, I don't think it'll have any bearing on the decision those recruits made to sign with the UofA, if Courtney decides to stay.

Even if he stays one more year, there's a good chance he won't stay for his Sr. season, and Marcus Britt will be graduating as well.

OBH,

I'm guessing the resoning behind CJP not playing Nobles, had something to do with the Hogs playing catch up from way behind almost the entire ballgame.

He's normally used to give C.F. a breather in competitive ballgames, in which we're at least close or have a lead.

Putting a True Freshmen in the game, with that kind of pressure to catch up on the road, may have only made things evenworse.

I think CJP played the kids who he thought gave the team it's best opportunity to stay in the game.

At least that's the best I can come up with anyway.

As far as offense goes, it's a little easier to digest what went wrong. I think Washington being out helped LSU have an easy time with us in the zone. Having Mike as another option would have helped a great deal. Their strategy was to stop Powell, pack the middle so Fortson couldn't drive, and have us beat them with the mid range jumper or 3. Unfortunately we couldn't hit anything, so the strategy worked. Good game plan for LSU and not the right time to have a cold game from the outside.

I wouldn't write off the season yet. A good showing in the tourney will get us in the NIT. Being the second place team in the West is not a bad thing – I don't care if the league is down or not. It's difficult to say that it's down given the parity this year. I think we won't truly know how competitive the league is until the tourney starts.

Hopefully the kids have had their slice of humble pie and get back to work like they did after the Kentucky game. I'm still proud of this team – they've won more SEC games than any other Hog team has in a while and there are a lot of positives about this club.

I disagree that Fortson will be gone this year. He needs to be the star of the SEC to have any shot at the next level. His off season issues and the fact that Wall, Cousins, and Downey are getting all the press hurts him. Next year the SEC could be his and Powell's league. I think he's in for at least one more year, hopefully 2 – for our graduation rate's sake we need some seniors to finish.

And if all else fails….. take joy in the fact that you are not an OLE PISS REBELS fan.