There once was a time when I felt like I lived or died based on how
the Razorbacks played. When they lost, I ached. I was in a foul mood
and my day was totally ruined. When they won, everything was right
in the world. I was on top of Mount Everest. That was partly due to
the passions of youth I suppose, but I managed to hang on to it to
some degree as those days of youth were lost in the past. Now with
more years behind me than I have before me, it seems I now find myself
in unknown surroundings. My passions have been washed completely
away with the unpredictable and confusing nature of the Razorback teams
for the last decade overall. Some nights they come out and play balls to
the wall like their hair is on fire while other times they look to just be going
through the motions. I just do not understand. The one thing I do know
for sure, my passion is dead. I did not feel a single twinge when I changed
the channel half way through the game to watch something else. No
mood altering feelings… just nothing. I am reminded of a quote from a
Rocky movie when Ivan Drago had really beaten down Apollo Creed.
He said something to the effect… “If he dies… he dies.” Total apathy.
Thats where I find myself with the state of Razorback Basketball. Thats
a real shame too, because its very hard to realize that about something
you’ve spent so many years believing so strongly about.
I started Razorback hoops in the VanEman era, tried to follow them in late 70’s while living up North, where I had trouble getting results in the newspaper. So, you might imagine how much I looked forward to the SEC Network/ESPN coverage of Hog basketball. Unfortunately, too often I find myself wishing for the old days. Tonight’s fiasco was hard to watch.
I typically try to be an optimist, but the game tonight pointed out issues ( unfortunately, not isolated to this year’s Hogs) that are destined to plague this team and possibly future teams as well. Since Mike’s teams have had these issues for many years, I don’t see them changing easily.
I’ve been aware of Arkansas basketball since the days of Duddy Waller. You couldn’t really follow them in those days, and besides, why would you want to? Those were dark days, then suddenly the Sutton and Richardson years, and nothing else mattered. I thought we were headed back to that. I really did. Reality check. I’m currently staying in an air bnb that has no TV. Tonight I give thanks for that. Thank you Lord for sparing me such a dung pile of a performance!
Keith, I feel your pain. I was at the game. I thought Anderson had turned the corner but you are totally correct. His teams have been fundamentally thawed since he’s been here. To me, a well coached fundamentally sound team will beat us 80% of the time. Sorry to say that but what I watched was some street ball with no defense. I know he’s a lot better coach than what he put on the floor tonight and this a senior laden team with no rudder.
Your theory is fundamentally flawed considering in the previous 3 years he’s been to 2 SEC championship games and has the second best SEC winning percentage only behind Coach Cal. If CMA teams are fundamentally flawed then so is every other team in the SEC not named Kentucky. I get people are not happy with the loss tonight, I’m not either, but you would have thought after last year when the same posters came out of hiding spewing non-sense after the bad stretch last year, you would have learned your lesson. It’s a 31 game season, not a 3 game season. Still a lot of basketball left to play.
And FYI, every team in college basketball that’s not a top 5 caliber team goes through bad stretches. TAM is having one now, Florida had one earlier in the year, Alabama has had a couple bad stretches. And these were pre-season top 25 teams with first round NBA talent on them. But by all means continue to act as if Coach Anderson is the only coach in the country that losses a game and tell everybody he gets out coached 80% of the time and his teams don’t practice fundamentals. Maybe somebody that doesn’t watch any other college basketball besides Arkansas will believe that.
Your theory is fundamentally flawed considering in the previous 3 years he’s been to 2 SEC championship games and has the second best SEC winning percentage only behind Coach Cal. If CMA teams are fundamentally flawed then so is every other team in the SEC not named Kentucky. I get people are not happy with the loss tonight, I’m not either, but you would have thought after last year when the same posters came out of hiding spewing non-sense after the bad stretch last year, you would have learned your lesson. It’s a 31 game season, not a 3 game season. Still a lot of basketball left to play.
And FYI, every team in college basketball that’s not a top 5 caliber team goes through bad stretches. TAM is having one now, Florida had one earlier in the year, Alabama has had a couple bad stretches. And these were pre-season top 25 teams with first round NBA talent on them. But by all means continue to act as if Coach Anderson is the only coach in the country that losses a game and tell everybody he gets out coached 80% of the time and his teams don’t practice fundamentals. Maybe somebody that doesn’t watch any other college basketball besides Arkansas will believe that.
[/quote]I am not sure the concerns raised are as fundamentally flawed as you say. You are referencing the slump in terms of wins and losses and I am not sure that either the poster you responded to or I are addressing that. I am optimistic that there will be more wins, so it is not about that to me. My concern is that the offensive style and defensive style are both very high risk in my opinion. We can look very good when clicking, but when we are off, we are really off. The wide swings in performance are indicators to some, of something more than just the ups and downs that are typical in a season.
