Tardiness works out for Hogs
NORMAN, Okla. — Arkansas sophomore forward Michael Washington was a surprise starter in place of senior Charles Thomas against Oklahoma on Saturday and responded with team-highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds.
“Charles gets credit for that,” Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey said. “I’d like to say that’s great coaching on my behalf, knowing [Washington ] was going to play the way he did today. But Charles was late for the bus.”
Thomas played and had seven points and four rebounds in 11 minutes. He would have played more but he drew his fourth foul with 15: 39 to play in a game the Sooners won 83-72.
Washington had nine offensive rebounds — three fewer than Oklahoma.
“I wasn’t thinking about that,” Washington. “I just went out there and got every one I could.”
Washington’s teammates weren’t surprised by his performance, which was one point shy of his career scoring high (17 points against Florida last year ) and matched his career high in rebounds (12 against Missouri State earlier this season ).
“He’s a very talented player,” Arkansas senior guard Gary Ervin said. “When he goes out and plays and has his head on straight, he can be a great player. He showed that today.”
Razorbacks sophomore guard Stefan Welsh said Washington is impressive in practice and carried that over to Saturday’s game.
“I think he took this game as a challenge,” Welsh said. “Oklahoma has one of the top frontcourts in the country, and he proved that he could play with them.
“ He really helped keep us in the game.”
Pelphrey praised Washington for how well he rebounded on the offensive end, but noted that Arkansas shot 41. 4 percent from the field (29 of 70 ).
That’s 41 missed shots.
“I guess when you miss at an alarming a rate as we did, there’s more opportunities to rebound, too,” Pelphrey said. “I wish he hadn’t had the opportunity to get nine [offensive rebounds ], but he needs to continue to play like that.” Turnovers limited
Arkansas’ full-court pressure is designed to cause havoc, but Oklahoma was careful not to play giveaway and committed just eight turnovers, a season low for the Razorbacks defensively.
“I was hoping to try and get to them a little bit, but their guards did a very good job. We weren’t able to get to them,” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. “I was hoping they’d get fatigued and maybe they wouldn’t shoot as well.”
The Sooners countered the Razorbacks’ trapping and pressing by running themselves ragged in practice.
“Our scout team did a very good job of trying to simulate Arkansas,” Oklahoma Coach Jeff Capel said. “Obviously, we couldn’t simulate the athleticism as much, but that scout team had some pretty good athletes and they really got after us quite a bit.” Turnovers limited II Arkansas matched its season low with 10 turnovers against Oklahoma. The Razorbacks came into the game averaging 19. 1 turnovers. “If you had told me we were only going to turn it over 10 times, I’d have said, ‘Wow, we’re going to be in great shape,’” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. While the Razorbacks didn’t turn it over a lot, Oklahoma made them pay when they did by scoring 20 points off turnovers.
Even vs. Big 12 Arkansas is 1-1 vs. Big 12 teams this season, beating Missouri at home before losing at Oklahoma. The Razorbacks play one more Big 12 team, Baylor, on Jan. 5 in Dallas.
Going all out Oklahoma Coach Jeff Capel was asked if the Sooners’ track and field team will inquire about adding freshman forward Blake Griffin to the roster. Griffin showed off his long jump skills in the first half when he leaped over a cameraman and over the press table behind the basket to save a loose ball. Griffin took out two empty chairs and crashed to the floor before getting up quickly and hustling back down the court. “I don’t want anybody to call him,” Capel said. Odds and ends Arkansas leads its series against Oklahoma, 12-10, but the Sooners have won five in a row against the Razorbacks. Arkansas senior forward Darian Townes scored 13 points Saturday, giving him 1, 010 for his career. He’s the 31 st Razorback to score at least 1, 000 points. Fellow senior Charles Thomas is at 921.
As Arkansas players quietly climbed the ramp exiting Lloyd Noble Center’s court after the game, a voice called out “Good game, men.” The congratulatory gesture came from Sooners football Coach Bob Stoops, whose team was honored at halftime for winning the Big 12 championship.
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