This team

[labb]

has a long way to go to meet the expectation of a lot of posters...One Red/White game and one expo game and they sure don't look to be world beaters. Two proven players that are going to be really good. After that I haven't seen much to get excited about. We are really soft from the free throw line down to the base line. Thomas and Cook haven't shown that they will be a big step up. We are really going to need a player that can post up on the low block and be a threat to score if we are going to be as good as we expect to be. JMO. I know it is early and wait and see.

[HoopS]

Perhaps we should see Cook and Thomas actually play first? And Hall?

[rzrbkman]

Perhaps we should see Cook and Thomas actually play first? And Hall?

As far as Cook and Thomas are concerned, there is no guarantee we will see either of them at this point and they really have not shown a lot in the past.

[fakenews]

But they are forwards who have played and Arkansas needs more of those. Having just Thompson Gafford Bailey and Hall mean they are not deep

[Hawg Red]

Scrimmages and exhibitions are played for teams to work through stuff and get the "ugly" out. We have a lot of players returning but a lot of roles/expectations are changing/increasing. It's going to take this team a minute to get it together, which you could say about most seasons and even most programs for that matter. There's a lot of length and athleticism on this team, so when all the pieces snap together, they could make some noise. I'm expecting a step back in wins considering the schedule and strength of the SEC, but I'm still fully expecting them to make the NCAA tournament. And that will be a big deal.

[PonderinHog]

They'll take their licks early on and be battle tested come March.  That's my story line and I'm sticking to it.

[Rbill]

Gafford will step up and be our big man and a star. He's what I am most excited about on this team.

[The_Iceman]

Losing Garland will be a blow to this team for sure.

[3kgthog]

Losing Garland will be a blow to this team for sure.

If the kid and his family signed a waiver, would the UA ever let him play?

I don't recall seeing rumors of what his ailment might be. I'd suspect a heart rhythm issue based on what little has been said but...

[fakenews]

No school in its right mind would let an person with a medical condition play unless cleared by doctors. does not matter if his parents sign a waiver. that 18yo dies during a game and the fallout for the school would be insane

[Hogs49ers]

Losing Garland will be a blow to this team for sure.

Hey I have noticed a pattern of a lot of your posts regarding the Garland situation having a lot of doom and gloom in them as of lately.  Just curious if you know something that maybe most of us do not know on Garland's medical issue?

[Hogimus Prime]

If the kid and his family signed a waiver, would the UA ever let him play?

I don't recall seeing rumors of what his ailment might be. I'd suspect a heart rhythm issue based on what little has been said but...

I highly doubt MA would agree to that

[HawgsPolo]

Hey I have noticed a pattern of a lot of your posts regarding the Garland situation having a lot of doom and gloom in them as of lately.  Just curious if you know something that maybe most of us do not know on Garland's medical issue?

He doesn't

[cableguy]

I wonder has the Iceman seen Garland play? Garland is a solid player but nothing about him is game changing. I didn't expect for him to play that much his freshman year.  Hall won the state high school championship and was name the MVP last year, so I believe he is the more important player than Garland.  Garland could help play defense but he is not a point guard or a great shooter. I'm not saying he can't become one in the future. 

[HawgHeadCheese]

I wonder has the Iceman seen Garland play? Garland is a solid player but nothing about him is game changing. I didn't expect for him to play that much his freshman year.  Hall won the state high school championship and was name the MVP last year, so I believe he is the more important player than Garland.  Garland could help play defense but he is not a point guard or a great shooter. I'm not saying he can't become one in the future.

Garland is a very important piece to this puzzle. He may not be a point guard but he can be a lead guard on a 2nd unit that could really use one. He is a slasher who is elite at finishing at the rim and tho he may not be a great shooter, his style of play fits perfectly into what CMA does. He would have similar responsibilities  to  Barford with the 2nd  unit. We need this guy to play if possible. I'm praying for good health.

[userpick]

I think people will realize how much of an impact Dusty actually had. We will be fine though.

[cableguy]

I think people will realize how much of an impact Dusty actually had. We will be fine though.

Dusty drew a lot of attention on offense. Our depth at guard this year will be a problem if no one steps up.

[The_Iceman]

Dusty drew a lot of attention on offense. Our depth at guard this year will be a problem if no one steps up.

Dusty bailed this offense out so much last year. He also was usually the guy the helped bring us back in all of those come from behind wins.

[HoopS]

I think people will realize how much of an impact Dusty actually had. We will be fine though.

I think most anyone who paid attention realized Dusty brought a lot to the table offensively. For what we may lose there, hopefully we gain in defense from his replacements.

[cableguy]

Garland is a very important piece to this puzzle. He may not be a point guard but he can be a lead guard on a 2nd unit that could really use one. He is a slasher who is elite at finishing at the rim and tho he may not be a great shooter, his style of play fits perfectly into what CMA does. He would have similar responsibilities  to  Barford with the 2nd  unit. We need this guy to play if possible. I'm praying for good health.

I hope Garland plays too. He could really help us this year on the defensive end.

[labb]

Dusty's replacement is suppose to be Jones and word is that Jones doesn't play much D.

[ErieHog]

I think people will realize how much of an impact Dusty actually had. We will be fine though.

You can replace scoring.   You can't replace experience and defense.

Replacing Dusty will hurt, but not as much as other losses.

[cardsNhogs]

Dusty's replacement is suppose to be Jones and word is that Jones doesn't play much D.

Did Dusty?

[labb]

This is the post I was referring to:  "I think most anyone who paid attention realized Dusty brought a lot to the table offensively. For what we may lose there, hopefully we gain in defense from his replacements."

[Knot2brite]

I just hope we are able to defend the post. Cook, Thomas, Thompson, Gafford and Bailey have to get it done. People keep saying we don't need a big man in today's game on offense and that might be true but we need a solid low post defense for sure

[HoopS]

This is the post I was referring to:  "I think most anyone who paid attention realized Dusty brought a lot to the table offensively. For what we may lose there, hopefully we gain in defense from his replacements."

I doubt he will get all the minutes DH had. More of a combo of players accounting for those minutes. I expect we will gain in D there. We will see.

[The_Iceman]

I just hope we are able to defend the post. Cook, Thomas, Thompson, Gafford and Bailey have to get it done. People keep saying we don't need a big man in today's game on offense and that might be true but we need a solid low post defense for sure

That is true. But you can play good low post defense with necessarily having incredible team size.

[HawgHeadCheese]

Dusty bailed this offense out so much last year. He also was usually the guy the helped bring us back in all of those come from behind wins.

I'm a big Dusty fan but I like Jr. Yr catch and shoot Dusty more than Sr. Yr Dusty. Last year Dusty shot selection was very questionable some games, and tho he became good attacking off the dribble I think he began to put the ball on the floor in situations where he would've caught and shot. Last year it seemed like him and Moses we're forcing it at times. I

[Pinto]

I'm a big Dusty fan but I like Jr. Yr catch and shoot Dusty more than Sr. Yr Dusty. Last year Dusty shot selection was very questionable some games, and tho he became good attacking off the dribble I think he began to put the ball on the floor in situations where he would've caught and shot. Last year it seemed like him and Moses we're forcing it at times. I

Dusty & Moses definitely forced a lot at times last year and a lot of those poor shot selections led to the opposition scoring in transition.