Talk about answering the bell. The Razorbacks just completely dismantled Mississippi State at Bud Walton Arena last night, 78-58. 22 points and five three-pointers from Sonny Weems led the way, with Patrick Beverley chipping in 19 points and 10 boards, another double-double. The win pulled Arkansas within one game of Mississippi State in the SEC West race.
This was the third straight win for the Hogs against the Bulldogs dating back to last year. On Saturday Arkansas plays host to Florida while MSU is home for Tennessee, so there's definitely a chance we could be all knotted up by the end of business on Saturday.
The absence of Charles Thomas didn't prove nearly as important as some thought it would going in, thanks largely to Mike Washington and Vincent Hunter filling the void. And UA's defense was tremendous, forcing 22 turnovers by the Bulldogs against just 5 assists.
Arkansas fans can only hope for more of the same intensity and effort in 48 hours.
-JAB
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
On Hype, Heart and Heath
Hype
Of all the New England Patriots' tremendous accomplishments this year, the biggest of 'em all might just be the way in which they've handled the heavy weight of their own success all season long. Being undefeated, the art of staying perfect through a full nineteen games in today's NFL, is no easy thing to achieve, let alone discuss. But the host of Patriots have nonetheless stepped to the microphone and delivered the appropriate, though abbreviated, remarks at every step of the turn.
And now we come to the final hurdle, the Super Bowl. It's the one solitary game that stands between New England's quest for football perfection and the biggest last act letdown since the Seinfeld finale.
Surely, most didn't expect Eli to be the only Manning left standing at this point. But here he is, nonetheless smack in front of everyone on the biggest stage of them all. Eli's New York Giants listed as twelve point underdogs, which sounds just about right.
So the waiting commences. A needless bye week for the hype machine to rev up all over again before Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Randy Moss lead their final charge in Arizona, the site of Super Bowl XLII.
For New England and its battle with history, just getting here in one piece, physically and mentally, is already impressive enough. But it won't mean anything if they can't seal the deal.
All anyone will remember is that they lost the last game.
Heart
Arkansas's men's basketball team just doesn't seem to have the heart this year it, does it? For all the experience, all the size, all the depth that this team has, a 2-2 mark in the SEC just ain't gonna cut it. Losses to South Carolina and Georgia (two not very good teams) in back-to-back games signified a troubling trend, with bad old habits---turnovers, soft defense, poor shot selection---springing up all over again.
Is it too late to turn this car around? Of course not. In each of the last two years, the Razorbacks have sputtered in the parking lot for the first two months, only to turn it around enough on the highways of late-February and early March to make the NCAA Tournament both times.
So the question of whether it can be done is already answered. But will it be? If I had that piece of information, I'd be worth a lot more money than I am. Certainly seniors Charles Thomas, Steven Hill and Gary Ervin need to lift their games higher. But Sonny Weems and Patrick Beverley need to bring more consistent efforts as well.
A win tomorrow night in Baton Rouge against LSU would be a start. But a homestand following against Mississipi State, Florida and Ole Miss will be far more telling.
Topsy-turvy, a roller-coaster all the way through.
Such is the state of recent winter hoops for Razorback fans.
Heath
10 Things I Hate About You is a really underrated movie. Brokeback Mountain is definitely overrated, but was still important for its social overtones.
The saddest thing of all is that you feel like Heath Ledger's best work was still in front of him.
Several days removed, and the Oscar-nominated actor's death continues to bother me. Maybe it's because of our proximity in age, I don't know. But whether or not the 28-year-old Aussie's drug overdose was intentional, the clear fact is that it revealed a prescription abuse problem that many struggle with in life, and miraculously, lots overcome.
I think what upsets me the most is that Ledger doesn't appear to have confided in anyone about his struggles. Police reports say six different prescription medications were found in the actor's New York city residence, for the treatment of everything from anxiety and stress to sleeplessness and pain. Supposedly, they were given to Ledger by different doctors in Europe, which makes it awful hard figuring he'd been honest with any of them about what he was actually taking.
Maybe someone could have intervened and helped the man figure some stuff out. A girlfriend, a family member, an agent?
Just a friendly voice who could have told Heath that all the money and fame he'd already earned could at least buy him some obviously-needed time off---at a rehab center, on a vacation trip, whatever. Perhaps he'd have been able to get his daily regimen in order. Perhaps not. But at least someone could feel that they tried.
Maybe somebody did. We'll probably never know.
