1-on-1 with Razorback Guard Patrick Beverley

In a one-on-one interview, Arkansas shooting guard Patrick Beverley talks about some of the struggles he and his team have gone through this season. The Chicago native won the SEC's Freshman of the Year award in 2007, but has seen his scoring output dip in his sophomore campaign. Beverley's Razorbacks hit the final four game stretch of the regular season at 18-8 overall, with a 7-5 mark in the SEC---a legitimate question mark for an NCAA bid.
________________________________________________

Josh Bertaccini: Another tough loss for you guys against Kentucky on Saturday. What has been the problem for your team late in some of these tight games?

Patrick Beverley: It sounds like the same thing I've been saying, but we've just got to make more plays, more shots, and pick each other up more as a team. If we can find a way to raise our energy level, especially on defense, then I think we'll be fine.

JB: Closing out tight games---particularly on the road---has been a problem for this team all year long. What makes you think it's suddenly going to turn around with four games left in the season?

P-Bev: I wouldn't say we've had trouble winning games, it's just a different story playing away from home. And we've got to be tougher and better in those key moments, bottom line. The way I see it, we've used up all of our get outta jail free cards, so now we just have to win every time out.

JB: Is there a sense right now that the season is slipping away?

P-Bev: No, not really. When you look at the SEC Tournament and the NCAAs, there's still a lot of basketball left to be played. I honestly don't think we've shown how good we can be as a group yet. I mean, we have, but just for a stretch here and a half there, or one game we've got it rolling, and the next we don't. But it's almost March, and every one of us on this basketball team has to step up.

JB: Sonny Weems has emerged as the go-to offensive player for your team this year. He's averaging over 15 points per game and almost twenty per game in conference play. And yet, a lot of the time, there's been a feeling like he's a one-man band on offense. Which is to say, when he's not scoring, nobody is. As the leading scorer on last year's team, how do you react to that?

P-Bev: Sonny's a great player, we all know that, and now he's showing people why. When he's rolling, we've got to ride his hot hand, no question. But you're right, the rest of us need to make sure we're chipping in with our share as well. I don't care how good one guy is, nobody can win games by himself.

JB: Against Kentucky, you struggled from the floor (1 for 8) and finished with just four points. Sonny scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half, but nobody else finished in double figures. At a certain point, as one of the main offensive weapons on this team, don't you feel a need to step up your production and help handle the load?

P-Bev: Of course, most definitely. But if I'm not open---if the defense is overplaying and not giving me a good look---I'm not going to shoot it. Point blank. There's no sense in me throwing up bad shots just to do it. If it's not in the flow of the offense, if it's not a good look, I'm not going to take it.

JB: Has it been hard adjusting to John Pelphrey's offense this year?

P-Bev: There's an adjustment period with anything new, but I think we're way past that now. Last year, I had a lot more freedom to create my own shot, but that didn't mean our system was good for everybody. I feel like Coach Pelphrey has done a good job of getting us all to understand what he wants us to do and why it's better for everyone in the long run. We play more as a team on offense now and I think that's a good thing.

JB: Your rebounding numbers (seven per game) are way up this year, but your scoring (twelve per game) is down from a year ago. How do you explain that?

P-Bev: Pretty strange, ain't it? I mean, I've never looked at myself as just a one-dimensional player. Basketball isn't just about scoring and how high your number is. It's not like, "Oh, well I got my twenty points, so I can just forget about everything else." That's some selfish trip, and that's not how I play. I've always taken pride in my defense first, no question. But as far as the change in my numbers or whatever, there's a lot of stuff that goes into it, I guess. Last year---I don't want to say I snuck up on people, but---I really don't feel like most of the teams we played knew what I could do offensively yet. They didn't know the best way to go about slowing me down. So I was able to score more and get easier looks. This year is totally different. Teams are coming at me with their best defensive player every game out. Double-teams, traps, I mean whatever they want to throw at me, they're doing it now. All I can do is trust that my teammates are going to take advantage of the attention that sometimes gets put on me.

JB: Talk a bit more about your work on the glass, Patrick. How does a 6'1 guard lead his team in rebounding in the SEC?

P-Bev: I don't know, I guess it's just desire. I mean, at this level, everyone's athletic, and most everyone is big, so if you try to be just more physical than people, it's not going to work. Really, a big part of it is just determination, I really believe that. Once you've laid the groundwork for yourself physically, it's just a mental game. I mean, you've got to have an idea of where you think the rebound is going to go, but then you have to get to the spot as quick as you can and be ready for contact. A big help for me has been our entire frontcourt . . . Steven Hill, Darian Townes, Charles Thomas---those guys are all seven feet or close to, and they do a great job of boxing out. That makes it way easier for a little guy like me to get in there and grab some of those loose balls.

