FAYETTEVILLE -- The parallels are present, to an almost eerie extent. Arkansas' 2007-08 basketball season has taken on most of the personalities and subplots from the 2006-07 campaign.

A nonconference schedule, including a few quality wins and a few missed opportunities. A strong start to the Southeastern Conference slate. And then, a couple of steps backwards, punctuated by a defeat to Georgia.

In Arkansas' 18th game last season, it was Steve Newman's buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the pig's tail on the Bud Walton Arena court that gave Georgia a win. In Arkansas' 18th game this season, it was a collectively abysmal Razorback effort on the road in an 82-69 loss to the Bulldogs.

"We've been here before," Arkansas point guard Gary Ervin said. "We just need to respond. We need to get back to practice and work to get better."

The Hogs had trouble responding last season under former coach Stan Heath.

After opening SEC play with a blowout win over Alabama and a respectable loss at eventual national champion Florida, the Razorbacks faced two winnable games. But the Razorbacks fell in the final moments at Ole Miss and then watched Newman stun them and their fans, dropping them to 1-3 in the SEC. They went on to lose six of their next 10 games before going on a late-season run to make the NCAA Tournament.

The scenario has unfolded quite similarly this season under first-year coach John Pelphrey. After going 11-3 in the nonconference for the second straight season, Arkansas darted out to a 2-0 SEC start with wins at Auburn and at home over Alabama. The potential for a 5-0 conference beginning existed with contests at home against South Carolina, at Georgia and at LSU lined up next on the docket.

Once again, though, the Razorbacks imploded. Defeats to the Gamecocks (RPI No. 102) and Bulldogs (No. 118) have made onlookers think that nothing has changed with the Razorbacks since last season. And, in truth, that sentiment seems valid.

The same players are producing the same erratic results, albeit with a new coaching staff.

"It's a little shocking that we've done something like (lose two straight)," Arkansas center Steven Hill said. "It's difficult when you drop two in a row after winning back-to-back in the SEC to start. It's deflating. But at the same time, we realize it's a 16-game schedule in the SEC."

Pelphrey calmly answered all the questions, all the criticisms, that were hurled his way Saturday night outside the Arkansas locker room. And even though he has identified the Razorbacks' numerous flaws, he hopes they can turn their season around quicker than last season.

"We need to be a better basketball team," Pelphrey said. "We need more discipline, and we need to be respectful of who's on the (other) sideline. It's a tough, hard-nosed league.

"We just need to go to practice, understand who we are and get better."

SATURDAY'S TICKET

ARKANSAS AT LSU

WHEN: 8 p.m. TV: ESPN Classic (Cox Ch. 122)

WHERE: Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La.

RADIO: KXIO-FM 106.9; KEZA-FM 107.9; KKEG-FM 92.1; KFPW-AM 1230; KQBK-FM 104.7; KHGG-AM 1580; KHGG-FM 103.1; KDYN-AM 1540; KDYN-FM 96.7; KTTG-FM 96.3

RECORDS: Arkansas 13-5, 2-2 Southeastern Conference; LSU 6-11, 0-4

SERIES: Arkansas leads 27-17