As is when anyone so young passes, famous or not, it just feels like an absolute shame...
-JAB
Of all the New England Patriots' tremendous accomplishments this year, the biggest of 'em all might just be the way in which they've handled the heavy weight of their own success all season long. Being undefeated, the art of staying perfect through a full nineteen games in today's NFL, is no easy thing to achieve, let alone discuss. But the host of Patriots have nonetheless stepped to the microphone and delivered the appropriate, though abbreviated, remarks at every step of the turn.
And now we come to the final hurdle, the Super Bowl. It's the one solitary game that stands between New England's quest for football perfection and the biggest last act letdown since the Seinfeld finale.
Surely, most didn't expect Eli to be the only Manning left standing at this point. But here he is, nonetheless smack in front of everyone on the biggest stage of them all. Eli's New York Giants listed as twelve point underdogs, which sounds just about right.
So the waiting commences. A needless bye week for the hype machine to rev up all over again before Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Randy Moss lead their final charge in Arizona, the site of Super Bowl XLII.
For New England and its battle with history, just getting here in one piece, physically and mentally, is already impressive enough. But it won't mean anything if they can't seal the deal.
All anyone will remember is that they lost the last game.
Heart
Arkansas's men's basketball team just doesn't seem to have the heart this year it, does it? For all the experience, all the size, all the depth that this team has, a 2-2 mark in the SEC just ain't gonna cut it. Losses to South Carolina and Georgia (two not very good teams) in back-to-back games signified a troubling trend, with bad old habits---turnovers, soft defense, poor shot selection---springing up all over again.
Is it too late to turn this car around? Of course not. In each of the last two years, the Razorbacks have sputtered in the parking lot for the first two months, only to turn it around enough on the highways of late-February and early March to make the NCAA Tournament both times.
So the question of whether it can be done is already answered. But will it be? If I had that piece of information, I'd be worth a lot more money than I am. Certainly seniors Charles Thomas, Steven Hill and Gary Ervin need to lift their games higher. But Sonny Weems and Patrick Beverley need to bring more consistent efforts as well.
A win tomorrow night in Baton Rouge against LSU would be a start. But a homestand following against Mississipi State, Florida and Ole Miss will be far more telling.
Topsy-turvy, a roller-coaster all the way through.
Such is the state of recent winter hoops for Razorback fans.
Heath
10 Things I Hate About You is a really underrated movie. Brokeback Mountain is definitely overrated, but was still important for its social overtones.
The saddest thing of all is that you feel like Heath Ledger's best work was still in front of him.
Several days removed, and the Oscar-nominated actor's death continues to bother me. Maybe it's because of our proximity in age, I don't know. But whether or not the 28-year-old Aussie's drug overdose was intentional, the clear fact is that it revealed a prescription abuse problem that many struggle with in life, and miraculously, lots overcome.
I think what upsets me the most is that Ledger doesn't appear to have confided in anyone about his struggles. Police reports say six different prescription medications were found in the actor's New York city residence, for the treatment of everything from anxiety and stress to sleeplessness and pain. Supposedly, they were given to Ledger by different doctors in Europe, which makes it awful hard figuring he'd been honest with any of them about what he was actually taking.
Maybe someone could have intervened and helped the man figure some stuff out. A girlfriend, a family member, an agent?
Just a friendly voice who could have told Heath that all the money and fame he'd already earned could at least buy him some obviously-needed time off---at a rehab center, on a vacation trip, whatever. Perhaps he'd have been able to get his daily regimen in order. Perhaps not. But at least someone could feel that they tried.
Maybe somebody did. We'll probably never know.
As is when anyone so young passes, famous or not, it just feels like an absolute shame...
-JAB
Friday, January 18, 2008
Conference Championship Sunday
If things went according to form in Saturday's divisional round, Sunday was everything but the norm. Down went home fielders Indianapolis and Dallas, at the hands of the Bolts and Jints respectively.
So the Final Four are set: San Diego at New England for the AFC Championship and New York at Green Bay for the NFC Title. Of the four teams, Green Bay has to be the biggest surprise of them all, at least based on how the Pack were viewed nationally heading into the year. But the Giants are an unquestioned stunner as well, especially given myriad injuries to a team that could ill afford them.
But here we are, and away we go with our conference championship predictions.
AFC, up first:
San Diego at New England. I like the Patriots to win, 34-24. But the Bolts look like a solid pick against the line given the spread of 13.5.
