Short-handed Hogs can't overcome Tigers
Matt Jones
Issue date: 1/26/09 Section: Sports
Suspension, injury and eligibility questions left Arkansas' short bench even shorter by the end of Saturday's 73-51 loss to Auburn.
The Razorbacks prepared for the game without freshman Brandon Moore, who was suspended indefinitely following an arrest for a DWI on Jan. 18.
The thin frontcourt was dealt another blow just before game time when questions arose surrounding senior Marcus Monk's eligibility and the forward was withheld as a precautionary measure while the athletic department looked further into the matter.
An official release said Monk sat because of an "issue that could affect his eligibility," and a "resolution to the matter [would be made] as quickly as possible." The former football star and school's career leader in touchdown receptions will continue to practice with the team during the review.
The final loss to Arkansas' bench came when Jason Henry, coming off a knee scope less than three weeks ago, told coach John Pelphrey at halftime he couldn't go full-speed as he continues to recover from the injury. Henry played just six minutes, didn't score and didn't record a rebound.
Despite the setbacks, Arkansas guard Stefan Welsh said the team needed to be held responsible for its performance on the court.
"We have been the walking wounded, but not having a player is not an excuse," Welsh said. "Jason Henry's hurt knee or Monk not being out there is no excuse. We have to find ways to win."
The short bench forced five Razorbacks to play more than 25 minutes, including Courtney Fortson and Stefan Welsh, who logged more than 34 minutes of action.
Shooting woes
Arkansas continued its struggles from beyond-the-arc for the fourth consecutive game with a 5-of-24 performance against the Tigers, bringing the team's mark to 13-of-85 from downtown in Southeastern Conference play.
"We are getting good shots, easy shots, but we are not knocking them down," Fortson said. "We settled for jump shots and we were not hitting them."
The Razorbacks prepared for the game without freshman Brandon Moore, who was suspended indefinitely following an arrest for a DWI on Jan. 18.
The thin frontcourt was dealt another blow just before game time when questions arose surrounding senior Marcus Monk's eligibility and the forward was withheld as a precautionary measure while the athletic department looked further into the matter.
An official release said Monk sat because of an "issue that could affect his eligibility," and a "resolution to the matter [would be made] as quickly as possible." The former football star and school's career leader in touchdown receptions will continue to practice with the team during the review.
The final loss to Arkansas' bench came when Jason Henry, coming off a knee scope less than three weeks ago, told coach John Pelphrey at halftime he couldn't go full-speed as he continues to recover from the injury. Henry played just six minutes, didn't score and didn't record a rebound.
Despite the setbacks, Arkansas guard Stefan Welsh said the team needed to be held responsible for its performance on the court.
"We have been the walking wounded, but not having a player is not an excuse," Welsh said. "Jason Henry's hurt knee or Monk not being out there is no excuse. We have to find ways to win."
The short bench forced five Razorbacks to play more than 25 minutes, including Courtney Fortson and Stefan Welsh, who logged more than 34 minutes of action.
Shooting woes
Arkansas continued its struggles from beyond-the-arc for the fourth consecutive game with a 5-of-24 performance against the Tigers, bringing the team's mark to 13-of-85 from downtown in Southeastern Conference play.
"We are getting good shots, easy shots, but we are not knocking them down," Fortson said. "We settled for jump shots and we were not hitting them."
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