Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
I must admit that I really want the Arkansas program under John Pelphrey to succeed. One reason is obvious. Pelphrey is a Kentucky boy with roots in my part of the state and he played for the most beloved UK team in history. But the other reason might not be as obvious. The fact is that the SEC is better when Arkansas is playing well. There are no set of fans that are rowdier and make basketball atmospheres better than the group from the Razorback state when they go calling the Hogs. UK-Arkansas games in the mid-90s were as good as it gets and that atmosphere needs to be rekindled to stoke basketball in the SEC West.
But things arent looking good in Fayetteville. This article on an Arkansas website (hat tip to Wildcat World), says that Arkansas has been drawing less than 7,000 people a game this season in Bud Walton Arena. I find that unfathomable. There was a time in the 1990s when Arkansas was one of the top 5 programs in America…and now they are drawing less than 7,000 fans to see the team play in a rebuilding year? One has to feel for Pelphrey and his difficult situation…player turmoil, a depleted roster and now a loss of fan support. And it may be the case that surviving this will be tough for the redheaded one. But I am pulling for him…the SEC needs Arkansas to be relevant, and 7,000 a game just isnt getting it done.
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December 14th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I also really hate to this for John and his team. The Kentucky/Arkansas rivalry was a lot of fun in the early and mid 90’s. One of my favorite games will always be the 1995 SEC Championship game.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
meant to say “hate to see this”
December 14th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Could it be a conspiracy of Pelphrey to cause the downfall of the program we had so much trouble with in the early 90’s?
Seriously, I loved the UK-Arkansas games back then and the 95 SEC final is still the best game I have ever seen in person.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I too am a fan of Pelphrey and wouldn’t mind him having (some) success at Arkansas. I was setting on the front row in ‘95 when Roderick missed the free throws and sent it into overtime against them during the SEC tourney. It was a great game (because we won) and the atmosphere was awesome. Unfortunately, I don’t see him making it at Arkansas. University ADs have a shorter leash in college basketball with the coaching staff even more than they do with college football…and it doesn’t help Pelphrey when the ADs sees UK make a move like they did this year and rebound so quickly. Here’s hoping he gets another chance if he is released this year (hopefullly outside the SEC so I can root for him more) and learns from the experience.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Am I the only one in the world that wants all teams not UK to completely fail miserably, no matter who the coach is?
December 14th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Off subject a little….but here is a Kansas fan’s take on Kentucky and the Jaybirds. Pretty good I think.
http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/just-another-blog/2009/dec/14/thought s-on-kentucky-and-kansas/
Go CATS!!!
December 14th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Once a Cat always a Cat, I hate to seem him struggle, but it kind of looks like it just ain’t in the cards for him down there. I would love to see him under the tutelage of the Cal Master. He’s a pretty sharp guy.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
That’s unfortunate. When they’re good, Arkansas has the second-best basketball fanbase in the SEC.
My first big game as a student at UK was vs. the Hogs. National TV (CBS) and Corliss Williamson came to town, talked smack to the crowd and left with a win. They’ve been the team I love to hate ever since….
On the positive side, maybe Pel will have some free time to be Richie’s running mate!
December 14th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Needs to come back home w/ Cal.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Too bad Clyde didn’t take the Arky job. He could have toughened em’ up and Pel wouldn’t be dealing with that crappy job. Plus it would have been fun to “out-tough” Clyde’s Hogs.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Let’s get real here. It’s on the Arkansas fans to support their program. Can you imagine ANY circumstances where UK fans would attend games in such pitiful numbers? No way. Arkansas is the problem, not Pelphrey!
December 14th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Arkansas hasn not been relavent since Richardson left as coach….I am sure the SEC will manage, obviously Arkansas fans have
December 14th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I love Pelphrey both because he is from the same part of the state as I and because of his role with the Wildcats.
Having said that, I’m glad those who wanted him to replace Billy Clyde were not taken seriously. I hope he can turn things around at Arkansas, not to the level where they’re a threat to us, but at least at the top of the SEC West. His record doesn’t seem to bode well for him as a head coach though.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I didn’t like him standing beside Latener watching the shot of the century go in………I didn’t like him standing with Pitino and Billy D against the cats ……….and I don’t like him coaching and recruiting against the cats at Ark…….So 7000 empty seats seems about right to me……..
December 14th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I used to live in Memphis, which being on the other side of the river from Arkansas still has a lot of Hog fans…they don’t care about basketball. Even by their own admission, they don’t care, they’re all football. I used to try to talk to alums about b-ball…got nothing. Even from guys who were in school there when Nolan was winning championships.
I wish John Pelphrey all the luck in the world, but the 7k at a game at AR is not surprising to me, and I don’t even think Pelphrey is in huge trouble yet, he got a great (albeit possibly false) show of faith from the AD and university prez following the trouble last year, and he’s a known name. I hope. If not, maybe they’ll hire Delk.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:43 am
I thought this was a bad job for John from the start. He doesn’t have the backing it takes to jumpstart this program. I do believe if the University is patient and gives John time, they will field a very competitive team in the SEC.