Razorbacks host Texas Southern

Men's Basketball

By: Bart Pohlman

Posted: 12/3/08

After back-to-back wins last week, the Arkansas basketball team seeks its first three-game winning streak of the season tonight against Texas Southern at 7:05 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks (4-1) are coming off wins over South Alabama and Florida A&M, but Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey said the young Hogs need to improve.

"We have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball," Pelphrey said. "This team needs to get better. There's no question about that."

Pelphrey said he would like to see the Razorbacks have more assists than turnovers, which hasn't been the case so far this season. Arkansas has 70 turnovers but only 60 assists.

"That's not a crazy number, but still, as a team, you would like to have more assists than turnovers," Pelphrey said. "It doesn't really matter why we have those numbers. It's just excuses - inexperience and playing with guys for the first time."

In addition to turnover issues, the team also has an attitude problem, Pelphrey said.

"The decision [to have a good attitude] is on them," Pelphrey said. "They are aware of what this staff finds value in. Attitude is one thing you can control. Your attitude, if it is good, will give you a chance. It does not guarantee you success, but it can guarantee you failure. If we continue to have a good attitude, play hard and commit to defense, we'll have a chance to win a lot of games in the future as a program."

Freshman Jason Henry was suspended for the past three games, but Pelphrey said he will have an opportunity to play tonight. Junior Montrell McDonald has been suspended indefinitely.

"It's important everybody understand there will be games," Pelphrey said. "It would be nice to have everybody do the right things. There's an expectancy level here of the right way to do things and Arkansas deserves that."

Pelphrey said one player who hasn't had a problem with attitude is junior Stefan Welsh.

"Scheme-wise, he knows what we are doing and he's one of the most vocal guys," Pelphrey said. "I really, really appreciate what he's done. The last two games, he's done a tremendous job of rebounding, but there are a lot of things I find value in other than points and rebounds."

Texas Southern (0-6) enters the game off a 68-61 loss to Bethune-Cookman. The Tigers might not have won a game this season, but two of their six losses are to Big East teams Marquette and Cincinnati, and Pelphrey said the Razorbacks can't overlook the struggling team.

"I'm not paying a bit of attention to their record," Pelphrey said. "I know they've had a difficult schedule. They will come in here and look at it as an opportunity to get a win at a place that has incredible history. You better respect every opponent that walks in here."

Pelphrey said the Tigers will pose different challenges for the Hogs.

"They are bigger than the last two teams we played," Pelphrey said. "They will play a two-three zone and make more of an effort to press us than anyone else has. It will be interesting to see how much zone they play."

The Razorbacks lead the all-time series with the Tigers 3-0. The two teams last played in 1995 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, with Arkansas eventually prevailing 79-78. From there, the Razorbacks advanced to the championship game.