NFC, number two:
New York at Green Bay. I like the Packers in a rout, 38-21. Too much Favre and Grant in the icy cold conditions of Lambeau Field, the spread of 7.5 points seems too small to me as well.
-JAB
So the Final Four are set: San Diego at New England for the AFC Championship and New York at Green Bay for the NFC Title. Of the four teams, Green Bay has to be the biggest surprise of them all, at least based on how the Pack were viewed nationally heading into the year. But the Giants are an unquestioned stunner as well, especially given myriad injuries to a team that could ill afford them.
But here we are, and away we go with our conference championship predictions.
AFC, up first:
San Diego at New England. I like the Patriots to win, 34-24. But the Bolts look like a solid pick against the line given the spread of 13.5.
NFC, number two:
New York at Green Bay. I like the Packers in a rout, 38-21. Too much Favre and Grant in the icy cold conditions of Lambeau Field, the spread of 7.5 points seems too small to me as well.
-JAB
Thursday, January 10, 2008
NFL Down to Elite Eight: Josh's Weekend Breakdown
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
Saturday Game #1: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers
A rematch of a tight playoff game from 2005. Who can forget the now famous overtime coin toss where Matt Hasselbeck exclaimed, "We're taking the football and we're going to score!" Of course, that blew up in his face just minutes later when Al Harris intercepted an out route and took it to the house for the win. What's in store this time around? Two very good defenses, both underrated. Mike Holmgren's Seahawks are anchored by linebackers Julian Peterson and Losi Tatapu. DE Patrick Kerney and CB Marcus Trufant have had really good years as well. For Green Bay, it's LBs Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk in the middle of the field, with a strong pass rush up front and a solid secondary to boot.
So who do I like? Well, it's going to be barely over 20 degrees at Lambeau Field for kickoff, so clearly the weather will be a factor. Brett Favre has been down this road countless times before, so you've got to like him over Matt Hasselbeck at the quarterback position. If Ryan Grant can chew up some ground yardage for highly talented coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay should have enough in the tank to get the win, especially coming off a first-round bye.
-Green Bay over Seattle, 31-21
Saturday Game #2: Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots
Sunday Game #1: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts
This should prove the most competitive of all four games. San Diego won at Indianapolis earlier this year, forcing Peyton Manning into many bad decisions (he threw a career-high six INTs in the game). This time around, in Marvin Harrison, Peyton will have his old faithful target back on the field. That should be a big help. So should dynamic tailback Joseph Addai, as close to 100% health now as a featured running back could be at this time of year.
And yet, I think the game comes down to Indy's defense against San Diego's offense. Without Dwight Freeney, the Colts' pass rush has slowed down considerably, but Tony Dungy has retooled on the fly and employed more of a zone dynamic. Little man safety Bob Sanders (NFL defensive player of the year) will have to set the tone early with some run-stuffing tackles on LaDainian Tomlinson, but he should be up to the task. The Chargers are red-hot, winners of 11 out of 13, but Philip Rivers is an implosion waiting to happen. The likely absence of TE Antonio Gates (sprained ankle) doesn't help Norv Turner's crew at all. I know, I know: I picked San Diego to win it all before the year started . . . Well, I was wrong. Indy wins this one late.
-Indianapolis over San Diego, 24-21
Sunday Game #2: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
-JAB
Saturday Game #1: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers
A rematch of a tight playoff game from 2005. Who can forget the now famous overtime coin toss where Matt Hasselbeck exclaimed, "We're taking the football and we're going to score!" Of course, that blew up in his face just minutes later when Al Harris intercepted an out route and took it to the house for the win. What's in store this time around? Two very good defenses, both underrated. Mike Holmgren's Seahawks are anchored by linebackers Julian Peterson and Losi Tatapu. DE Patrick Kerney and CB Marcus Trufant have had really good years as well. For Green Bay, it's LBs Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk in the middle of the field, with a strong pass rush up front and a solid secondary to boot.
So who do I like? Well, it's going to be barely over 20 degrees at Lambeau Field for kickoff, so clearly the weather will be a factor. Brett Favre has been down this road countless times before, so you've got to like him over Matt Hasselbeck at the quarterback position. If Ryan Grant can chew up some ground yardage for highly talented coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay should have enough in the tank to get the win, especially coming off a first-round bye.
