Pelphrey and the Razorbacks let another one slip away.

Accordingly to Bo Mattingly, Arkansas fans shouldn't be displeased with the loss to Georgia. "Their just not very good and that is what teams like Arkansas do--they don't follow up after a big victory". This has become a recurring theme of his the last couple of weeks, and one Razorback fans should shun like the plaque. All Bo Mattingly is doing with hare-brained comments like this is feeding the pro Pelphrey sentiment, and removing himself from having to entertain honest debates about what losses like this one mean for Pelphrey going ahead.

The loss to Georgia perfectly exemplifies the problem with the entire Pelphrey tenure. Arkansas had a chance to take a step forward with a crucial win, and once again, it slipped away like a thief in the night. The game last night was simply a game Pelphrey had to win. It's losses like last night that merits strong consideration by Jeff Long when assessing Pelphrey's job performance. Routinely never getting over the hill cannot be considered doing a good job in this instance when the future of this program is at stake. When the Georgia player made the free throw and sealed Arkansas' fate last night, it also pushed John Pelphrey a little closer to the edge of no return. At least it should have. Let's hope it did.

Not enough talent? Oh, there's been enough talent and last nights victory proves it. No excuses now for the inconsistency other than coaching.

It would be a major error if anyone assumes I'm disapointed because Arkansas beat Vanderbilt. Actually, the opposite is true. It would also be incorrect if anyone is of the impression that this took me by surprise.

It is almost exactly true to say those that have supported Pelphrey all along do, in order to justify his lack of success, use the proposition that Pelphrey hasn't had the talent to compete. Rather it be blowouts to teams they should have played closer, or terrible losses to teams they should have beat, the supporters of John Pelphrey have blamed those defeats on a lack of talent---not him.

It would be altogether true to say I've represented the opinion that there is enough talent, and John Pelphrey is the one to blame for the inconsistency of his teams efforts up to this point. It is also just as true to say that after last night, no one can ever claim again that John Pelphrey doesn't have the talent, either for losses suffered, or the losses to come. This is absolutely the accurate account of where things currently stand.

Vanderbilt is a team that had a very tough game on Thursday night against a surging Mississippi State team that went to the wire. Arkansas on the other hand played their last game on Tuesday night against the worst team in the league. It should be obvious to all that watched the game, Vanderbilt simply didn't have their legs underneath them. That's why they were made to look foolish against a very desperate Arkansas team. Vanderbilt just simply could not play perimeter defense. Let's face it, you can't leave Rotnei Clarke open. He will make everything he throws up if not guarded closely. Vanderbilt's inability to play sound defense really showed in what Sanchez was allowed to do to them. Sanchez routinely broke his defender down with quick first steps.

I know your desperate and this win seems monumental right now. But if I were supporting Pelphrey I wouldn't get too worked up over this win. There are several obvious reasons why. The main one being, this Arkansas team under John Pelphrey has had good games before only to follow them up with a string of humiliating defeats. I'm still of the opinion John Pelphrey isn't the guy, and I feel certain that by the end of the season he will prove why he's not.

Why are they continually deceiving us about John Pelphrey, and what is really going on here? Want a piece of advice? Learn everything, forget nothing.

It should be noted that on four separate occasions yesterday, I heard four different media persons use the exact same line when questioned about Pelphrey's future. Everyone of them said this, "I think regardless of what happens this year, John Pelphrey will be allowed to coach the kids next year, and if he doesn't win then, then something will be done. With Pelphrey taking over what he did, I think Jeff Long believes Pelphrey had to take some chances and gamble on some kids".... I have several problems with this.

The first problem is this: The people stating this did so as if they were reading it from a card. That isn't the case, though. The real reason it sounded that way is because they've had lots of practice the last two years saying it. I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of hearing it.

The second problem is: There's no way on earth John Pelphrey should be allowed anywhere near these kids. Based on events the past two years, it should be considered reckless on Jeff Long's part for even entertaining the notion of it. Plus, whom among us honestly believes there will be any significant improvement next year? Does anyone actually think after giving Pelphrey another pass, Jeff Long and this media base won't earnestly try again to find some way to excuse another bad season?

Thirdly: How in the world can anyone blame the failure of Pelphrey's first two recruiting classes on his "having to gamble and take chances"? Pelphrey took this job in the spring of 2007, and had four scholarships to use then. If any gamble was made on players it was then. There were some time constraints for Pelphrey. However, out of the four kids recruited that year, only two turned out to be busts. As for the other two, Micheal Sanchez and Marcus Brit, there still on the team.

Those using this line aren't speaking of the first recruiting class. What they're speaking of is the second recruiting class. It's that class they want you to believe he gambled on. That year Pelphrey had six scholarships to use, and only one of those players remain. By claiming Pelphrey gambled and took chances there, they've conveniently removed the fault from Pelphrey for the last two seasons. This is what they've done. Listen people, John Pelphrey had a full year and a half to get ready for that recruiting class, and it still turned out a bust. If any gambling took place there it's his own fault.

How long must we be held hostage by these people that won't shoot straight with us? John Pelphrey doesn't get a pass there in my book, and I'm tired of people telling me he does. It's like I've said before, these people will do anything and sacrifice everything to avoid having a coaching search right now. Even to the point of risking these young men's careers next year with a lame coach. This should be troubling for people.

