In the lane

Compiled by Bob Holt

Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/213371/

Weems regains his touch

AUBURN, Ala. — Arkansas senior forward Sonny Weems has hit as many three-point baskets in the past two games as he did in the first 14 and tripled his percentage in the process.

“I’ve been working on my shot in practice,” Weems said with a grin after the Razorbacks beat Auburn 76-70 Thursday night. “It’s finally starting to fall.”

Weems has hit 6 of 10 threepointers in the past two games — 3 of 4 against Baylor last Saturday night and 3 of 6 against Auburn — for a 60 percent conversion rate after being 6 of 30 (20 percent ) on the season. Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey compared it to a baseball player who has been hitting long-drive outs and now is getting some hits that find their way through the infield. “I don’t think Sonny was as bad a shooter was he showing earlier,” Pelphrey said. “Maybe he’s not as good as he’s showing now.”

Wait until March Arkansas figures to see a different Auburn team when the Razorbacks and Tigers have a rematch March 8 in Walton Arena. Auburn should be bigger and deeper by then with the return of some injured players. Junior forward Korvotney Barber, 6-7, and freshman center Boubacar Sylla, 7-1, missed Thursday night’s game, but should be healthy enough to play in a few weeks. Barber averaged 13. 8 points and 6. 9 rebounds the first 10 games before suffering a broken left hand on Dec. 29 against Towson State. Boubacar averaged 4. 3 points and 1. 0 rebound the first three games before being sidelined by a stress fracture.

Jumper from Hill With the shot clock about to run out and Arkansas center Steven Hill holding the ball away from the basket, it figured to be an empty possession for the Razorbacks. But Hill — whose shot selection generally includes dunks and layups— calmly turned and drilled a 12-foot jump shot to tie the score 39-39 with 18: 52 to play. Quick turnaround Auburn is in the midst of playing three games in seven days. The Tigers, who lost to Xavier 80-57 before playing Arkansas on Thursday, play at Florida on Saturday.

Because the Auburn-Florida game starts at 11 a. m. Central, the Tigers will have just 36 hours between playing the Razorbacks and Gators.

Arkansas has a little extra time to get ready for its next game, against Alabama at 3 p. m. Sunday at Walton Arena.