Emotional seniors say goodbye to UA

BY BOB HOLT

Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/220827/

RALEIGH, N. C. — North Carolina did more than end Arkansas’ basketball season Sunday.

The No. 1 Tar Heels also ended the career of six Arkansas seniors with their 108-77 victory over the Razorbacks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

It made for an emotional scene in Arkansas’ locker room at the RBC Center. Some tears were shed as the Razorbacks began coming to grips with the finality of the situation.

“It’s tough to know that was our last game together,” senior forward Charles Thomas said.

Arkansas might never again have such a large senior class, which included Thomas, centers Darian Townes and Steven Hill, forwards Sonny Weems and Vincent Hunter and point guard Gary Ervin.

Next season, the Razorbacks won’t have any seniors.

“It’s very emotional,” said Weems, who led Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament with a career-high 31 points in its 86-72 victory over Indiana Friday night and 19 points against North Carolina. “You don’t want your college basketball career to be over, because you’re going to miss the players and the coaching staff.”

Weems and Ervin played two seasons with the Razorbacks after transferring — Weems from Arkansas-Fort Smith and Ervin from Mississippi State.

Hunter was a fifth-year senior, while Townes, Thomas and Hill played at Arkansas for four years.

“It’s starting to hit me that when I pack my bags, I’ll never be in the locker room with all of these guys again,” Ervin said. “I really have no words for it right now.”

First-year Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said after the Indiana victory — the Razorbacks’ first in NCAA Tournament play since 1999 — that the seniors had been “given up for dead” at times during the season and found a way to bounce back.

“They are a resilient bunch,” Pelphrey said.

The Razorbacks finished 23-12, their most victories since going 23-11 during the 1998-1999 season, and down the stretch twice beat No. 18 Vanderbilt and beat No. 4 Tennessee to nail down a third consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.

“We helped bring this program back to the NCAA Tournament and finally got a win,” said Hill, a defensive specialist who hit the game-winning shot against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament semifinals. “Hopefully, people will look back on us as a successful group.

“ I think Arkansas is back on the national map now.”

Sophomore guard Patrick Beverley said the Razorbacks surprised some people by making the NCAA Tournament and by beating Indiana after a 1-4 stretch in SEC play — with all of the losses on the road — had dropped their conference record to 8-7.

“We did some things that people didn’t expect us to do,” Beverley said. “I feel it was a great season, and I wouldn’t trade this team for anyone else.”

After Sunday’s game, Pelphrey said he told the players, “Hey, we lost a game today, but we did not lose our season.”

Pelphrey, who set a record for most victories in a debut season by an Arkansas coach, said he’s proud of the Razorbacks and how they worked to overachieve and improve as teammates.

“I think we made some progress,” Pelphrey said. “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here at this point as one of the last 32 teams standing.

“ Does it need to get bigger and better ? No question. I know Arkansas demands that and expects it. So do I.”

Beverley will lead Arkansas ’ returnees next year along with guards Stefan Welsh and Marcus Britt and forwards Michael Washington and Michael Sanchez, who redshirted this year.

Newcomers from the signing class are guards Courtney Fortson and Rotnei Clarke and forwards Andre Clark, Daniel Payne and Brandon Moore.

“We’re not leaving behind a bunch of scrubs, and Coach Pelphrey and his staff have done a great job in recruiting,” Hill said. “They’re going to continue to play hard, and the more they get used to Coach Pelphrey and his system, the better things are going to be.”

Pelphrey said losing six seniors might cause Arkansas to “take half a step back” next season in terms of experience, and possibly talent in some spots.

“But I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the guys that are coming through the door,” Pelphrey said. “We are excited about who we have had a chance to recruit, and we’re looking forward to whatever else is ahead for us out there.”

Weems made it a point at Arkansas’ postgame news conference Sunday to praise Pelphrey, who was hired from South Alabama last April after Stan Heath was fired as the Razorbacks ’ coach and Dana Altman returned to Creighton a day after accepting the job.

“He brought a lot from the stance of coaching and disciplining us,” Weems said. “I think the guys on this team really found a coach that they can put their trust in and listen to.

“ He will never steer you wrong. He will always tell you the truth. We learned a lot from him.

“ Speaking for the players on the team, we love him and his coaching staff to death. I wouldn’t trade any other coach for him.”