By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — There’s no doubt the road has been a forgettable place for Arkansas this season.
The 0-4 record, including an 0-3 mark in Southeastern Conference play is the ugly proof. So, too, is the fact the Razorbacks have played some of their worst basketball in those outings — including 33- and 32-point losses to Texas and Florida, respectively.
But Arkansas remains confident a breakthrough is coming when it steps outside of Bud Walton Arena. In coach John Pelphrey’s words “it’s going to happen.” In forward Marshawn Powell’s mind it has to happen.
“We enjoy playing in front of our own home crowd,” Powell said. “But we’ve got to win on the road in order to be considered one of the best teams in this league, or even a good team in this league.
“We’ve got to win on the road at least one time.”
Arkansas will get its next chance in what is regarded as one of the most challenging venues in the SEC when the Razorbacks travel to Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Playing in Memorial Gym presents plenty of unique issues largely because of its well-known oddities. The court is elevated like a theater’s stage and team benches are set on end lines instead of sidelines.
Pelphrey believes it gives the Commodores — who are 11-0 at home this season — an advantage over opponents who play there once a year. Or once every two years.
But challenge or not, he’s hoping his team will find a way to snap its road woes in Nashville.
“I think it’s eventually going to pay off,” Pelphrey said of the road woes. “It’s going to happen.”
Pelphrey was encouraged his team is determined to see it through by what they said following Tuesday’s 73-64 win against Auburn. Powell and Arkansas point guard Julysses Nobles talked about the home victory against the Tigers, but appeared to have shifted their attention on going back out on the road.
Pelphrey, who knows the group wants to succeed, said it was good to see them “verbalizing it.” It was a theme that continued before Thursday’s practice.
“We have to bring a lot of intensity,” Arkansas forward Glenn Bryant said about the next road test. “We’ll play good for a half and bad for a half. We have to play both halves on the road to get a win.”
Bryant is one of nine Razorbacks who will play in Memorial Gym for the first time Saturday. The sophomore said he’s been briefed about the strange setup, but he and Arkansas guard Marcus Britt both believe the Razorbacks can handle the challenges.
“The guard has to turn around and look and see what the coach called,” said Britt, who played in Memorial Gym during the 2008-09 season. “So there is a slight problem, but it’s not a big deal.
“It’s just something you have to get used to.”
For all of Arkansas’ road struggles dating back to 2002-03, the Razorbacks have enjoyed some success in Memorial Gym. Arkansas won two of three games in Nashville in Stan Heath’s tenure (2003 and 2007).
Pelphrey’s 2008-09 team lost 75-58 in Nashville, capping an 0-8 road record in conference play.
“I think communication is important all the time,” said Pelphrey, who has coached and played in Memorial Gym. “Communication with our basketball team. Communication among the basketball team while they’re out there is going to be important. It being a road game, obviously in a very loud arena, communication will be very important to make sure we all know what we’re in offensively and defensively.”
It would be a little easier to win there, of course, if Vanderbilt wasn’t having a successful season.
The Commodores — who are led by guard John Jenkins (18.7 points a game) — are off to a strong start. Especially at home, where Vanderbilt has wins against Georgia and Ole Miss in conference play.
But Arkansas remains confident its winless run on the road will end and hopes it can happen at Vanderbilt.
“It’s a big challenge going to Nashville and playing on their home court,” Pelphrey said. “They’re a good basketball team. We need to be ready to go.”
Scott OK
At first glance, guard Rickey Scott suffered a serious knee injury when his leg was caught under and Auburn player in Tuesday’s game. The freshman even scared Pelphrey, who thought the worst as well until he spoke to Scott while he was lying on the court.
“It looked terrible,” Pelphrey said. “When I got out there and I was able to get down beside him and talk to him a little bit, he still looked like he was in great, great pain. I said, ‘Rickey open your eyes and look at me and tell me what happened. Did it pop? Did you feel this?’ He said, ‘No. I just felt the guy fall on me.’ So that kind of gave me a little bit of hope.”
Scott eventually returned to the game and logged 11 minutes in the win. Pelphrey said Bryant experienced some swelling in the knee Wednesday, but was confident the freshman will be ready for Saturday’s game.
