Suspensions keep freshmen sidelined
Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Earlier this week Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said he could promise there would be no suspensions before the Red-White game because he wasn’t going to play in it.
“Free week this week,” Pelphrey said Tuesday. “If you’re going to screw up, this would be the week to do it.”
It turned out Pelphrey was joking, but remains serious about being a disciplinarian, suspending two freshmen — guard Courtney Fortson and forward Jason Henry — from playing in Friday night’s intrasquad game. They also didn’t take part in a pregame autograph session with fans, though they did practice earlier Friday.
In two years at Arkansas, Pelphrey has suspended five players from taking part in the Red-White game.
“Both of them are good young men,” Pelphrey said of Fortson and Henry. “I fully anticipate those guys coming back and contributing to our team and program and having a big impact on winning and losing.”
Pelphrey declined to be specific about why Fortson and Henry didn’t play in the Red-White game.
“I just think those two young men need to be reminded about some things,” Pelphrey said. “Obviously, it was my decision and we fully anticipate those guys being back at practice [today ].
“ It’s not something that really needs to be gone into. It’s a coach’s decision, my prerogative. I just feel like they need to be reminded sometimes of what’s important.
“ I think you could say it’s probably related to the overall experience of being a studentathlete.”
Freshman guard Rotnei Clarke scored a game-high 15 points for the White team, which won 33-29 after a one-minute overtime period following a 20-minute scrimmage with the clock running.
Junior forward Michael Washington added 11 points and eight rebounds for the White team and sophomore guard Marcus Britt had a game-high 5 assists, 4 points and 4 rebounds.
Junior forward Montrell Mc-Donald, a junior college transfer, led the Red team with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
“It was good to get out there in front of our fans and get a little bit of experience in a realgame situation,” said junior guard Stefan Welsh, who had eight points and three assists for the Red team. “I think the guys handled it well.
“ Some were a little jittery, but it’s good to get that out now.”
With 10 available players, the White team included Clarke, Washington, Britt, freshman forward Brandon Moore and senior guard John Paul Noland, a walk-on who joined the team this week.
The Red team was McDonald, Welsh, redshirt freshman forward Michael Sanchez, freshman forward Andre Clark and junior guard Stephen Cox.
A crowd estimated at a little more than 5, 000 attended the game in Walton Arena.
“I thought we had a good attitude, I thought we encouraged each other, I thought the guys played hard,” Pelphrey said. “I told them today that if you guys will play hard and show that you’re a basketball team, you’ll never have to wave your arms to the crowd.
“ You’ll never have to do that to a Razorback fan — ever. You just play hard, show them you’re a basketball team, and they’ll cheer for you. Hopefully, we understand that.
“ If we can do those things and then combine them with some semblance of consistent defense, then we’ve now got a chance to overachieve. That’s what we’ve really been harping on the last few days.”
Clarke hit 4 of 7 three-pointers, making his first four, then missing three. One of his made three-pointers came with Welsh in Clarke’s face.
“We’ve told you before he’s one of the better shooters in the country,” Welsh said. “I’m glad you all got to see it finally.”
Clarke called it “an amazing experience” Friday night.
“I’ve worked for this my whole life, and I believe God’s put me here for a reason at this university,” Clarke said. “It’s just awesome to be here with the passionate fans.”
Clarke’s hot shooting early helped the White team jump to a 17-7 lead, but the Red team came back to go ahead 20-19.
After a Washington free throw gave the White team a 26-24 lead, McDonald scored on a rebound basket with two seconds left to send the game into overtime.
The White team then took command in the one-minute overtime period, including a basket by Washington and Britt hitting 4 of 4 free throws.
“It was good to be with our fans and get those guys out there and playing a little bit,” Pelphrey said. “Some of them were very, very nervous. That’s to be expected, because it’s the first goaround for a lot of those guys.”
After the game, Pelphrey addressed a rumor that Marcus Monk, a former Razorbacks wide receiver who played with the basketball team as a true freshman during the 2004-2005 season, might be interested in playing basketball again this season if he returns to school to work on a master’s degree.
“There’s nothing as of right now,” Pelphrey said. “It could be a possibility at some point, but if there’s any opportunity at all, it’s being investigated.”
Monk, a seventh-round draft choice by Chicago, was cut by the Bears and later cut by the New York Giants after joining their practice squad.
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