By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — John Pelphrey didn’t want to talk to the media about his return to Arkansas last week, saying the trip was about the players.
But Florida’s performance against the Razorbacks on Saturday had to feel pretty good.
The former Arkansas coach enjoyed a happy homecoming because of the Gators’ 98-68 win in Bud Walton Arena. Florida coach Billy Donovan said Pelphrey “handled himself like a pro” in his return and stressed his assistant always had an “affection and affinity for this place.”
“When things end it’s always difficult,” Donovan said. “I’ve always said in this profession, when everything is so public, a lot of times you never really get to see what the man is about. I really hope the people here at Arkansas treat him as one of their own. Because although maybe on the court it didn’t go as people maybe would have liked or even how John maybe would have liked, he’s a great guy. He’s a tremendous human being. He’s a great husband. Great father. He’s a great guy.”
Pelphrey — who was 69-59 in four seasons with the Razorbacks — made his first appearance on the court just minutes before tip-off. He received a nice applause from the sellout crowd.
He and the rest of Florida’s coaches shook hands with Arkansas’ staff on his way to the Gators bench. Pelphrey even paused to embrace Scotty Thurman, who was part of Pelphrey’s staff.
Pelphrey got a chance to see his former players after the Florida win, too. Pelphrey embraced each player as the teams exchanged postgame handshakes.
Donovan, who was critical of Razorbacks after their decision to fire Pelphrey last spring, said he always has considered Arkansas supporters to be among the “classiest.” Donovan added that he hoped fans recognized Pelphrey’s work with the program.
“I think if most of their fan base and support really knew John, they’d be very, very proud that guy was at the helm and the leadership here,” Donovan said. “Because he did a lot of good things for the program. Just maybe (not) in terms of the amount of games that were won. You know what, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he didn’t do a great job. I know the kind of person he is.”
Anderson On Officiating
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson picked up his first technical foul of the season Saturday.
He was upset after Young made a basket and was fouled with 8:23 left. Officials waved off the basket, though, giving Young two free throws.
Anderson expressed frustration with the officiating after the game.
“I just thought at times, the physicality took place, and we weren’t the recipient of calls,” Anderson said. “I do have a problem with that. I think the game should be called both ways. I just had a problem with that in some cases (Saturday).”
The officiating crew called 28 fouls on Arkansas and 22 on the Gators. Thirty of the 50 fouls in the game were called in the second half.
The teams combined to shoot 63 free throws. Florida was 29 of 34, while Arkansas was 18 of 29.
“I think it was probably the most disrupted game I’ve been associated with,” Anderson said. “And the reasons I say that, they stopped play for almost 10 minutes just to get say a double technical foul … It was a choppy game is what it was. A lot of free throws.”
Walker Loves BWA
Florida guard Erving Walker has enjoyed playing in Bud Walton Arena during his career.
The senior set a career-high with 31 points in Saturday’s game. His previous best? A 27-point effort at Arkansas two years ago.
Walker was 9-for-12 from the field, including 5-for-6 from 3-point range Saturday. He also went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line with five assists and no turnovers, leading Florida to the win.
Walker is 16-for-24 from the field, 10-for-12 from 3-point range and 16-for-16 from the free-throw line in two games in Fayetteville. He also has nine assists and no turnovers in those games.
Walker was asked how much he could score if he played in Fayetteville regularly: “At least 27.”
Sanchez Sits
Arkansas played without forward Michael Sanchez for the third straight game Saturday. Sanchez hasn’t played since late in the loss at Georgia, when he suffered a sprained shoulder.
Guard Mardracus Wade had to leave the floor late in the first half after rolling his ankle. The guard played in the second half, though, and finished with 6 points on 2 of 8 shooting.
