What's missing from this team

[snoot hoggy hog]

Every good Arkansas team has had that signature swingman on it. That's what missing from this team. Hopefully the new recruits can cure this.

[Smalltownhog95]

True Center. Moses can't be a back to the basket player that will free up shooters.

[hawgfan4life]

Fan support

[Coondog Hog]

Inside offense and another jump shooter. Moses ain't got it and Dusty gets covered up sometimes.

[ErieHog]

One jump shooter, preferably in the 6'6-6'8 range.

This team isn't missing much- they're a tournament worthy team.   They just don't quite have the horses yet-- when you have to give minutes to Hannah to get people to respect your shooting, its going to have negative impacts elsewhere.

[Hogmeier]

Rebounding fundamentals

[apcapri]

A Jabril Durham type point guard would help tremendously.

[hogsanity]

A dynamic pg.

[HogCzar1]

Rebounding fundamentals

True. Offside rebounding is awful.

[Ironhawg]

We seem very slow compared to Kentucky.

[ErieHog]

True. Offside rebounding is awful.

We're one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the country-- tied with a gaggle at 58th overall, out of 347.

We're never going to be a truly elite type of rebounding team, as long as we emphasize pace as a play style.  It is a conscious sacrifice.

[Hogs958]

I don't quite understand the offensive scheme. Seels like a lot of desperation shots.

[ErieHog]

I don't quite understand the offensive scheme. Seels like a lot of desperation shots.

The offense works like any other 4 and one motion offense;  overall, its reasonably effective--  borderline Top 30/Top 40, which is pretty salty.

[Hogs958]

The offense works like any other 4 and one motion offense;  overall, its reasonably effective--  borderline Top 30/Top 40, which is pretty salty.

fair.enough. Just want to see a better results against theach better teams in the conference. Not sure what is missing. I think we have ok players, but nwe'd an x factor on this team.

[rude1]

I don't quite understand the offensive scheme. Seels like a lot of desperation shots.

You don't understand basketball is what you are saying.

[Hogs958]

You don't understand basketball is what you are saying.

I understand we're down by 20

[snoot hoggy hog]

Day and or Thurman and or Joe Johnson would kill this Kentucky team

[rude1]

I understand we're down by 20

And sadly that is the extent of your knowledge of the game, I am not even sure you knew the math, probably the announcers told you how many we were down.

[(notOM)Rebel123]

And sadly that is the extent of your knowledge of the game, I am not even sure you knew the math, probably the announcers told you how many we were down.

Don't try and reason with him. His "we are average again" thread just got tossed into V&R.

[forrest city joe]

Nothing is missing. they are just playing a better team tonight that has way more talent. i think for the most part we look good tonight.GO HOGS.

[Hogs958]

And sadly that is the extent of your knowledge of the game, I am not even sure you knew the math, probably the announcers told you how many we were down.

What?

Then provide an explanation. Why are we down by over 20??

You're ok with this?

[ErieHog]

fair.enough. Just want to see a better results against theach better teams in the conference. Not sure what is missing. I think we have ok players, but nwe'd an x factor on this team.

Kentucky shouldn't be a point of comparison;  they're simply playing a different level of basketball than everyone else in the league-- and really a level of basketball sustained by only a few programs nationally.

There's not another team in the league we're not capable of playing with, at all.   All in all, we're in as good a shape as we've been since Nolan left.

[rude1]

What's missing is team speed. For a system that is dependent on speed and athleticism, we have way too many players who get minutes who don't fit this mold at all.

[Hogs958]

Don't try and reason with him. His "we are average again" thread just got tossed into V&R.

I dont care where it got tossed to. It's a fact. If you're content with finishing in the middle of the SEC then good for you.

[Smalltownhog95]

Day and or Thurman and or Joe Johnson would kill this Kentucky team

That's like saying McFadden and or Jones and or Talley could run on this years Bama defense. You literally just named off 3 Razorback legends.

[bvillepig]

A guy like Fox or Hill or that kid from one of the Texas schools a couple weeks ago who put up over 30.

[Hogs958]

Kentucky shouldn't be a point of comparison;  they're simply playing a different level of basketball than everyone else in the league-- and really a level of basketball sustained by only a few programs nationally.

There's not another team in the league we're not capable of playing with, at all.   All in all, we're in as good a shape as we've been since Nolan left.

It should be a point of comparison. What has happened to Arkansas basketball? We're happy to just "hang in there."

Aren't you sick of this? We were elite. Now it's average. It will continue to be average if people are content with this performance.

I'm sorry if I angered people tonight, but come on. It's time to turn the corner.

[Carl Lazlo]

One jump shooter, preferably in the 6'6-6'8 range.

This team isn't missing much- they're a tournament worthy team.   They just don't quite have the horses yet-- when you have to give minutes to Hannah to get people to respect your shooting, its going to have negative impacts elsewhere.

Mike put a 6'6" jump shooter in the game with :21 left in the 2nd half. 

[BassinHawg]

A good Head Coach?

[(notOM)Rebel123]

I dont care where it got tossed to. It's a fact. If you're content with finishing in the middle of the SEC then good for you.

What makes  you think anyone is content with finishing in the middle of the SEC? Just because we aren't stepping out on the ledge after losing at Kentucky? It's a long season...no reason to panic or give up on this squad. I'll be at BWA in Tuesday night...will you?

[Marshfieldhog]

Inside scoring, we have no big man that can score down low

[ErieHog]

It should be a point of comparison. What has happened to Arkansas basketball? We're happy to just "hang in there."

Aren't you sick of this? We were elite. Now it's average. It will continue to be average if people are content with this performance.

I'm sorry if I angered people tonight, but come on. It's time to turn the corner.

No, I'm not sick of getting better than we have been for 15 years.