-Green Bay over Seattle, 31-21
Saturday Game #2: Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots
This seems like the upset special of the week for most NFL pundits. I'm not buying it at all. Everyone said the same thing two years ago when the Jaguars went to New England. If you recollect, the Patriots dominated that game. What's so different for this one? Well, Jacksonville has a new quarterback in David Garrard. He struggled in the first round against the Steelers with two INTs and 9 for 21 passing, but made the key scramble late to set his team up for the winning field goal. Jags' coach Jack Del Rio made Garrard his man early this year and never wavered.
For this game, Jacksonville will rely mostly on the tailback combo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, but it won't be enough. New England is the team of destiny right now. At 16-0, it's unprecedented regular season territory that the Patriots are coming out of. And Coach Bill Belichick is the closest to a sure thing as there is in the league these days. His playmakers--- QB Tom Brady (50 TD passes) and WR Randy Moss (23 TD catches)---can forget about their records now and focus on what they do best: winning playoff games. I hate to rain on the upset special parade, but what can you do? Just too much Patriots' firepower for a banged-up Jacksonville 'D'.
-New England over Jacksonville, 38-20
Sunday Game #1: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts
This should prove the most competitive of all four games. San Diego won at Indianapolis earlier this year, forcing Peyton Manning into many bad decisions (he threw a career-high six INTs in the game). This time around, in Marvin Harrison, Peyton will have his old faithful target back on the field. That should be a big help. So should dynamic tailback Joseph Addai, as close to 100% health now as a featured running back could be at this time of year.
And yet, I think the game comes down to Indy's defense against San Diego's offense. Without Dwight Freeney, the Colts' pass rush has slowed down considerably, but Tony Dungy has retooled on the fly and employed more of a zone dynamic. Little man safety Bob Sanders (NFL defensive player of the year) will have to set the tone early with some run-stuffing tackles on LaDainian Tomlinson, but he should be up to the task. The Chargers are red-hot, winners of 11 out of 13, but Philip Rivers is an implosion waiting to happen. The likely absence of TE Antonio Gates (sprained ankle) doesn't help Norv Turner's crew at all. I know, I know: I picked San Diego to win it all before the year started . . . Well, I was wrong. Indy wins this one late.
-Indianapolis over San Diego, 24-21
Sunday Game #2: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Dallas fans are praying Jessica Simpson doesn't show up to cheer on boyfriend Tony Romo in person. Tony Romo is praying that Terrell Owens (sprained ankle) can play. Considering he did so on a broken leg in the Super Bowl three years ago, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet Owens gives it a go. And the Cowboys most definitely need him. For all the offensive life that Romo, Jason Witten and Marion Barber bring to the table, without Owens, Dallas has no home run hitter.
The Giants, meanwhile, are hoping Eli Manning can put together back-to-back really good games for the first time in a long time. Without TE Jeremy Shockey (broken leg) in the middle of the field, New York's QB must be very careful with his decision-making. But the Giants' defense is scary good up front, with Umenyiora, Kiwanuka, Strahan and Tuck all able to create heavy pressure. Can Dallas beat a good Giants' team three times in one year? Can Wade Phillips and Tony Romo get the postseason monkeys off their backs? Will Tom Coughlin's head explode if Eli starts fumbling all over again? Most likely on all accounts.
-Dallas over New York, 27-24
-JAB
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Hardwood Hogs Ready for Conference Play
Razorback Basketball Notes and Nuggets
-Arkansas' 85-78 win against Baylor in Dallas on Saturday night was just what the doctor ordered. Given the Hogs only other legitimate non-conference win is over a fair-to-middling Missouri team, a loss against the Bears would have put Arkansas way behind the eight ball as far as a bid to the NCAA tournament is concerned. But now, at 11-3, Arkansas should be able to go 10-6 in SEC play, win a single conference tournament game, and qualify for the Dance with 22 wins.
-It was great to see Sonny Weems step up and make all the big shots in the second half against Baylor. In total, 18 of Weems' 21 points came after intermission: he made pretty much every shot he took. You couple that performance with Charles Thomas' 17 points and 10 rebounds, and all of a sudden Arkansas' front court is showing some signs of life. It also helps when your guards are making threes. Patrick Beverley and Stefan Welsh shook off season long slumps against Baylor in making six trifectas combined.
-Arkansas should dispose of Auburn on the road on Thursday night. Jeff Lebo's Tigers are a competitive team, for sure, but they've also been besieged by injuries. In yesterday's conference call, Lebo spoke of his plight: "We have only six scholarship players available right now, so clearly we've had to change our style of play and what we're trying to do." With leading scorer (and best player) Korvotney Barber sidelined until February with a broken hand, the Tigers have to hodge podge it all together right now. Look for Quantez Robertson and Rasheem Barrett---Auburn's two most athletic players---to try to slow things down a bit for the rest of their team. Without any depth, Auburn can't afford to play the frenetic place Arkansas will try to set.
