USC strategy is obvious
Last updated Saturday, March 17, 2007 12:11 AM CDT in Columns
By Harry King
The Morning News
SPOKANE -- USC's defenders jammed Patrick Beverley's jumper, denied Steven Hill's dunks, and hamstrung my hook.
The defense was so sticky that I had to look up whether Velcro is a brand name.
Knowing the late start on the West Coast had caused a deadline bind, I watched Texas' Kevin Durant against New Mexico State with the idea of getting a head start on Sunday's Razorback-Longhorn rematch. Turns out, the Durant spectating was only for the aesthetics and maybe an "I saw him when" retelling a few years down the road.
That dadgum USC defense went and knocked Arkansas out of the NCAA Tournament.
The worst thing about the 77-60 loss is that the experts can kiss off the result with an "I told you so." The 5-0 stretch that got the Razorbacks an invite will be washed away by the outcome.
Sometimes, the defense gets credit when a team misses open shots, but USC deserve every bit of praise for the Razorbacks' poor shooting and the victory. You could count the open shots on one hand.
Arkansas hit 5-of-10 while building an 11-6 lead, but only 6-of-19 the rest of the half and fell behind 38-27. From beyond the arc, Arkansas was 2-of-13 in the first half and 3-of-20 for the night. During that five-game winning streak, the Razorbacks made almost 40 percent of their 3s.
It was obvious that USC coach Tim Floyd had identified Patrick Beverley as Arkansas' most legitimate scorer and was determined to make certain Beverley did not beat his bunch. He was so familiar with the Arkansas players that he called them by name instead of a number when he was talking defensive responsibility with a sub.
His assistants were also into the moment. A call went against Nick Young, USC's best player, and when he came to the bench, strength and conditioning manager Rudy Hackett told him, "We're not gonna stir up the refs."
Lodrick Stewart started out face guarding Beverley, looking right at him, and chasing him through two screens. That was only a precursor of USC's strategy.
While Stewart rested, Daniel Hackett took up the chase. Between them, they rarely lost track of No. 21.
Beverley took 10 or more shots in 11 of Arkansas' last 15 games and, in two of those exceptions, he tried nine. Against USC, the freshman did not get into double-digit attempts until there was 2:50 to play and the Razorbacks trailed by 18.
It was somewhat appropriate that it rolled off the rim -- his seventh miss in 10 tries. He was 0-for-5 on 3s.
Capitalizing on a solid screen by Steven Hill, Beverley made his first shot. He rushed his second and missed everything. At the end of the half, he ducked under and dodged around just to throw up a 3. He had two easy shots all night and one of those was a layup early in the second half.
Across the way, in Section 105, athletic director Frank Broyles sat on the aisle, two rows behind Ramona Heath, wife of Arkansas coach Stan Heath, and stayed until the end.
There are some who still think Heath's future is in doubt. Whatever is going to happen, the sooner the better.
Heath said it is the same process every year, they meet and pick each other's brain. Broyles is in charge and the process hasn't changed, Heath said.
Trailing by 11 at the half, Arkansas closed the gap until a big 3 by Gabe Pruitt.
On an Arkansas break, Hackett ignored the ball and tracked down Beverley. Gary Ervin had two shots blocked inside. Young came around a screen for a basket and 49-35.
Moments later, Beverley was 25 feet from the basket and Hackett was his mirror. Neither moved.
Even when the lead was large and time was short, Hackett was flying at a Beverley 3.
Hill did some damage in Atlanta wheeling toward the basket and taking a high pass for a dunk. He had one against USC.
We don't see the Pac-10 much back home, but if the Trojans' field goal percentage is only third best in the conference, I can't imagine trying to get a shot against Washington State or Stanford.
The idea that the Trojans are sun-soaked and soft is way off base.
Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
About this columnist
The dean of Arkansas sports writers, Harry King updates his column five days per week with the latest on the Razorbacks. A 35-year veteran of The Associated Press, King joined the Arkansas News Bureau in May of 2002. He's covered the Razorbacks since the Arkansas-Texas game dubbed the Big Shootout in 1969.
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