JB: You certainly don't play like a little guy, that's for sure. Keeping it moving . . . The NBA is in the minds of most Division I basketball players. Is that the big goal for you? Let me rephrase that. Where do you see yourself in five years?

P-Bev: Wow. Five years? I guess---well, first and foremost, I plan on having my degree, so that's a goal of mine. As for the NBA, I'd be lying if I told you I didn't think about it, I mean, every basketball player has that dream at some point. But I guess it's like, "Let me enjoy college first and worry about the other things later." If I do what I have to do while I'm here, keep getting better as an individual, and we keep on improving as a team, all that professional stuff should take care of itself.

JB: There has been a lot of emotional baggage surrounding the Razorbacks' basketball program during the past year, from the run your team made to last season's SEC Tournament Final to the firing of Stan Heath, the whole Dana Altman debacle, the hiring of John Pelphrey, and all the off-the-court stuff. I don't want to get into specifics about your personal life, Patrick, but give me a thought or two on what it's been like dealing with all that.

P-Bev: With me, when something is over and done with, that's where it stays. I liked Coach Heath a lot, I mean he was like a father figure for me, not to mention he recruited me to come play here, so it was difficult seeing him go at first. But that stuff is in the past now. Coach Pelphrey is a great guy and I really do love playing for him. Since day one we've just had a sort of chemistry together, as much as a coach and player can have. Last year, after the season, it was strange watching everything that happened, no doubt, but it's in the past now and that's all I can say about it. I really believe in whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. All the stuff people say or write about me or whatever, it doesn't bother me. It really doesn't. And I feel like I'm a stronger person for having gone through all that.

JB: Your perspective on life is a lot different now than it was at the same time last year.

P-Bev: Most definitely. I'm more mature now [laughs], at least I feel like I am. But like I said, a lot of things have changed, for me and for this team. I mean, I'm a father now, and that's something I didn't have to deal with last year. But personal stuff is personal, and I'd like to keep it that way. So you just, you know, carry yourself the best you can and hope that everything works out the way it's supposed to.

JB: Despite the ups and down for this team, the crowds at Bud Walton Arena have been large and enthusiastic all season long. More so than last year. How much do you enjoy playing in front of 20,000 Razorback fans?

P-Bev: Oh, man, it's a dream come true. Who wouldn't want that many people cheering for you? Bud Walton is an awesome place to play basketball. The fans are great, they're just so into it at every game. I'm just glad I get to play here for two more years. I can't imagine playing college basketball anywhere else.

JB: All right, Patrick. Thanks again for your time. Any final thoughts as March Madness approaches?

P-Bev: I'll just keep saying what I've said all year long: the sky's the limit for this basketball team. When we play together, when we're on the same page, we can beat anybody in the country. Period. No doubt in my mind. Now it's just up to us to take what we've learned, what we've been doing every day in practice, and win these games we have left. That's the only way I can think of to prove everyone doubting us wrong.

---------------------------------

-JAB

Kidd Blockbuster Finalized, Western Conference Power Struggle Continues

Dallas did well for itself by getting Jason Kidd. At 35 years of age, he's not nearly the player he used to be, but 11 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds per game is still pretty close to freak nasty. Getting him from the Nets for (essentially) Devin Harris--a promising, still undeveloped point guard---along with two first round picks and $3 million is a pretty fair shake both ways. The Nets get a guy who should help them for the long term, while Dallas picks up the player who they feel can put them over the top right now. (Ironically, Kidd started his career in Dallas in the mid '90s as a #2 overall pick . . . Remember how the three J's---Kidd, Jamaal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson---were supposed to turn the then-sorry Mavericks around? R&B singer Toni Braxton dated all three of them, in turn ensuring a Dallas turnaround would not happen.)

Unfortunately for aggressive Mavs' owner Mark Cuban, I don't think this deal wins Dallas a championship. Does it make them better? Absolutely. Despite shooting a career-low 36% from the floor, Kidd will create more good opportunities for studs Nowitzki, Howard and Terry. But Dallas is still extremely soft down low. And we've seen time and again how that just doesn't work in the playoffs. You throw in the fact that the NBA's Western Conference is just ridiculously loaded this year and it's hard for me to see how the Mavs even come out of their side of the playoff bracket.

