Arkansas prepares for SEC Tournament
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: Sports
Despite losing in blowout fashion to Auburn on Sunday, the Arkansas women's basketball team still has plenty of chances to show just how far it has really come this week at the Southeastern Conference tournament.
It certainly doesn't hurt that it's in Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, giving Razorback fans easy access to go cheer the ladies on.
By finishing 17-12 overall and 6-8 in SEC play, Arkansas earned the No. 8 seed, and will play No. 9 Ole Miss in the first game Thursday at noon.
"It's a good match-up for us and a revenge game for them," Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. "Neither team played really well in Fayetteville, so I'm sure they think they can get the win on a neutral court."
The 6-8 SEC record was Arkansas' best finish in conference since 2003, something that Collen undoubtedly feels proud of in his second season at the helm.
Ole Miss finished 16-13, with a 5-9 record in the SEC.
Against Auburn on Sunday, the Tigers' win against the Razorbacks proved why they are the No. 3 team in the country and are SEC champions for the first time since 1989.
"We have to find a way to put this one behind us," Collen said Sunday after the game. "We just ran into a buzz saw today and we have to put this one behind us."
Auburn (27-2, 12-2 SEC) didn't commit a single turnover in the first half and shot 52.5 percent from the field in constructing a 54-32 lead.
"It was a rough day right from the beginning," Collen said. "I can't remember us getting a stop in the first half. I don't think I've ever seen a stat sheet with 11 assists and zero turnovers. They played near perfection. Hats off to them; they deserve to be the conference champion."
One thing Arkansas will be able to pride itself in going into the tournament is the emergence of aggressiveness from senior Whitney Jones.
The Blytheville native scored a career-high 23 points versus the Tigers to go along with 10 rebounds, giving her four double-doubles on the season.
It certainly doesn't hurt that it's in Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, giving Razorback fans easy access to go cheer the ladies on.
By finishing 17-12 overall and 6-8 in SEC play, Arkansas earned the No. 8 seed, and will play No. 9 Ole Miss in the first game Thursday at noon.
"It's a good match-up for us and a revenge game for them," Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. "Neither team played really well in Fayetteville, so I'm sure they think they can get the win on a neutral court."
The 6-8 SEC record was Arkansas' best finish in conference since 2003, something that Collen undoubtedly feels proud of in his second season at the helm.
Ole Miss finished 16-13, with a 5-9 record in the SEC.
Against Auburn on Sunday, the Tigers' win against the Razorbacks proved why they are the No. 3 team in the country and are SEC champions for the first time since 1989.
"We have to find a way to put this one behind us," Collen said Sunday after the game. "We just ran into a buzz saw today and we have to put this one behind us."
Auburn (27-2, 12-2 SEC) didn't commit a single turnover in the first half and shot 52.5 percent from the field in constructing a 54-32 lead.
"It was a rough day right from the beginning," Collen said. "I can't remember us getting a stop in the first half. I don't think I've ever seen a stat sheet with 11 assists and zero turnovers. They played near perfection. Hats off to them; they deserve to be the conference champion."
One thing Arkansas will be able to pride itself in going into the tournament is the emergence of aggressiveness from senior Whitney Jones.
The Blytheville native scored a career-high 23 points versus the Tigers to go along with 10 rebounds, giving her four double-doubles on the season.
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