Oh boy! Here we go, again. The Hogs fell to 0-3 to start conference play for the third time in the past four years, after taking another one on the chin Saturday to yet another SEC team firmly entrenched in the top 10, the Florida Gators.
Ever since 2025 rolled around, bringing winter weather to NWA, the Razorbacks’ shooting percentages have reflected the arctic temps outside. Saturdaze numbers – 18 for 60, including an abysmal 3-16 from three-point land (and one of those was a late-game prayer) – were the chilliest to date. Factor in 11 missed free throws and you get one-big bird’s nest of a knot. You know, the kind that can ruin a fishing trip or at least the better part of one.
After getting blown out by the #1 ranked Tennessee Volunteers on the road, Coach Cal and Co. have, at least, managed to hang around during the last two defeats. But it doesn’t make them any easier to swallow particularly since they went down within the friendly confines of Bud Walton Arena.
Calipari started to address the shooting woes that have besieged the team in his postgame presser, after watching them miss 53 shots in a 40-minute game, including 14 bricked layups. But instead of addressing how he would fix things, he began to stammer and argue with the journalist about his stats. “It was that? It was two of 16? No way. There’s no way a team goes two for 16 next to the basket. Won’t happen. That’s wrong. It was two for 10, maybe. Not two for 16, no way.”
Sorry, coach, but he was correct, sad and deep as it sounds.
Hopefully, that won’t be true for always, cuz the immediate road ahead is filled with more Tigers than you can shake a stick at. Oh my! The bottom line is this – they must take better shots, make more than they miss, rebound 30% of their misses and, please, please make free throws. Surely seems simple.
While I’m at it.
Hear ye. Hear ye…
I, Hall Closets, of predominantly sound mind and body have a recommendation for the NCAA. ‘Tis a simple cure for what ails ‘em the most – inconsistent officiating. There were 44 fouls called against the Hogs and Gators on Saturday, most of them in the second half, and that is way too many. Fortunately, the fix is as easy as adding another ref to the mix making it four on the floor at all times. This way, each official is responsible for only 25% of the court and has less ground to cover.
Why not? It makes perfect sense to lend an extra set of eyes. They did it years ago, and it made a marked difference on the hardwood. As many times as they must stop play, thus killing the flow of the game, and go watch a replay of an event that just occurred mere steps from them, tells me that they are oftentimes unsure, and more would be better. The game only gets faster every season. Please, don’t stop at basketball. I believe college football would benefit the most from additional referees.
But you know how the NCAA rolls – with their high falutin’ antics and all. As a whole, they are usually above reproach and oh-so-set in their ways. But this is a crucial fix for a timely problem – free of charge.
Remember – avoid those internet trends, steer clear of that dreaded, yellow snow and stay warm. Until next time – Go Hogs Go.