By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mike Summers said he doesn’t keep a wish list. But if he did, the former Arkansas offensive line coach made it clear what would be at the very top.
Being back in his hometown and coaching at Kentucky.
Two weeks after leaving Arkansas for a position on new Kentucky coach Joker Phillips’ staff, Summers met with the media in Rupp Arena before the Wildcats’ 101-70 win against Arkansas. The Lexington native said it was hard to part ways with Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino after seven seasons on his staff at three stops, but the decision to come back to Kentucky was an easy choice.
“There was a lot of investment made there (at Arkansas),” Summers said. “But this has been something that has always been in the back of my mind, something I’ve always wanted to do. The opportunities don’t come often. It was hard to leave the investment that was made there, but this is something I’m real excited about.”
Summers is married to the daughter of former Kentucky basketball coach Joe B. Hall. He has known Phillips since the Wildcats’ new head coach played at the school.
He said getting the chance to be part of Phillips’ staff with the Wildcats has “energized” him, although Summers described his first two weeks as a “whirlwind.
“We loaded everything that we could into our truck and we headed this way and it’s been non stop since we’ve arrived,” Summers said. “But it’s been so exciting and so energizing to be a part of this staff.”
Petrino hired former Nevada offensive coordinator Chris Klenakis as his new offensive line coach on Jan. 15.
Unhappy Homecoming
John Pelphrey, who played at Kentucky from 1988-92 received a loud ovation from the crowd when he was introduced as Arkansas’ coach before Saturday’s game.
But Pelphrey didn’t get to enjoy his return. His team fell behind by 10 points in the opening two minutes and suffered its worst Southeastern Conference loss.
“When we do come back here, it’s like when you’re coming home,” Pelphrey said. “Maybe you’ve worked hard and you bought a new car or you got something you want to bring back to show how you’re doing. I’m very, very proud of where I am. It’s important for me, for our basketball team to play and compete at a certain level and conduct ourselves with integrity and class.
“Although today I didn’t think that we played as well as we possibly can, I think our guys fought and stayed together. That’s meaningful to me.”
Pelphrey is now 0-2 as an opposing coach in Rupp Arena and 0-3 overall against his alma mater.
Canceling Clarke
Guard Rotnei Clarke, Arkansas’ leading scorer, suffered through one of his toughest outings of the year. The sophomore was 5-for-15 from the field, 2-for-9 behind the 3-point line and finished with 13 points.
He was just 1-for-6 in the first half, though. Clarke didn’t make his first 3-pointer until the 15:15 mark in the second half when Arkansas trailed by 46 points.
“He got 15 shots off,” Pelphrey said. “He’s been limited to less than that this year.
“(Saturday) I would just say that he probably is just a normal human being. He had one of the nights I used to have as opposed to what he does.”
Dental Damage
Arkansas may not have won, but the Razorbacks did force Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins into getting some dental work done after Saturday’s game.
Cousins broke two crowns after getting elbowed by point guard Courtney Fortson.
“That was the first layup I took,” Fortson said. “He just took an elbow to the mouth.
“I told him I didn’t mean to.”
Cousins was having the crowns repaired shortly after the game. He still scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 17 minutes.
