Poor shooting dooms Arkansas
Bulldogs roll past Razorbacks
Matt Jones
Issue date: 1/12/09 Section: Sports
It's not that the shots weren't there - they just wouldn't fall.
Arkansas shot a season-worst 36 percent from the field as the Razorbacks dropped their conference opener 70-56 to Mississippi State.
"We got every opportunity we wanted," Arkansas guard Stefan Welsh said. "They were looks that we've been getting all year and knocking down."
The Razorbacks couldn't buy a shot from anywhere. Arkansas shot 23-of-64 from the floor, including 3-of-22 from beyond the 3-point arc and went 7-of-15 from the free throw line.
The 3-point shooting was the most disappointing for the Razorbacks. Welsh said perimeter play can make or break each game.
"With our style of play we love shooting the three," Welsh said. "On nights that they fall, it's good. On nights they don't fall, it's not so good. We have to find a way to alter that."
Everyone wearing the home white uniforms struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Welsh finished 4-of-16 from the floor and missed all seven of his shots beyond the arc. Courtney Fortson went 2-of-13 and missed all five of his 3-point attempts.
Only Michael Washington and Rotnei Clarke finished the game with .500 or better shooting averages from the floor, and those two combined to shoot 3-of-9 from downtown.
To make matters worse for Arkansas, Mississippi State found its rhythm midway through the second half, hitting 46 percent of its field goals after halftime.
"Mississippi State hit some tough shots at crucial parts of the game," Welsh said. "On the other end we didn't shoot the ball particularly well. It's definitely a learning experience and as bad as this one hurts, we have to be focused (in the next game)."
Big win for Stansbury
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury hasn't had the best luck in Fayetteville.
The Bulldogs head man picked up just his second win at Bud Walton Arena Saturday night and first since 2004. Stansbury said he wasn't sure hit team knew what it had accomplished following the win.
Arkansas shot a season-worst 36 percent from the field as the Razorbacks dropped their conference opener 70-56 to Mississippi State.
"We got every opportunity we wanted," Arkansas guard Stefan Welsh said. "They were looks that we've been getting all year and knocking down."
The Razorbacks couldn't buy a shot from anywhere. Arkansas shot 23-of-64 from the floor, including 3-of-22 from beyond the 3-point arc and went 7-of-15 from the free throw line.
The 3-point shooting was the most disappointing for the Razorbacks. Welsh said perimeter play can make or break each game.
"With our style of play we love shooting the three," Welsh said. "On nights that they fall, it's good. On nights they don't fall, it's not so good. We have to find a way to alter that."
Everyone wearing the home white uniforms struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Welsh finished 4-of-16 from the floor and missed all seven of his shots beyond the arc. Courtney Fortson went 2-of-13 and missed all five of his 3-point attempts.
Only Michael Washington and Rotnei Clarke finished the game with .500 or better shooting averages from the floor, and those two combined to shoot 3-of-9 from downtown.
To make matters worse for Arkansas, Mississippi State found its rhythm midway through the second half, hitting 46 percent of its field goals after halftime.
"Mississippi State hit some tough shots at crucial parts of the game," Welsh said. "On the other end we didn't shoot the ball particularly well. It's definitely a learning experience and as bad as this one hurts, we have to be focused (in the next game)."
Big win for Stansbury
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury hasn't had the best luck in Fayetteville.
The Bulldogs head man picked up just his second win at Bud Walton Arena Saturday night and first since 2004. Stansbury said he wasn't sure hit team knew what it had accomplished following the win.
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Barbara Batson
posted 1/12/09 @ 4:55 PM CST
The fans needed to support our team Saturday night. The tv announcer said at one point, "the team is not giving the fans anything to cheer about". Isn't that backwards??? Aren't WE - the fans supposed to cheer the loudest and the most enthusiastically when our team needs a boost??? The whole idea of the "home court advantage" is that our guys have their FANS in the house. (Continued…)
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