With Shaquille O'Neal and Pau Gasol also relocating in mega-trades over the last few weeks, let's take a look at the core seven players for all the Western Conference contenders. (I'm in a good old-fashioned NBA mood today, what can I say?)

Here's Dallas.

PF-Dirk Nowitzki
SF-Josh Howard
C-Erick Dampier/Juwan Howard
PG-Jason Kidd
SG-Jason Terry/Jerry Stackhouse

Not bad at all. But this is the Lake Show.

PF-Pau Gasol
SF-Lamar Odom
C-Andrew Bynum/Vladimir Radmanovic
PG-Derek Fisher /Jordan Farmar
SG-Kobe Bryant

Even better in my book. Now for Phoenix.

PF-Amare Stoudemire
SF-Grant Hill
C-Shaquille O'Neal/Boris Diaw
PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell/Leandro Barbosa

Awfully scary. Next up, San Antonio.

PF-Tim Duncan
SF-Bruce Bowen/Michael Finley
C-Kurt Thomas
PG-Tony Parker/Damon Stoudamire
SG-Manu Ginobli

The Spurs are a dynasty for a reason. And don't forget Utah.

PF-Carlos Boozer
SF-Andrei Kirilenko
C-Mehmet Okur/Paul Milsap
PG-Deron Williams
SG-Ronnie Brewer/Kyle Korver

Straight phenomenal.

Make what you want out of it, but I put Dallas at fifth out of five in that group. And that's not taking into account Denver (with 'Melo and Iverson) or New Orleans (best record in the conference with should-be MVP Chris Paul) or Golden State (the speedy team that dismantled Big 'D' in last year's first round).

After the Kidd trade, all I know for sure is that Dallas is better than Houston (T-Mac aside, way too slow) and Portland (a bit young and Oden-less). But couldn't you make that argument before the deal? Probably. In fact, throw in the four legitimate contenders in the East---Boston, Detroit, Orlando and Cleveland---and I still only put Dallas ahead of two of them.

Who knows, maybe J-Kidd finds the fountain of youth in the heart of Texas and Devin Harris never becomes anything in the swamps of Jersey. Then I'll have to eat my words. Doubt it though.

Josh's Updated NBA Power Ranking Leaders (as of 2/20/08)

1- San Antonio Spurs: The champs till proven otherwise
2- Phoenix Suns: The Diesel Experiment begins
3- Utah Jazz: Officially loaded at every position
4- L.A. Lakers: Literally stole Pau Gasol from Grizzlies
5- Boston: K-Jigga should be healthy again soon
6- Detroit: Old tried and true group hanging tough
7- Dallas: J-Kidd must limit three point attempts
8- New Orleans: Can't get any respect, Chris Paul for MVP
9- Denver: Need J.R. Smith to stay strong from downtown
10- Orlando: Dwight Howard is unknown monster no more

-JAB

Presidency '08: Obama, McCain Pull Away From Rest of Pack

Regardless of your political beliefs, you've got to admit the Democratic nomination race has been fun to watch. Hilary Clinton---the odds-on favorite going in---had all the reason to believe a tight race would tilt her way late. But here we are, on March's doorstep, and Barack Obama heads into the primaries' home stretch with what amounts to a ten-length lead. Sure, the delegates count is still tight, but there's no doubt in my mind that Obama's going to win this thing going away, and honestly, there's nothing Hilary's camp can do about it. Obama's victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii last night give the man a ten state win streak, and next week he will lock up the nomination with (hard-to-doubt-it) wins in Ohio and Texas.

It's easy to acknowledge how the former First Lady has fought this thing like a true political warrior though, taking harsh blows from the likes of Senators Edwards and Kerry with a lot of grace. But the fact of the matter is this: while Hilary possesses enough intelligence and savvy to win a Senator's seat in a state like New York, she doesn't have near the charisma it takes to pull key swing votes in a national election. Say what you want about President Dubbya, if there's one thing the man had going for him in both of his campaigns, it was personality out the wazoo. So much of it, in fact, that it overcame other significant shortcomings twice over.

And like that the title tilt for America's Presidency '08 is all but set: Barack Obama for the Dems and John McCain for the Repubs. As the first ever legitimate African-American presidential candidate, Obama goes in as the underdog, no question. Yet for all the energy, passion and intellect he displays in speech after speech, I think most of us are still curious to know what Obama really stands for. We want to know what his motivations and intentions are. I've heard plenty of talk about "change" and "hope" and a "new America", but what does that mean exactly? With so much inexperience (comparably) on his side, Barack has lots of questions left to answer.

