COLLEGE MEN : Conquering the Demons
Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE — Northwestern (La. ) State Coach Mike McConathy came away impressed by Arkansas’ inside game after the Razorbacks pounded the Demons 90-59 on Wednesday night at Walton Arena.
“The physical play of the [Arkansas ] bigs is as good as we’ve seen in a long time,” McConathy said. “I’ve been here nine years and I’ve been getting in these guarantee games for a long time, and they’re as physical as any team we’ve played, maybe outside of Illinois when we went to the NCAA Tournament in 2001.
“ We play some [teams ] with physical people and I don’t know if I’ve seen as many physical people that can just run. They kept running them at you.”
Arkansas outscored Northwestern State 50-18 in the paint, led by senior forwards Sonny Weems and Darian Townes.
Weems drove aggressively to the basket much of the game and finished with a season-high 21 points. Townes muscled inside for 17 points and seven rebounds.
It was a good bounce-back game for the Razorbacks (9-2 ) after they lost at Oklahoma 83-72 last Saturday.
“We came in and got a lot of good shots up,” Townes said. “We didn’t let that Oklahoma game affect us.”
The Razorbacks shot 51. 8 percent from the field, tied a season high with 24 assists, held the Demons (4-8 ) to 36. 5 percent shooting and took several charges.
Senior forward Charles Thomas, who had 11 points and six rebounds, set the hustle tone for the Razorbacks two minutes into the game when he crashed into the press table — and television analyst Jimmy Dykes — to save a loose ball.
“I thought the hustle was great tonight,” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. “Guys took their tuxedos off and got down on the floor and got down and dirty and nasty.
“ That’s good to see. For our team, that’s kind of where it all starts.”
The 31-point final margin represented the Razorbacks’ most lopsided victory this season, surpassing a 75-49 victory over College of Charleston.
“I think this was one of our best games of the season,” Arkansas sophomore guard Patrick Beverley said. “I think we shared the ball very well and we defended very well.”
Beverley also shot well, hitting 5 of 8 field goal attempts and scoring 16 points after being 8 of 33 from the field the previous three games, including 1 of 15 on three-pointers. He hit 2 of 3 three-pointers Wednesday night.
“Good shooters go through things like this,” Beverley said. “I’m just happy I got this little thing — I wouldn’t call it a slump — that I was going through behind me.”
Pelphrey said he’s never been concerned about Beverley’s shooting.
“I have trust and confidence in him,” Pelphrey said. “There’s a reason he’s got more shots and minutes than everybody else.”
Pelphrey smiled when told of McConathy’s comments about how physical the Razorbacks played.
“That’s a compliment,” Pelphrey said. “I told our guys I’d like for people to talk about them being tough, physical and smart.
“ By no means do I think we’re there, and if you are there you have to be tough enough to come back the next game and duplicate that.”
McConathy also was impressed by the Razorbacks’ defense and transition game.
“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone run the floor like they run,” said McConathy, whose Demons lost to Stanford and LSU earlier this season. “I thought their press was relentless.
“ I thought they were just phenomenal getting up and down the floor in transition, running hard and making great athletic plays.”
Pelphrey is in his first season as Arkansas’ coach.
“I really think you can tell that he’s got their attention at this stage of the game, and is moving them where they need to be in the SEC,” McConathy said. “You’ve got to get to the point where you’re preparing to get to an SEC championship and the NCAA Tournament, and I think that’s what he’s doing.”
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