From the Bench - Be Patient with New Players

Be Patient With Razorback Basketball as New Players Learn How to Win Robert Shields It appears at least for now that new Razorback basketball coach Mike Anderson may have passed one of his first big hurdles by keeping this heralded recruiting class together. If that is the case, the expectations and crowds will grow for next season, but I believe fans will be realistic enough to know there will still be some tough losses while the younger talent is merged with the existing team. There will be losses reminiscent of the loss against 14th-ranked Florida State in 1989. If you don’t remember, let’s begin the dream sequence: The Hogs had a superb recruiting class with Todd Day, Lee Mayberry, and Oliver Miller. Lenzie Howell was also a junior college transfer in that group. On the other side, Florida State had a great shooting guard in George McCloud. The game was close as the Hogs pressed a lot and held lead at times. In the end, the game went into overtime and the Hogs folded down the stretch and lost 112-105. But in that loss, you could tell the team was special and that Florida State was just glad to get out with the victory. It was a learning experience. That team with those three freshmen made the NCAA tournament, yet got schooled in the second round by Louisville. It was another learning experience. The next season, however, those players took the Hogs to the Final Four. I expect maybe the same type of learning games next year. Be patient. They may dominate weaker opponents, but it will be a mixed bag against top-tier teams winning some and losing others. I don’t expect they will lose to bad teams in the SEC, so Auburn, you had your chances over the last few years. Howell was the glue of the team. He was the kind of guy who did whatever needed to happen to win. He would go virtually unnoticed during a game and you would wake up the next morning and see he had 20 points. He dominated the SWC tournament in 1990 and was the regional MVP in the NCAA tournament as the Hogs beat North Carolina and Texas to make the Final Four. I have not seen a Razorback player in uniform with that kind of heart in a long time. Who will it be next season? - Defense Dominates at First Scrimmage The first-team defense dominated early in the first spring football scrimmage, as should have been expected. This is good for the team. The partially rebuilt offensive line should struggle against the more veteran defense. It would have been scary if the offense would have come out and dominated the defense and would have been a bad bellwether for next season. Instead, you got what you needed. Tyler Wilson will be an accurate passer and move the sticks. He proved last year he could hit deep strikes as he did against Auburn. He will need time, though, so the offensive line will have to grow up. You know this offensive staff will have them ready by the fall. Garrett Uekman looked good at tight end, and he will be needed with the departure of all-around great guy D.J. Williams. There is also still a need for the development of a good fullback. Maybe one will emerge before next season starts, but don’t count on it. This will be the offense’s problem spot. - Rockin’ the Sugar Bowl Gear So Coach Bobby Petrino is still wearing the Allstate Sugar Bowl cap. I think it’s a reminder to Ohio State and their coach to send the Sugar Bowl trophy back to Arkansas. The “Tat Five” should not have gotten to play and everyone knows it. At the very least, the win should be vacated and the UA should not have to count the loss in its record book. Note to SID Kevin Trainor: Go ahead and make the correction for next year’s media guide and put the footnote at the bottom explaining why. Same goes for the loss to Auburn, which every week looks more and more like one of the most corrupt football programs in college football history. Yet somehow the Arkansas kids still seem to find something that appeals to them about the cow college at Middle of Nowhere, Alabama. Send you basketball memories to fromthebench@yahoo.com. end