Kentucky now is far more elite than they were when our program was at the height of its power.    We're not even close to where we were, either-- and that makes the disparity seem worse.    It also is not 'average'-- this team should compete for a tournament bid, still-- and  reaching the tournament from a major conference means you are a pretty good basketball team.

Its not where it should be as the end goal, but it is certainly shaping up to make the progress you want to see at this point.

[Hogs958]

What makes  you think anyone is content with finishing in the middle of the SEC? Just because we aren't stepping out on the ledge after losing at Kentucky? It's a long season...no reason to panic or give up on this squad. I'll be at BWA in Tuesday night...will you?

I'll buy you a beer.

I'm sorry if I angered people, but i.just want more.

[lynbug]

And sadly that is the extent of your knowledge of the game, I am not even sure you knew the math, probably the announcers told you how many we were down.

There's no need to be RUDE1!

[Hogs958]

No, I'm not sick of getting better than we have been for 15 years.

Kentucky now is far more elite than they were when our program was at the height of its power.    We're not even close to where we were, either-- and that makes the disparity seem worse.    It also is not 'average'-- this team should compete for a tournament bid, still-- and  reaching the tournament from a major conference means you are a pretty good basketball team.

Its not where it should be as the end goal, but it is certainly shaping up to make the progress you want to see at this point.

OK. I hope to be better than .500 in the conference. Let's see where it is in 2 or 3 weeks. I'm concerned. I'll admit it doesn't mean I'm right.

No offense intended.

[(notOM)Rebel123]

I'll buy you a beer.

I'm sorry if I angered people, but i.just want more.

In BWA?....if you can pull that off, sure.

[rude1]

Mike put a 6'6" jump shooter in the game with :21 left in the 2nd half. 

^^^ This right here is the most baffling thing to me about this team. I am not saying he is the answer, but no one can convince me that after seeing what he has done when given the chance, it wouldn't be worth the chance to throw him out there and see what happens. I remember hearing an old school coach one time say that if he had a player that had great stats in limited action, he failed as a coach because you play that guy enough to either prove that's who he is or that's not who he is and his stats come down to show what he can do as a player.

[Razorod]

I'll buy you a beer.

I'm sorry if I angered people, but i.just want more.

I want more too, but this game went just about exactly as I expected. We don't have the athletes. Neither Hannahs nor Manny are what we need to be considered a top 20 team. there's a reason neither was offered a scholarship by the Hogs coming out of high school.

It will always boil down to recruiting. Anderson has improved a bit as of late, but he has to keep it up, year-in-year-out. We need athletic wings who can be effective on both ends of the court, a pg who can challenge the other top pg's in the country and a low block scorer.

[Rbill]

We looked really good playing half court defense and Macon, Barford, and Manny driving early. When Macon got in foul trouble it became apparent we forgot how to score. I think if we had an honest to goodness feed the big man game that would make the biggest difference for us. Not sure what our big man's job on offense is right now.

[BassinHawg]

Todd Day and Lee Mayberry?

[AirWarren]

Todd Day and Lee Mayberry?

Scottie Thurman. Jonathan Modica. Ronnie Brewer.

[Westcoasthog]

     Arkansas needs a new coach that can win and beat Kentucky!

[ErieHog]

OK. I hope to be better than .500 in the conference. Let's see where it is in 2 or 3 weeks. I'm concerned. I'll admit it doesn't mean I'm right.

No offense intended.

This isn't a .500 team in conference.  Its more like an 12-6,  11-7 type team.  Maybe 10-8 if someone gets hurt.

[AirWarren]

Some guy named Joe Johnson...

[PonderinHog]

Todd Day and Lee Mayberry?

Those two would definitely help, and Joe, Scotty and Corliss.

[Hogs958]

I want more too, but this game went just about exactly as I expected. We don't have the athletes. Neither Hannahs nor Manny are what we need to be considered a top 20 team. there's a reason neither was offered a scholarship by the Hogs coming out of high school.

It will always boil down to recruiting. Anderson has improved a bit as of late, but he has to keep it up, year-in-year-out. We need athletic wings who can be effective on both ends of the court, a pg who can challenge the other top pg's in the country and a low block scorer.

Ya I hoped it'd be a little closer.

Anderson has done a decent job of recruiting. We need an X factor  recruit to turn the corner. We're ok...We need to take that next step. I hope he does. I like Anderson, but we need to see some results.

[HawgHeadCheese]

What's missing is team speed. For a system that is dependent on speed and athleticism, we have way too many players who get minutes who don't fit this mold at all.

I agree with this comment. Next year we will be trading Hannahs, Watkins, and Kingsley for Garland, Hall, and Gafford. All of those guys are a upgrade of size, speed, and athleticism. I think this team is tournament worthy this yr.

[Danny J]

^^^ This right here is the most baffling thing to me about this team. I am not saying he is the answer, but no one can convince me that after seeing what he has done when given the chance, it wouldn't be worth the chance to throw him out there and see what happens. I remember hearing an old school coach one time say that if he had a player that had great stats in limited action, he failed as a coach because you play that guy enough to either prove that's who he is or that's not who he is and his stats come down to show what he can do as a player.

Yes...its quite confusing especially when all our guards are in foul trouble.

[FineAsSwine]

We need athletic wings who can be effective on both ends of the court, a pg who can challenge the other top pg's in the country and a low block scorer.

Exactly this.

[ErieHog]

I agree with this comment. Next year we will be trading Hannahs, Watkins, and Kingsley for Garland, Hall, and Gafford. All of those guys are a upgrade of size, speed, and athleticism. I think this team is tournament worthy this yr.

The flipside will be a step back in experience.  That said, if this team can gel, and Barford/Macon/Beard/Thompson become the nucleus of a good returning group, next year could be as good.