Of course, McCain does as well. Flip-flopping isn't quite strong enough a phrase to describe the swings he's taken---from one pole to the opposite---in many of his views. But he's got the Vietnam veteran thing going for him. And he definitely comes across as a cool grandfather type, even if his speeches devolve into rambling monologues a little too often.

All you can say now is that it'll be tight. Way too tight to call as of late February. There are a high number of turns and twists and end-arounds still left to sort themselves out over the next eight months. But it sure will be fascinating watching it all unfold.

-JAB

Moment of Truth: Taylor/Pavlik II

The pugilistic pride of Little Rock puts his career on the line against Kelly Pavlik in Las Vegas tomorrow night. For Jermain Taylor, it will be more than a rematch against the man who took his middleweight belts back in September in Atlantic City. Entirely at stake for JT this time: reputation, respect and a boatload of potential future earnings.

Hustle back in your mind to late September on the Boardwalk of the Jersey shore . . . Jermain Taylor comes out aggressive after the opening bell, punch-jab-punch sequences rattling Pavlik's cage . . . Then in the second round, Taylor sends Pavlik crashing to the canvas, only to have him stagger back up to his feet, barely surviving a ten count. For whatever reason, JT just didn't have enough left in the energy tank to seal the deal right then and there. And it most definitely came to back to bite him when Pavlik rocked Taylor's jaw with a series of punches in the seventh round that left "Bad Intentions" bloodied, battered and down for the count for the first time in his career.

That fight was at 160 pounds. The rematch will be fought at 166, with no middleweight title belts at stake. The lack of "championship" billing shouldn't matter. Boxing nowadays is about the marquee names and the big paydays in a given bout, and that's it, plain and simple. Unlike the first fight, Taylor/Pavlik II will not be shown on HBO; it costs $50 on pay-per-view. And if Taylor wins the fight, there's no doubt a third contest between the two would be worth even more.

Should Jermain have fought another opponent before going right back at the man who left him dazed and confused last time out? Maybe. But the bottom line is that Taylor could have fought ten other fights before stepping back into the ring with Pavlik and there would still be no possible way to fully block out the beating he took from him last time. JT has to be smarter: he knows now that Pavlik can level him with just a couple of punches at any given moment, so he has to keep his hands up and use his jab regularly to keep his opponent at bay. Letting Pavlik fire away freely would be another recipe for disaster.

And so, the night of reckoning has come for the man from Little Rock. Jermain Taylor has both everything to gain and everything to lose in Vegas tomorrow night. Was Pavlik's upset just a flash in the pan? Was it a fluke? Or is Taylor finally on the other side of that oh-so-fine hill that separates contenders and pretenders in the world of boxing? We're about to find out.


Prediction: Pavlik wins by TKO in Round 10

-JAB

Razorback Recruiting Class Reaction

Boil off the hype, forget the speculation: when you really get down to it, the players that Razorback football coach Bobby Petrino ended up with on National Signing Day are what counts. And wow, what a job by the new Boss Hawg on the talent trail.

Way behind the proverbial eight ball after being hired in mid-December, Petrino clearly did all he could to convince the best high school football talents within the state of Arkansas to stay in the state of Arkansas. Easier said than done, especially considering that most of these guys were Houston Nutt's recruits. But Petrino fared well, very much so if you look at Arkansas's recruiting class ranking according to ESPN (#18 in the nation) or Scouts.com (23rd best in the country).

Big name blue chippers like WR Joe Adams (Central Arkansas Christian) and RB DeAnthony Curtis (Camden Fairview) should be foundation pieces for Petrino during the next four years. Transfer QB Ryan Mallett only elevates the passing game's potential even higher.

Surely, the Hogs came out a little light on the offensive line and at linebacker, but you've got to have the playmakers to build around first, and Petrino got his share of those.

Some more thoughts:

-16 of UA's 26 recruits are from the state of Arkansas
-8 of those signees are from Warren and Camden Fairview high schools, at 4 per school respectively
-12 of 13 offensive recruits for Hogs are from Arkansas
-Only 4 of 13 defensive recruits are from the Natural State
-Of the 10 recruits not from Arkansas, 3 are from Georgia, 2 apiece from Texas and Louisiana, 1 from Florida, 1 from Tennessee and 1 from Indiana
-With Matt Hall at 6'10 and Anthony Oden (Greg's not-so-little brother) at 6'8, the Hogs' frontcourt-like offensive line should be massive for years to come

And there ya go. Defensive Coordinator Willy Robinson being introduced at the end of the signing day press conference was literally an afterthought. He hasn't even coached a single down for the Razorbacks yet, but Bobby Petrino is clearly off and flying with his team already.