We are not built offensively to overcome poor shooting nights from the outside. Not only are we vulnerable when off on the shooting, the guys don’t seem naturally inclined to change the approach. With the change in officiating and possibly other factors, our gambling defense and incessant switching and double teams give up way too many easy shots. I think a little more fundamental man to man, occasional zones when we have a unattractive matchups (especially at guard, like last night) would make us tougher on the defensive end. Mike may need a few more players to press, so I understand our moving away from this. I am optimistic that a couple of the new kids next year will give us a little more inside scoring, which should help with the dependence on the outside game, and a true distributor at guard could change the look of the offense as well.
I still believe we can regain some of our stature in basketball, but if we try to be the Hogs of '94, the game, officiating, etc., have changed so I am not sure this is reasonable.
Why after every loss guys always go with the phrases “Undisciplined” “Gambling Defense” “No Fundamentals” etc. It’s the same stuff people use to say about Nolan. Don’t you guys get tired of repeating those phrases that have been debunked and proven wrong OVER AND OVER again. Just because you keep saying it doesn’t make it true. You don’t win 65% of your games and NEVER have a losing season by being undisciplined and just gambling. If it’s that easy, some of you guys need to get into coaching and make some easy money.
And like I like I was saying in my earlier post, I don’t know how much college basketball the rest of you guys watch, but EVERY team has it’s ups and downs and look bad at times. I don’t care what style of basketball you play, you don’t make shots, you don’t look good. Last night we were at one point 1-11 on 3 pointers and most of those were open shots. CJ Jones had 3 completely wide open 3s that didn’t even hit the rim. He makes those like he normally does when the game was still manageable we’re having a different discussion here.
Blu… i applaud you for keeping the faith. Seems like most of the other guys that like to correct other posters don’t come out as much after losses like this. I’m holding out hope Mike can right the ship. It is very concerning the current trend we are on. This team seems more fragile than last year, if it’s going bad, it’s going real bad!
Win or lose I try to keep an open mind and look at the big picture. Trust me, I’m frustrated just like everyone else. That loss had me in a bad mood all last night lol. It definitely hurt. But, after seeing the updated RPI it’s not all doom and gloom like people are making it out to be right now. We’re in a good position, we just have to correct a few things, and from everything CMA has done in the past I have no doubt he’ll get it corrected.
I have been following since the mid-70’s . I went to the first pep rally when Sutton,came and talked to the students to draw interest. I like Mike but I have to admit it sure is getting old seeing the same thing year in and year out. I SURE hope he can turn it around.
Why after every loss guys always go with the phrases “Undisciplined” “Gambling Defense” “No Fundamentals” etc. It’s the same stuff people use to say about Nolan. Don’t you guys get tired of repeating those phrases that have been debunked and proven wrong OVER AND OVER again. Just because you keep saying it doesn’t make it true. You don’t win 65% of your games and NEVER have a losing season by being undisciplined and just gambling. If it’s that easy, some of you guys need to get into coaching and make some easy money.
And like I like I was saying in my earlier post, I don’t know how much college basketball the rest of you guys watch, but EVERY team has it’s ups and downs and look bad at times. I don’t care what style of basketball you play, you don’t make shots, you don’t look good. Last night we were at one point 1-11 on 3 pointers and most of those were open shots. CJ Jones had 3 completely wide open 3s that didn’t even hit the rim. He makes those like he normally does when the game was still manageable we’re having a different discussion here.
[/quote]Of the quoted words you listed, my post only mentioned gambling style, I’m afraid I know the unsaid inference you are making and if so, this is unfounded. In discussing what one sees as concerns, it does not mean one has an agenda, much less a lack of support for Coach Anderson.
Blu, I agree with Keith and yes I watch the college game. A real long time ago, I actually was a walk on freshman basketball player for the Razorbacks. Yes, I’m frustrated at the performance from a senior laden team last night. I was there and saw the worst half of a basketball by a Razorback team in very long time. You don’t expect that from experienced seniors. The dibble penetration by what I consider a little above guards against our defense as been a problem for awhile. The ineffective traps that leave good shooters wide open. The standing around on offense and the jacking up of shots when no one is ready for the offensive rebound. I could say more but it will just make me more frustrated. Can Coach Anderson make corrections… certainly, but he shouldn’t have to do that with a senior laden basketball team. Yes, he is a good coach, but unless he actually can get this team motivated and return to the team that beat Oklahoma, we are in for a long season.
The problems is that all of the players do not play defense.
If you watch the guards out front they will lay back as the ball goes to the side. Their man will move and they will not even know it.
Then wide open 3.
Or they STILL switch as poor as any team I have ever seen.
Portis, Mosley and garford will switch to the smaller man and not try to swap back at all.
Then you have created 2 mismatches.
Beard if you watch him is as poor as a def player that they have.
Apathy here is a form of defense against the pain. We try to detach ourselves from it, while in true sense we are not. These days, what I write is about what I see on the floor, not my thoughts and feelings. If I did, I might be ruffling some feathers. Meantime we suffer and let it take its course.