Razorbacks host Campbellsville in exhibition opener
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: Sports
The second year of the John Pelphrey era begins tonight, when Arkansas hosts Campbellsville University in an exhibition game at 7:05 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks and the Tigers are meeting for the second straight season.
Last year, Arkansas jumped out to a 30-4 lead and cruised to a 96-56 victory.
But other than the school names, little will be the same when the two teams take the court tonight, as all five Arkansas starters from a year ago are gone.
Gary Ervin, Sonny Weems, Charles Thomas and Steven Hill all exhausted their eligibility. Patrick Beverley is playing professionally in Europe.
With seven newcomers on the roster this season, Pelphrey said exhibition games provide an opportunity to see how far this group has come as a team.
"A lot of the emphasis we place on ourselves to see how far we've come from Day One as a unit," Pelphrey said. "We want to play well, to have respect for the basketball and for who we're playing, to play defense and have an understanding of what it's like to play hard. To have any success this year, we need a committed level to defense. I'm interested in seeing that."
Pelphrey won't get to see all his Hogs in action, however.
Freshman guard Courtney Fortson, who was held out of the Red-White game, is still suspended for the exhibition opener.
"[Fortson] will not play in the exhibition game," Pelphrey said. "He's done nothing wrong in terms of prior to not playing on Friday [Red-White game]. He's going to be a special player here. I'm the guy that decides how much or how little. I want to make sure he's clear on what I expect."
Despite the suspension, Pelphrey said he is looking forward to seeing Fortson out on the court.
"When he does play, he will give us a level of toughness," Pelphrey said. "He can put the ball on the floor, and he and [freshman guard] Rotnei [Clarke] have developed a good rapport on the floor. Those two excite me for the future."
The Razorbacks and the Tigers are meeting for the second straight season.
Last year, Arkansas jumped out to a 30-4 lead and cruised to a 96-56 victory.
But other than the school names, little will be the same when the two teams take the court tonight, as all five Arkansas starters from a year ago are gone.
Gary Ervin, Sonny Weems, Charles Thomas and Steven Hill all exhausted their eligibility. Patrick Beverley is playing professionally in Europe.
With seven newcomers on the roster this season, Pelphrey said exhibition games provide an opportunity to see how far this group has come as a team.
"A lot of the emphasis we place on ourselves to see how far we've come from Day One as a unit," Pelphrey said. "We want to play well, to have respect for the basketball and for who we're playing, to play defense and have an understanding of what it's like to play hard. To have any success this year, we need a committed level to defense. I'm interested in seeing that."
Pelphrey won't get to see all his Hogs in action, however.
Freshman guard Courtney Fortson, who was held out of the Red-White game, is still suspended for the exhibition opener.
"[Fortson] will not play in the exhibition game," Pelphrey said. "He's done nothing wrong in terms of prior to not playing on Friday [Red-White game]. He's going to be a special player here. I'm the guy that decides how much or how little. I want to make sure he's clear on what I expect."
Despite the suspension, Pelphrey said he is looking forward to seeing Fortson out on the court.
"When he does play, he will give us a level of toughness," Pelphrey said. "He can put the ball on the floor, and he and [freshman guard] Rotnei [Clarke] have developed a good rapport on the floor. Those two excite me for the future."
Be the first to comment on this story