By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas forward Marvell Waithe has never been shy about sharing his feelings. It has made the senior one of the most quotable Razorbacks this season.

But when the topic of former Arkansas coach John Pelphrey’s was broached this week, the senior was silent.

“No comment,” Waithe said when asked about Pelphrey.

There’s no doubt some Razorbacks are looking forward to seeing their former coach, who was fired last spring, when he steps into Bud Walton Arena as a Florida assistant on Billy Donovan’s staff today. Others may have different feelings. Either way, Pelphrey’s return to his former place of employment has provided an interesting storyline to an already intriguing game when No. 14 Florida (20-6, 8-3 in SEC) meets Arkansas (17-9, 5-6).

Guard Mardracus Wade, who played under Pelphrey last season, said he’s been looking forward to his former coach’s return for a long time. He knows Arkansas fans have as well.

“It’s going to be crazy,” Wade said. “I know this place is going to get rocking. I’m very excited. I circled this game when we first got the calendar. So I know it’s going to be a lot of noise. He’s going to want to come in here and get a win. But at the same time, we’re going to try to go at him too. This is our house. We want to defend it.”

Pelphrey was 69-59 in his tenure, which included a trip to the 2008 NCAA Tournament, before being fired and replaced by current coach Mike Anderson. He coached the six returning players on Arkansas’ roster. He also put together the four-member freshman class, which was regarded as one of the most talented in school history and has played a key role in Arkansas’ success under Mike Anderson this season.

Guard BJ Young, who leads Arkansas in scoring as a freshman (15.0 points), believes Pelphrey deserves credit for assembling a group that includes forwards Hunter Mickelson and Devonta Abron and guard Ky Madden.

“I think they should appreciate him because he recruited a great class, a great group of guys that play well together,” Young said. “I know that we thank him for that. We just thank him for recruiting us and getting us down here.”

But Pelphrey’s tenure with the Razorbacks also was marred by problems on and off the court. Numerous players were suspended for various reasons. Arkansas had issues regarding its Academic Progress Rate, some of which were inherited. The program lost games and support in Bud Walton Arena, where attendance dipped.

No matter what happened, Mickelson still considers Pelphrey is a “great guy.” It’s one reason he signed with Arkansas and Mickelson said it will be unusual seeing him on Florida’s bench today.

“It’s going to be a little weird,” Mickelson said. “We’ll probably say, ‘Hey, what’s up’ and all that. But after that it’s just going to be business.”

Anderson, who said he spoke to Pelphrey prior to taking the Arkansas job but has not had a conversation with him since, understands the emotions that will be involved when the teams play in front of a sellout crowd.

He’s hoping the Hogs, more than anything else, will concentrate on finding a way to keep their home win streak intact with another win against a ranked opponent today. The Razorbacks are coming off a disappointing road loss at Tennessee and are trying to rebound, once again, in familiar surroundings.

“The biggest thing for us is to try to get better from the last performance,” Anderson said. “That’s the most important thing no matter who we play. Every game is a big game. How do we respond coming off of a tough loss at Tennessee? I thought our guys were ready to play. … but we got beat soundly.”

The Gators have plenty at stake, too, as they try to stay in contention for the SEC’s regular season title.
Florida ended a two-game losing streak with a win at Alabama on Tuesday night and is looking to continue its road success — and NCAA Tournament resume — when the Gators play at Arkansas.

Pelphrey declined an interview request about his return to Fayetteville through Florida’s media relations department earlier this week. He also declined an interview request by GatorZone.com, the Florida athletic department’s website, saying “it’s about these players. It’s not about me.”

Donovan, who didn’t agree with Arkansas’ decision to fire Pelphrey last spring, said he and his assistant don’t hold any grudges with Anderson. But he’s sure Pelphrey has “some emotions and some feelings going back.”

“I’m sure internally there’s probably a lot of emotions there for him,” Donovan told the Florida media Friday. “I know he loves Arkansas. He loved the people there. He loved the school. He loved everything about it.”

There’s no doubt Pelphrey would love to cap his return to Arkansas with a win, though. Wade and the Razorbacks realize that. But they don’t plan to let their former coach or the Gators enjoy the moment.

“We’ve got to win,” Wade said.

TONIGHT’S TICKET
No. 14 Florida (20-6, 8-3 in SEC) at Arkansas (17-9, 5-6 in SEC)
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Bud Walton Arena
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Razorback Sports Network
Satellite: Sirius (91), XM (91)
Series: Florida leads 13-11
Last Meeting: Florida 75, Arkansas 43 on 1/22/11
Coaches: Arkansas — Mike Anderson (17-9 in first season); Florida — Billy Donovan (309-161 in 17th season)
Projected Lineups: Arkansas — F Marvell Waithe (6-9, Sr., 5.5 ppg), F Devonta Abron (6-9, Fr., 5.7 ppg), G BJ Young (6-3, Fr., 14.5 ppg), G Mardracus Wade (6-3, So., 10.5 ppg), G Julysses Nobles (6-1, Jr., 8.9 ppg); Florida — F Erik Murphy (6-10, Jr., 10.3 ppg), F Patric Young (6-9, So., 11.0 ppg), G Bradley Beal (6-3, Fr., 14.3 ppg), G Kenny Boynton (6-2, Jr., 17.2 ppg), G Erving Walker (5-8, Sr., 11.7 ppg)