The Traveler

Issue date: 1/16/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jonathan Gibson The Razorbacks have dropped their first two conference games since a 10-game win streak that included wins over then-No. 4 Oklahoma and then-No. 7 Texas.

Arkansas coach John Pelphrey tells his team frequently to not get too high on the good or too low on the bad. The latter is pivotal this week.

The Razorbacks are 0-2 in Southeastern Conference play following Wednesday night's 74-65 loss at Ole Miss.

"There are some things we have to do better in our next opportunity that we have not done in the last two games," Pelphrey said. "We need more patience on offense and we need to play with more poise."

Arkansas (12-3, 0-2 SEC) trailed by as many as 21 points on two separate occasions in the Ole Miss loss and struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm - led by 24 points from freshman point guard Courtney Fortson and 19 mostly second-half points from forward Jason Henry, just two weeks removed from a knee scope.

While those contributions are nice, Pelphrey said the team's main offensive weapons need to increase their productivity.

"As a team, we have to operate better," Pelphrey said. "It's not just one thing. It's everybody. This is a young team. We've played 15 games together. That's 15 more than we had at the beginning of the season, but that still isn't very many.

"We need better understanding and to play better."

One of Arkansas' chief problems in conference play has been an inconsistency to hit 3-pointers on the offensive end and slow its opponents from the perimeter on defense.

In two league games the Razorbacks are just 6-of-37 from 3-point range while their opponents have hit 18 shots from beyond-the-arc.

"I think it's due to an overall lack of offensive execution and team understanding," Pelphrey said. "We have to help each other play better by reading schemes and defenses, and obviously we haven't made many.

"We've had difficulty defending it, but I don't feel like it's been awful, either."

That number might play right into the Gators' hands as Florida (15-2, 2-0 SEC) has allowed its last six opponents inside the O'Conell Center to shoot just 24 percent combined from 3-point range.

Arkansas sharp-shooter Rotnei Clarke was held scoreless for the first time he can remember in the Ole Miss loss, but said the Razorbacks have to keep shooting despite their recent inadequacies.

Continued...

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