Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said he noticed some progress in center Michael Washington on Wednesday, but the senior remains “day-to-day” because of a sprained back that has forced him to miss the past two games.
“He’s walking upright, which is positive,” Pelphrey said. “He’s obviously had some severe pain there, but he seems to be better today.”
Washington sustained the back injury before the loss to South Alabama on Sunday. Pelphrey said it was a “freak” injury that happened during warmups, when Washington missed a shot and followed it up by trying to grab the rebound.
So the Razorbacks’ best low-post player is questionable for Saturday’s game against Mississippi Valley State, although Pelphrey said Washington would try to practice Thursday. If he’s available, he will play against Mississippi Valley State.
• Arkansas also made it a point to tell us before the press conference that point guard Courtney Fortson remains suspended. So Fortson will not play against Mississippi Valley State, marking the eighth straight game he has missed to start the season. Freshman Julysses Nobles will continue to start in his place, while Rotnei Clarke, Stefan Welsh and Marcus Britt will make up the backcourt rotation.
• Give forward Marshawn Powell some credit. The freshman was asked about Arkansas’ poor perimeter defense and took the blame for Oklahoma’s 3-point barrage late in the first half on Wednesday night. Powell said his man, OU’s Tony Crocker, got free to knock down the first long-range bucket because he was caught relaxing on defense. OU hit several 3-pointers at the end of the half to erase Arkansas’ lead.
• Pelphrey was complimentary of his bunch despite the four-game losing streak. He said there was an academic meeting today and he was impressed with some of the things his group is doing. He also credited them for being the “bolts of the belief” that things will turn around for the Razorbacks “They’re not cheap material. They’re good stuff,” Pelphrey said about his group.
That’s all for now. I’ll have much more on the perimeter defense that is killing the Razorbacks for tomorrow’s papers.