-JAB

National Signing Day Getting Huge

National Signing Day just may be the single most overrated day in American sports. And that includes the Super Bowl.

What you basically have is a bunch of coaches doing all they can to convince cream of the crop recruits that their school is the place to be. If you're a bigger name program like Florida, Texas or USC, then most of the leg work is done by your school's name. For just about everyone else, it's all about the legal hustle.

Not that signing day isn't imporant; on the complete contrary, of course it is. These are the incoming players who will win and lose games on the field for their respective schools over the next four years. But how much of that has to do with coaching and how much of it directly correlates to player talent is an intriguing debate.

I'm of the belief that coaching and the molding of personnel to a given system is the big determiner of success at the collegiate level. Whether or not a given player is a three, four or five star recruit usually doesn't guarantee anything. Darren McFadden, for example, was a four star recruit, now he's an odds-on fave to be the top selection in April's NFL Draft.

So grab your favorite school cap and watch that television monitor for round-the-clock updates on who's committing, de-committing and pledging allegiances where.

The hype machine is in overdrive: It's signing day, baby!

-JAB

Eli Does It! Manning Brothers Go Back-to-Back

Tom Petty opened with "American Girl" and didn't play a song less than fifteen years old. Other than that, nothing went as expected on Super Bowl Sunday. Kudos to the Giants for an all-time upset, 17-14 over the previously unbeaten Patriots. Eli Manning---the game's MVP---with a huge 4th quarter, including one of the great Super Bowl plays of all-time, shaking two defenders and then drilling a 45-yard strike to wideout David Tyree at New England's 23 yard-line. (Tyree's off-the-helmet catch maybe even more impressive than Eli's play.) One year after big brother Peyton wins a ring, younger bro Eli gets his.

But the Giants won this game up front, pounding Tom Brady into submission like we haven't seen before. Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck all with strong attack-mode games. And so, New England's run at perfection is over. Done. Finito. How will history remember them? Surely as one of the greatest Super Bowl losers of all-time. But was this the greatest upset in Super Bowl history? Absolutely not. Probably number two though. The Jets as 17 point underdogs upsetting Baltimore in Super Bowl III was more historically important because it pitted teams literally from two different leagues, with New York's win signifying that the AFL was here to stay.

Few tears will be shed over the Pats' demise, especially considering that New England should be back to the Title Tilt at least a couple more times, as long as the team re-signs Randy Moss, which you'd have to expect they would. But a perfect season still belongs to just one team.

Somewhere Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and the rest of the '72 Dolphins are smiling....

-JAB

Super Bowl XLII: Gotta Like the Pats

It should be an entertaining Super Bowl on Sunday, and not just for the commercials or halftime show (Tom Petty) this time around either. It's the undefeated New England Patriots trying to seal the historical deal at 19-0 against a New York Giants team that'll be doing all it can to pull off the greatest Super Bowl upset since Joe Willie and the Jets upended Don Shula's Colts in Super Bowl III.

Without any question, the Giants have earned their way into this game. Playoff road triumphs over Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay showed a lot of grit and determination. QB Eli Manning is taking great care of the football and making the key throws when he has to. Tailbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have provided a great power/speed combo out of the backfield while WR Plaxico Burress dominated All-Pro CB Al Harris in the NFC Title Game.

I'll admit it: when TE Jeremy Shockey went down with a broken leg, I didn't think there was any chance New York would win a playoff game, let alone get this far. But head coach Tom Coughlin has done a phenomenal job of keeping his team together, and they've definitely responded. DEs Osi Umeniorya and Michael Strahan are as good a pass-rushing combo as there is in the NFL right now. Justin Tuck brings a lot of speed from his hybrid LB slot as well.

On the flip, New England was planning on being here all along. The addition of WR Randy Moss lifted QB Tom Brady's game to an even higher level this year, and they both shattered single season TD marks in catches and throws. RB Laurence Maroney has come on late in the year and the defense is still rugged and veteran with the likes of Mike Vrabel, Ted Bruschi, Richard Seymour and Asante Samuel making most of the big plays when it counts.

Prediction: Eli Manning has been a great story in the playoffs, but the carnival ride ends in Arizona. Bill Belichick is just too good a coach to have his team anything other than motivated and ready to roll by the time they kick this one off.

Game: New England 34 - New York 24

MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots

This win puts both Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on the short lists of discussion for greatest coach and quarterback of all time.

-JAB