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Outworked, Outhustled, Outmatched

Hogs Lose Again On The Road To A Team That "Wants It More"

Last updated Wednesday, February 21, 2007 11:05 PM CST
in Razorback Central

By Ryan Malashock
The Morning News

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AUBURN, Ala. -- The first dozen offensive rebounds snagged by Auburn embarrassed Arkansas' players and maddened Razorbacks coach Stan Heath.

But No. 13 -- the 13th before halftime, mind you -- did even more damage during Arkansas' 67-59 loss Wednesday night in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

Quantez Robertson, the smallest man on the floor for Auburn, shook free from Gary Ervin, soared high into the air and tipped in a miss at the halftime buzzer.

"The whole picture was painted on the last possession of the first half when they got that stick-back from the guard," Heath said.

"In a lot of ways this game was real simple. They just beat us pretty bad on the glass."

The acrobatic tip put Auburn up 32-25 at halftime, making all of the momentum Arkansas had built up during a 7-0 spurt vanish. The Razorbacks' hopes for an NCAA Tournament at-large berth may have faded, as well, before a paltry, announced crowd of 4,551.

Simply put, the Tigers (15-13, 5-8) outworked and outhustled the Razorbacks (16-11, 5-8), sending them to their sixth loss in seven SEC road games.

Afterward, after being outrebounded 43-31, Arkansas forward Charles Thomas couldn't lie. He had to be honest about the Razorbacks' fight, or lack thereof.

He uttered a phrase the Hogs all seem to regurgitate after road defeats at Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, LSU and Mississippi State.

"You really can't say anything other than that they played harder and they wanted it more," Thomas said.

Granted, rebounding wasn't the entire downfall for Arkansas.

The Hogs missed 15 of their 18 3-point attempts. They allowed 31 Auburn free-throw attempts. They panicked when Auburn repeatedly double-teamed in the post.

Most importantly, though, they flashed little aggressiveness once the Tigers launched shots. Even more surprising to Heath, the majority of Auburn's first-half offensive rebounds came from unlikely sources.

"They hurt us the most in the first half because our guards weren't boxing out," Heath said. "If you look at the numbers, I think they had eight offensive rebounds from the guard position at halftime. That's an incredible number -- way too much."

Those rebounds had an adverse effect on the Razorbacks' offense. Usually, Arkansas jump-starts its fast-breaks with defensive rebounds.

"It took away our transition game and that hurt," Heath said.

Auburn's players credited a practice drill titled "War Football" for the impressive rebounding performance.

"It's been like football practice," Auburn's Josh Dollard said. "The guards have been getting beat down, and the big men have been getting beat down. People have been getting scratches and swells."

Collectively, the Razorbacks -- guards and post players -- didn't show the same desire or match the intensity.

Despite outnumbering Auburn four to zero in players 6-foot-10 or taller, Arkansas couldn't keep Auburn from earning second- and third-chances.

As the first half revealed, size didn't seem to matter much. A total lack of urgency did.

"Coach (Heath) chewed us out," Ervin said. "I don't blame him."



Reader Comments (30 comment(s))


The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

gt wrote on Feb 22, 2007 5:46 AM:

" Kiss the NCAA tournament good by "

re wrote on Feb 22, 2007 6:19 AM:

" Stick a fork in them they are done. Heath will be gone by the end of this season and I for one can't wait. We need to get back to a winning tradition at Arkansas both at home and on the road. "

We need a coach wrote on Feb 22, 2007 6:35 AM:

" Year before last Heath rejected an NIT bid for the Hogs' team that was very similar to this team, with similar record. Could that happen again this year? Maybe the question is probably should that happen again, since Heath coached teams do not respect and fear their coach. Heath seems to have very little influence over how the boys play each game. The players show up but it is entirely up to them if they will hustle. That's coaching?? Heath is a good person though. "

MOMMY MEETING wrote on Feb 22, 2007 6:40 AM:

" CALL THE MOMS AND HAVE THEM COME FOR A MOMMY MEETING WITH COACH BROYLES BEFORE HE LEAVES THEN PULL THE PLAYERS OFF OF THE TEAM. "

Jimmy wrote on Feb 22, 2007 6:48 AM:

" Fire Stan, he is in way over is head "

AngelHog wrote on Feb 22, 2007 7:00 AM:

" Where's Arkansas' half court offense? It's hard to pick up on what it would be if they have been coached into running an offense? Jacking up threes as the clock runs down is not an offense. "

dallashog wrote on Feb 22, 2007 7:42 AM:

" arkansas loses another, and no one seems to care. i for one think heath will be back since broyles will avoid another termination headache. personally, i really like heath. i hate that it doesn't work for him. but that's it, it doesn't work. i hope the university can save this program, because the reality is that there is no similarity b/n this program and the programs under richardson and sutton. we have more in common with ole miss than we do north carolina. and that's a pretty significant change- and one that apparently no one cares about anymore. "

gahog wrote on Feb 22, 2007 8:00 AM:

" Man it's tough losing to more inferior smaller teams. Is it really that hard to get a bunch of young athletes to rebound, play D and hit your frees? To find the open man with screens and determination?? "

hog4life wrote on Feb 22, 2007 8:24 AM:

" I am really sick of hearing the "he sure is a nice guy" comment about Heath. The bottom line is that his teams do not play hard...EVER! He has had too many underachieving seasons at the helm and it is time to go in another direction. GAHOG, he has the players right now to rebound, play D, and hit the open man. What he has not shown is the ability to field a team that plays up to their abilities. Name one player that has been developed in Heath's program? Steven Hill is the same player that he was when he came to the U of A. His improvement is only a reflection of playing D-1 ball for 4 years, not a reflection of good coaching. We need someone who can develop good players and bring the intensity back to the Hogs that we have always been know for. "

ponder wrote on Feb 22, 2007 8:27 AM:

" I talked to a reporter right after SH first year and I asked this reporter a question. I asked, "is it me or can SH not coach?" Well, we all now know what I knew 5 years ago, THE MAN CAN NOT COACH HIMSELF OUT OF A PAPER BAG!!!!! Now the questions is? Will JFB want to fire someone his last year as AD. It also appears that this team is trying to get SH fired. Do they know something about the man that we don't? I knew when I meet him in is office his the first week here that I didn't like him. Yeah, yeah, he is a nice man but I see something in him that the rest of you don't. A smooth talker that got the job with the talk and can recruit with the same smooth talk. Maybe that big money CEO from the Wal-Mart office can get him a job. "

Jon E. Davis wrote on Feb 22, 2007 8:27 AM:

" Stan - Please turn out the lights and feed the dog on your way out. Regards, The Hogs "

DallasHogFan wrote on Feb 22, 2007 8:39 AM:

" After the last win, I looked for comments on how well Arkansas played and what a great job Heath did in coaching. There was not one comment posted. Hmmmmm Are we fans or just critics? "

bhamhog wrote on Feb 22, 2007 8:40 AM:

" The basketball team is a joke. There was a time when I watched or listened to every game. That time is long gone. No coach at Ark has EVER had higher rated talent than Heath's teams since he's been here. And yet we are mediocre at best. I hope we bring in somebody who is proven. Will it be Broyles final hire, or will we have to suffer through one more year of Heath??? Who would want to take a job where there is a lame duck AD? They should name Broyles' successor very soon if this basketball team is to be saved. "

Reply to Dallas wrote on Feb 22, 2007 8:50 AM:

" We're both. You need to win a few games in a row to receive some bravo, Dallas. One win doesn't make a coach, but a ton of road losses just may. "

re wrote on Feb 22, 2007 10:53 AM:

" Like I said a couple weeks back when we played Kentucky, that this team was in trouble. We saw Arkansas squander a 14 point lead and not call a timeout until we were down by 7. Once the timeout was taken the cameras turned to Heath and his players and Heath had a big grin on his face. I said then that we need a coach that has fire in his belly. Under Nolan his players wouldn't want to go near the bench, but of course they would have already been there, and he definetly wouldn't have waited for a 21 point swing to call a timeout. Heath should have been gone years ago and maybe we would be back to where we came from by now. "

West Coast Hog wrote on Feb 22, 2007 10:55 AM:

" Coach Stan Heath must be released as head basketball coach at Arkansas. "

ponder again wrote on Feb 22, 2007 10:57 AM:

" I think Nolan had a bad time of winning games on the road toward the end of his tenure. And I am not defending SH at all, yet Nolan didn't have the type of players that SH has, but at least Nolan won a few more on the road. Why comment when the wins are good and we think the tide has turned and maybe they can win. And yes we are critics and need to be when the coach can't get it done. SH is not the man most think he is, ask any of the players that were here his first year. There is more to the man than you think and it is not good. Why would any coach ask a player if they are purposely throwing a game. "

stan_is_not_the_man wrote on Feb 22, 2007 10:59 AM:

" Unfortunately this team hasnt improved as the season has progressed. But, Steven Hill`s hair looks much better, Sonny Weems errant passes look crisper, Ervin can now smile when he fails to make a play, Vincent Hunter feels more comfortable attempting a three point shot, Darrien Townes no longer feels down if a six foot two guard outrebounds him. But, lets not be critical. "

Suzygal thinks Heath a good man wrote on Feb 22, 2007 1:50 PM:

" Coach Heath is a good man. But can he set up half-court offenses and get his players to execute those offensive plans game after game? No he cannot. Our Hogs do well in games if they get turnovers and fast-break points, but struggle in their half-court offense. I like Coach Heath and he recruits very well indeed. But on the sidelines he doesn't look at all like a coach in charge and with a confident game plan. "

oh grow up wrote on Feb 22, 2007 4:18 PM:

" Luke, the comments here a mild compared to what has been said about Nutt. You must be one of those Heath lovers!!!!! You need to develop some thick skin cause the comments are going to get worse if SH doesn't show some backbone and soon!! "

re wrote on Feb 22, 2007 4:48 PM:

" Yes Buyou wants Ark out because he can't stand them getting beat so bad. Getting beat by 20 to a mediocore team like Ark. is nothing to hang your hat on. Sounds like the name Big Baby isn't just for basketball players at LSU. As for Heath, time to go. "

Start the search........ wrote on Feb 22, 2007 5:07 PM:

" because this team is done and so is Stan...thankfully!!! It is time for him to go and that is way to obvious. Way to much talented that is not being coached! If I know FB's, he has already got a short list and has already got some things working behind the scenes. He is a step ahead of things and if that knucleheaded John White leaves him alone until December I feel certain he will bring the right coach in here that will turn this dreadful thing around. My short list would be Billy Clyde Gillespie, Bill Self and maybe S. Sutton. Gillespie would be my leader. See ya Stan!!! "

CO-Hog wrote on Feb 22, 2007 5:11 PM:

" Bayou's just upset cause his tigers got eaten by the swamp gators too. UA has every right to be in the SEC, and like re stated his bengals did lose by 20 to our mediocre team. Nutt should be bought out prior to 2007 season, and Heath the same after this spring. "

Scooter J. wrote on Feb 22, 2007 6:41 PM:

" luke, you need to go drink a cup of coffee and wake up. Or maybe just go to bed and turn out the lights. What you just wrote makes no sense at all. Your logic ain't good logic at all!!! "

Formerhogfan wrote on Feb 22, 2007 9:46 PM:

" Why don't we just go to Missouri and hire Mike Anderson and return to 40 minutes of Hell instead of Mr. Roger's neighborhood? Heath cannot recruit. Who says those boys are athletes? Athletes have fire and drive and find a way to win. Athletes are Sidney Moncrief, Marvin Delph and Ron Brewer. Athletes are Corliss Williamson, Corey Beck and Scotty Thurman. Not a player on the court right now would be worthy of looking at Moncrief's SI cover. Send the man back to Michigan where he belongs and lets get Anderson down here and stop the bleeding. "

Luke wrote on Feb 22, 2007 10:42 PM:

" Scooter, If you don't understand what I said, it's because you lack reading comprehension skills. What I wrote seems to have since been deleted, but to break it down: 1. Heath, unlike Nutt, has shown himself to be a man of integrity from the beginning. 2. Say what you want about Heath's coaching, but don't insult his character without giving some sort of evidence. "

jon_bovi wrote on Feb 23, 2007 8:40 AM:

" Ghandi, Buddha, Lincoln, were all men of integrity. But, I wouldnt hire them to coach my basketball team! "

Player not coach wrote on Feb 23, 2007 11:36 AM:

" Ole tall Abe Lincoln could have played center on lots of basketball teams, maybe even gotten a few minutes on the Arkansas team!! Good ole Abe!!! Stan might make him shave his beard though. Go Hogs... "

Reading wrote on Feb 23, 2007 6:22 PM:

" I doubt he'd make Abe shave his beard; oh, by the way Hill - 1985 called and wants its ponytail back. "

Hogboy'nIL wrote on Feb 25, 2007 10:00 PM:

" Heath has to go. I find myself wondering how bad it can get before our program (as a whole) will not be able to recover; but then again, have we ever really adjusted to the SEC? "


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