By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke was so frustrated he didn’t know what to say Sunday.
Once again, the Razorbacks were flattened by a nonconference opponent in front of a sparse crowd in Bud Walton Arena. This time, South Alabama beat Arkansas 74-61 in front of a season-low of 5,187. And Clarke wasn’t sure how to sum up about Arkansas’ awful week.
“I hate losing. I know he hates losing,” Clarke said, looking over to teammate Michael Sanchez in the interview room. “I know our team hates losing.
“The only thing I can think about doing right now is stay positive. I don’t even want to think about any negative things because I love the guys we have in the locker room right now. And I love the coaching staff.”
Defense and rebounding had been problems for the Razorbacks in losses to Morgan State (Tuesday night) and East Tennessee State (Friday). But Arkansas (2-4) found a new and uncharacteristic way to struggle against the Jaguars on Sunday.
The trouble actually started before the game when one of its best players, center Michael Washington, suffered a back injury during the teams’ shootaround. The senior tried to shake it off, but was ruled out and his absence left a gaping hole on offense against the Jaguars (6-2).
The Hogs fell into a 15-2 hole and didn’t make a field goal until the 12:42 mark. They rebounded behind a 22-1 spurt to take a halftime lead, but went cold once again after the break. South Alabama used a 17-0 run to break a 40-40 tie early in the half and never trailed again.
Arkansas shot 34.9 percent from the field and committed a season-high 20 turnovers. The Razorbacks — who were led by 19 points from Clarke and 12 from Jemal Farmer — were also outscored 21-2 on fast break points, outrebounded 35-28 and dominated 28-12 in the paint.
“I don’t know if I have the answer right now, but we’re going to find one,” said Pelphrey, when asked if he knew how to cast the black cloud off the program. “Unfortunately for me, I have been through this. It’s not pleasant. It’s not fun and enjoyable, but we will show back up and we will play and we will play hard.”
Pelphrey said the Razorbacks wouldn’t make any excuses after one of the worst weeks in recent memory, though.
Arkansas has lost three straight nonconference home games for the first time since 1955-56. It also is off to its worst start since 2002-03, when the Razorbacks finished 9-19 in former coach Stan Heath’s first season.
Sunday’s loss came with Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long sitting on press row. Long declined to comment when approached after the loss, but Pelphrey elaborated on the troubles the Razorbacks have been enduring.
“This is where I want to be,” Pelphrey said. “I had the opportunity, I made the choice to come here. We’re going to fight and scratch and we’re going to get better. …
“We’ve got to find a way to overachieve. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to work hard and max out. We are limited to a certain degree, but some of those things that have happened we can correct.”
Arkansas’ short bench did get some much-needed help in Sunday’s loss. One day after returning to practice on a limited basis, Sanchez made his season debut after missing five games with foot problems.
Sanchez was only scheduled to make a brief appearance before Washington’s back injury, but scored 6 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in 16 minutes. Sanchez wasn’t sure how he would feel physically today, but was grateful to be back to help the Razorbacks after sitting out.
“It makes me just want to work even harder. It makes me want to push this team even harder,” Sanchez said. “We’re going to have to work even harder and come closer together because right now, it’s not good enough.”
Pelphrey said Arkansas is “at best hopeful” that Washington will be back when the Razorbacks play at Oklahoma on Wednesday night. But guard
Marcus Britt is eligible to return to the court after serving a six-game suspension for his role in the fraternity incident.
Pelphrey said point guard Courtney Fortson also has returned to practice after being away from the team the past month serving a suspension. Fortson remains suspended indefinitely, however, and Pelphrey said there is no current timetable established for his return.
When asked if Fortson’s return was a sign the sophomore was making progress, Pelphrey said: “It’s not negative.”
That’s all the Razorbacks can hope for at this point.
“I know we’re going to be able to bounce back from this,” Clarke said. “So I’m not even going to speak any negative things about this team right now. So we’re just going to fight back. I’m thinking positive right now. It’s tough. It’s frustrating, but we will bounce back.”