Dudley Dawson once again tried to deceive the fans yesterday when B.J. Young was brought up. While he admitted B.J. Young had some growing up to do, he omitted the truth about the incident the kid was involved in. The fact is, Young, after scoring 34 points, and with 46 seconds left in a game, doubled up his fist and swung at a player blocking him out. Young missed, but the punch he threw drew him a two game suspension by the St. Louis High School Administration. (Check My Source)

Needless to say, It was a little bit more than a competitive struggle like Mr. Dawson described it as being. Mr. Dawson went on to say Pelphrey should take a chance on this kid. People, Mr Dawson knows as well as anyone the troubles this young man has had on and off the court. (Check My Source)

Is John Pelphrey not gambling on this kid? This is the second time this year BJ Young has been thrown out of a game for problems on the court. This in light of all the other problems he's had. I've claimed Pelphrey didn't gamble on his second recruiting class, but Mr. Dawson says he did, and so do the others! Is it not a little odd to anyone that those claiming Pelphrey gambled then---as a means to excuse what happened then---should be of the opinion it's alright to gamble now? Is it not absurdly inconsistent on their part? Yes, it is.... I will address this further, I promise.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/article_8ba08646-8320-5039-8671-032397527729.html

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/boys-basketball/article_22947478-2a64-11e0-a9a1-00127992bc8b.html

Today was a wonderful example of what I've been talking about.

All we've heard this year from those wanting to keep Pelphrey is we would lose those kids if he was fired. It's been one of their grandest excuses in their defense for keeping Pelphrey. But when someone close to the situation comes on the radio and claims it isn't true, those using that excuse act like they didn't hear it.

My point about Dudley Dawson speaks directly to this. He did show up yesterday and claim once again those kids wouldn't come. If that's his opinion why didn't he speak up the other day when there was a conflicting view on the matter? Does the fan base not deserve closure on the point? We should.

Personally, I believe we did obtain closure on the matter today....At least I hope so. But I imagine they will try to worm their way out of it. Because without that excuse there is no excuse, or justification, for keeping John Pelphrey if this team doesn't get to nineteen. That's simply where their at. I guess that's why they had fudge in their ears the other day, they don't like the prospects of that happening.

Let's face it, Arkansas should be 4-0. Why aren't they?

After reading Wally, and listening to Bo yesterday, it's obvious they believe Arkansas will beat Florida today. They watched the Florida game against Auburn on Thursday night and came to the opinion Arkansas might be a better team, and still has a chance of making the tournament.

I have no problem with that. Let's say Arkansas is the better team. All this talk about this team being young and inconsistent is a bunch of crap. They might be inconsistent, but it's not because their young, I can promise you that. If I were you I would be looking at the coach on this one. South Carolina was a young team. They started three freshman, a sophomore, and one Senior, and weren't even as talented as Arkansas. They definitely were a team Arkansas should have beat. I don't care where they played the game. It also goes without saying, LSU falls into this same category.

As for the game tonight, I don't know who will win it. I really don't care. This is a terrible conference that is rated seventh nationally in strength. It's filled with teams that aren't even mediocre. They're terrible.

That is why I think talk like yesterday is foolish by these men. All their doing is trying to breath life into John Pelphrey, and put him in a better light. Making it appear as if John Pelphrey really has it going in the right direction. It's not, people. Arkansas played the sixth easiest non conference schedule in the country earlier. That's out of three hundred and something teams.... Just because Arkansas raked up a bunch of wins against inferior talent, and are competing in a league that is pathetic, doesn't mean the Razorback basketball program is taking huge steps forward this year. And it most certainly doesn't mean John Pelphrey is the caliber of coach this program needs going ahead with the young men coming in. Fact is, he's not.

In response to a reader....How do I know Mike Anderson will come back to Arkansas? Destiny!

First off, there are several coaches around the country that would love this job. Anyone that believes the falsehoods this media base has spread about this job being undesirable is pretty gullible.

The only reason the media holds to that worn out, tiring, old line is because they're afraid of a coaching search right now. Not because they believe we can't get a good coach, but because of what the coaching search will produce.

This is also why none of them can find anything wrong with John Pelphrey. That in itself should speak volumes to the validity of this, because John Pelphrey's tenure has been one big joke after another. But still yet, all they do is make excuses for him, and spend their time trying to convince the fans this program is undesirable. And I mean even to the point of lying. I can prove it, and will when the timing is right. This is what I'm about.

This leaves the question then: Who are they afraid of? The answer is Mike Anderson. They know any coaching search put together right now, must include him. If a coaching search was held now and Mike Anderson wasn't hired, this fan base would go crazy demanding to know why not. Especially so, the year before last when Pelphrey was 2-15 and Mike Anderson ran the Missouri Tigers to the elite eight. Had they held a coaching search then and not hired Mike Anderson, there would 've been trouble. We would've marched up the pig trail screaming bloody freaking murder, and burnt that place to the ground.

This leaves another question: Why would you not want Mike Anderson? The answer is simple. They know as well as I do if they hire him he will have a big platform, a big microphone, and a long memory.

Nolan Richardson was like a father to Mike Anderson, people. Coming back here and turning this program around would be sweet redemption for him and Nolan. But not so much for those that had a hand in on screwing them. It would be their worst night mare.

I'm going to stop now because I would really love to go on. I'm going to save it for another day. But I will say this in parting. The depths this program has fallen the last ten years is because a few people were able to dupe you to have their way, and get away with it. They care little for the fans, and less for the program. They sacrificed it in order to get their way, and they still are . I will not let it go. I know who's responsible, why they did it, and how they did it. And they know it.

John Pelphrey should have never been the coach here, people. And if you let them get away with it, they succeed once again in getting their way, and duping you to do it. Why would you let them do that? John Pelphrey is their representative, and he represents everything that is wrong around here. There will be no peace for me here until John Pelphrey hands in the keys to to the Hummer, packs his Uhaul, and gets his cow licked ass the hell up out of here....