-For all the talk that John Pelphrey is off to a slow start as Razorback coach, I'm not buying much of it. Surely the offense could use more shape and definition, but what we have here is a team loaded with upperclassmen learning an entirely new motion system. In fact, if you compare UA's mark of 11-3 thru 14 games to where it was a year ago at this time under Stan Heath, you'll find that the record is identical. Taking into account the vastly superior defense the Hogs have been playing this year, it's hard to say Pelphrey has been doing anything less than a good job. Of course, the jury will continue its deliberations on Coach P until he's got a couple of recruiting classes of his own players on the floor.
-The SEC just isn't as good as it usually is in men's basketball this year. Both Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are undefeated---extremely surprising---but Tennessee and Arkansas (and maybe Florida, though time will tell) are the only other SEC schools who have the ability to hang with the best that some other conferences will be able to offer. Why is the league so down? Well, one argument is that a numer of talented players have made the leap to the pros over the past two seasons. Another is that the talented freshmen who've taken the league mantle have yet to fully develop.
-And one Ladyback note: Arkansas's women are 15-0 and undefeated in non-conference play for the first time in program history. They're ranked in the polls now as well and face a huge test against LSU at home on Thursday night. Kudos to first-year coach Tom Collen for bringing some life and energy to a program that's been dormant of most of it for the past five years.
-JAB
-Arkansas' 85-78 win against Baylor in Dallas on Saturday night was just what the doctor ordered. Given the Hogs only other legitimate non-conference win is over a fair-to-middling Missouri team, a loss against the Bears would have put Arkansas way behind the eight ball as far as a bid to the NCAA tournament is concerned. But now, at 11-3, Arkansas should be able to go 10-6 in SEC play, win a single conference tournament game, and qualify for the Dance with 22 wins.
-It was great to see Sonny Weems step up and make all the big shots in the second half against Baylor. In total, 18 of Weems' 21 points came after intermission: he made pretty much every shot he took. You couple that performance with Charles Thomas' 17 points and 10 rebounds, and all of a sudden Arkansas' front court is showing some signs of life. It also helps when your guards are making threes. Patrick Beverley and Stefan Welsh shook off season long slumps against Baylor in making six trifectas combined.
-Arkansas should dispose of Auburn on the road on Thursday night. Jeff Lebo's Tigers are a competitive team, for sure, but they've also been besieged by injuries. In yesterday's conference call, Lebo spoke of his plight: "We have only six scholarship players available right now, so clearly we've had to change our style of play and what we're trying to do." With leading scorer (and best player) Korvotney Barber sidelined until February with a broken hand, the Tigers have to hodge podge it all together right now. Look for Quantez Robertson and Rasheem Barrett---Auburn's two most athletic players---to try to slow things down a bit for the rest of their team. Without any depth, Auburn can't afford to play the frenetic place Arkansas will try to set.
-For all the talk that John Pelphrey is off to a slow start as Razorback coach, I'm not buying much of it. Surely the offense could use more shape and definition, but what we have here is a team loaded with upperclassmen learning an entirely new motion system. In fact, if you compare UA's mark of 11-3 thru 14 games to where it was a year ago at this time under Stan Heath, you'll find that the record is identical. Taking into account the vastly superior defense the Hogs have been playing this year, it's hard to say Pelphrey has been doing anything less than a good job. Of course, the jury will continue its deliberations on Coach P until he's got a couple of recruiting classes of his own players on the floor.
-The SEC just isn't as good as it usually is in men's basketball this year. Both Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are undefeated---extremely surprising---but Tennessee and Arkansas (and maybe Florida, though time will tell) are the only other SEC schools who have the ability to hang with the best that some other conferences will be able to offer. Why is the league so down? Well, one argument is that a numer of talented players have made the leap to the pros over the past two seasons. Another is that the talented freshmen who've taken the league mantle have yet to fully develop.
-And one Ladyback note: Arkansas's women are 15-0 and undefeated in non-conference play for the first time in program history. They're ranked in the polls now as well and face a huge test against LSU at home on Thursday night. Kudos to first-year coach Tom Collen for bringing some life and energy to a program that's been dormant of most of it for the past five years.
-JAB
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