jordan says...

We should win three of our last four and then try to make somebody sweat in the SEC tourney. And then hopefully an invitation to the NIT and maybe make a little noise. Madden needs a big game for confidence. Mine and his.

Off season for this team is huge for player development and bringing in some help. I know MA is going to be on it. I hope we don't lose anybody important. Did I mention Madden needs a big game? He's key in my mind. Young is a future all SECer. Mickleson definitely is also. Powell is now. Madden needs to play thru his freshman "mind games" and then we will be on to bigger and better things. Needs some ferociousness and bruisers on this team to go with these guys. I think we have the budding finesse. Bigger and tougher and more seasoned and this time of the year will be much more fun.

You have to admit if there is one month of the year that has truly changed for HOG fans in the last 10 years it's March.

Go Hogs.

February 22, 2012 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ua87 says...

Jordan,

Madden isn't the only one that needs to step up. BJ Young, although what I consider the modern day Sidney Moncrief, cannot shoulder this team all by himself, which seems to be the situation lately.

February 22, 2012 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jordan says...

ua87, Yeah I agree but as far as the future Madden seems to be moving in slow motion. I just think he needs a good game to get back on track so he can grow with Young and Hunter M. I like him and don't want him to get left behind and quit or transfer.

February 22, 2012 at 8:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rlw59 says...

I agree with everything posted here except jordan's statement that Mickelson will definitely be a all SECer. I just don't see that at all. If you watch any of Ark's games you'll see Mickelson playing about as fierce as a daisy. He averages 3 rebounds a game and he's 6'10. And shoots FALLAWAY jump shots from outside of 15 ft. Why does someone 6'10 feel a need to shoot an 18 ft FALLAWAY? I don't see Mickelson being anything beyond an average roll player.

February 22, 2012 at 11:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jordan says...

Interesting observation on HM. I guess time will tell.

February 22, 2012 at 11:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rmmr says...

Jordan, I agree on Madden, for early in the year he had drives to the basket with some layups off the glass 4 to 6 feet away from the basket, reminisent of Lee Mayberry style play! Mickelson needs some work, beef up, better timing in defensive plays under the goal, and better rebounding skills. All are attainable during the off season, at worst case scenereo, he would be great help from the bench, but could also be a great player the fans will remember.

February 23, 2012 at 4:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

246gts says...

I don't know. Those FALLAWAY jump shots seem to work for a 7 ft pro in Dallas named Nowitzki. Maybe Mickelson thinks of himself as a small forward. What was his playing style in high school?

February 23, 2012 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jordan says...

If he has any quickness in him at all he will be good. This obviously if he works in the off season. If he gets heavier, slower and soft he will fade out into the sunset. I think he will be a great player. I have seen a lot of big dudes that couldn't shoot at all and only depended on their size. I think he will figure out the college game and be really good. Starting tonight...

February 23, 2012 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rlw59 says...

246gts, In high school Mickelson played at Westside, a 3A school (classifications go up to 7A in Ark). That's part of his problem, he played such a low level of competition he was able to dominate without having to get position. And his high school coach let him shoot outside whenever he wanted. So now he is playing games in which he is not 8 inches taller than everyone else on the court. Not only that, but he is up against players as big or bigger that know how to play physical, something he is currently clueless to.

Basically he got extremely overrated in high school. Arkansas was not the only school guilty of that, it's just we're the ones getting to deal with it since that's where he chose to play. I don't see Mickelson progressing beyond the finesse game he now posseses. I realize he is a freshman, but we're 27 games into the season and I haven't seen any instances where he wants to mix it up. He never fights to get inside position and usually gets caught outside of the other 5 or 6 people fighting for rebounds. I don't think he has the strength, quickness, toughness, or intelligence to be anything other than a role player.

February 23, 2012 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rlw59 says...

Jordan, I guess alot of my frustration with Mickelson is watching someone 6'10 try to play like they are 5'10. Which if he had the skills to pull off, it would be awesome. I just don't think he does.

February 23, 2012 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )