Riding a two-game-SEC-winning streak, the Razorbacks traveled south and got mule-kicked in the teeth by a middle-of-the-pack Auburn Tigers team that performed far better than mere Plainsmen for this particular 40 minutes of gametime over the weekend.
In their first true road test, set in a violent conference atmosphere, the Hogs got out-hustled (squeaked) and out-floor-burned (eeked) from the jump, as Auburn gathered up the majority of loose balls and rebounds and completely dismantled the Hogs Saturday evening down in the Yellowhammer State.
Never one to over-ponder games won or lost, Coach John Calipari told the media this immediately following the 22-point stomping: “I’m gonna burn the tape. That’s not my team. We’re not gonna fling 30, 40, 55 threes a game.”
Say what you will about Cal, but he operates smoothly and expresses himself tactfully, spouting facts and whole truths by the mouthful. Never one to shy away from a hot mic, he carries the torch not only for the student athletes he, himself, coaches at the U of A, but for every member of every team that is a part of the entire NC2A.
His pressers are succinct and fulla grit and grins. Win, lose or draw, he spits it hot, so I plucked some fresh, choice bytes for regurgitating this week. Y’all enjoy…
A few postgames ago, he started in on a rant right outta the gate and was off and running about the strength of intestinal fortitudes, Chuck Barrett be-damned. Whose will is strongest? His or his players? He went on to surmise that his will is the strongest in the gymnasium.
“I told ‘em today, my will is stronger than your will. It is. I don’t care what. If you think your will is stronger than me, go ahead. Now you’re going to have a strong will from the sidelines. Your gonna do this right. And the reason is we gotta chance at being really good. Now I gotta team that I’m used to coaching. Let’s go! I’m not backing up. If we’re right, we don’t have to worry about outcome. We don’t need to worry about expectations. Just play, and if it’s not good enough, just move onto the next game.”
After a recent dub, he coughed up this beaut – “The biggest thing Karter Knox needs is to play like Billy Richmond. It’s really hard, but you don’t have to worry about skill stuff. As a coach, you’re trying to get the best version of every guy you’re coaching. I gotta job to do, and each of these kids is different, and I’m holding them to a high standard. Mainly because I think we got a really good team. Again, I should be able to demand from that group the highest level because they’re capable of it. Now it’s hard, though. It’s hard to sustain it. It’s hard to come every day. Stuff’s hard. But you know what, I’m not letting them slip. I can tell you that.”
Specifically, he was ranting about haphazardly flinging 3 pointers from all over the floor, which they did in the first half against Auburn. This team is good, perhaps even elite, but not playing that kinda ball. They need drives to the basket, touches in the paint and more free throws attempted than longe-range bombs fired to succeed.
“Every game is a war. How many SEC games do we have, 18? Then we have 18 wars.”
And finally, one of my faves – “I love going into a home, looking around and saying ‘if we do right, it ain’t gonna be looking like this long.’”
South Carolina is up next in a must-win home game.
GoHogs!