By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas forwards Michael Washington and Marshawn Powell dominated Ole Miss on Sunday night, combining to score 41 points to lead the Razorbacks to their first road win in two years.
It was a big night for both. And a much-needed one, too. But Arkansas coach John Pelphrey had a message for his starting frontcourt on Monday as the Razorbacks began to prepare for Georgia.
If Arkansas has any hope of extending its win streak to three games, they’ll have to do it again.
“They did a really good job against Ole Miss,” Pelphrey said. “That’s great. We’re proud of them for (Sunday) night. But today is a new day.”
Arkansas will lean on Washington and Powell to produce on both ends once again when the Razorbacks (10-11, 3-3 in SEC) play the Bulldogs (9-10, 1-5) in Stegeman Coliseum tonight at 6. Not only do they need the duo to produce on offense, Arkansas will count on them to lead the way on the defensive glass against a Georgia team whose size is a strength.
The Bulldogs have struggled to win games in league play, but has been a handful for opponents in the post. Georgia boasts one of the SEC’s biggest, deepest and most physical frontcourts. It is among the SEC’s best rebounding teams and will try to bully the Razorbacks inside the paint tonight.
So Pelphrey said his frontcourt must be ready.
“I’m very, very impressed with their team,” Pelphrey said. “I don’t feel like it’s a crazy statement saying they’re playing as well as a top 20, 25 team in the country. They do an unbelievable job getting the ball inside and being physical and are just tremendous at executing.”
Georgia’s two starting forwards — Trey Thompkins and Albert Jackson — stand 6-foot-10 and 6-11, respectively. It’s much different than Ole Miss, which started a pair of 6-9 forwards Sunday night.
Arkansas was able to take advantage of their size in the second half against Ole Miss, keeping both Powell and Washington out of foul trouble and on the court in critical minutes. The tandem scored 25 of Arkansas’ 46 points after the break and helped the Hogs slow down Ole Miss on the offensive glass, too.
“It took us awhile to figure out we had an advantage down low,” Powell said. “Or we weren’t being too patient through our offense. But in the second half we did that and it worked.”
Pelphrey said the Razorbacks will match up against another zone defense that will be determined to take away Arkansas’ chances inside. He also said the Hogs must be able to rebound the basketball, something that has been hit or miss for his group all year.
“We just want to be better at rebounding, whatever that takes,” Pelphrey said. “Maybe an even better term would be more consistent at rebounding. Because at times we do it better in one half than we do in another. That’s what will get you beat.”
The Bulldogs will present other problems, too.
Pelphrey insisted Monday that Georgia’s record isn’t indicative of the challenge Arkansas will face. The Bulldogs have been in close games throughout conference play, giving opponents like Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and South Carolina problems. Georgia’s lone win was a big one, too, coming against Tennessee late last month.
First-year Georgia coach Mark Fox said his team has been solid offensively — the Bulldogs are second in the SEC in league games in field goal percentage (48.8) and first in 3-point field goal percentage (42) — but must defend better to win games.
“We haven’t found the ‘W’s’ that we’re looking for, but these kids have bought into what we’re trying to do and they’re competing really hard,” Fox said.
Pelphrey said its obvious Georgia will be a “tall order” for his team tonight. But Arkansas’ play in the post will determine whether the Razorbacks will come home with another SEC road win.
“We’ll have our hands full,” he said. “They have given everybody they’ve played all they wanted. …
“We’ll have to be better than we’ve been all year.”
Tonight’s Ticket
Arkansas (10-11, 3-3 in Southeastern Conference) at Georgia (9-10, 1-5)
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga.
TV: CSS
Radio: Razorback Sports Network
Coaches: Arkansas — John Pelphrey (47-39 in third season); Georgia — Mark Fox (9-10 in first season)
Arkansas — C Michael Washington (6-9, Sr., 13.3 ppg), PF Marshawn Powell (6-7, Fr., 15.3), G Marcus Britt (6-3, Jr., 3.6), SG Rotnei Clarke (6-0, So., 17.4), PG Courtney Fortson (5-11, So., 18.7)
Georgia — F Trey Thompkins (6-10, So., 17.4 ppg), F Albert Jackson (6-11, Sr., 3.8), G Travis Leslie (6-4, So., 14.2), G Ricky McPhee (6-1, Sr., 10.5), G Dustin Ware (5-11, So., 7.9),
