Hog Calls

UA big men answer Anderson's call

Arkansas' Willy Kouassi (50) gets the rebound against Evansville in the first half Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Moses Kingsley wasn't Arkansas' only big man from Africa who was sent a message from Mike Anderson before the Razorbacks' victory over Tennessee.

Willy Kouassi, Arkansas' other big man from Africa, he from Ivory Coast, also got a message from the Arkansas coach.

Kingsley, the 6-10 junior from Nigeria who is one of 10 finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, was told he would sit at the start of Arkansas' Saturday's 85-67 SEC success at Walton Arena.

Kouassi, a 6-10 graduate student transfer from Kennesaw (Ga.) State, was an emergency addition to Arkansas' roster last summer, was told he would be a first-time starter in Kingsley's place.

Kingsley has been cited for two technical fouls this SEC season. The most recent one coming in the 87-83 loss Feb. 3 at Florida, which critically "shifted momentum," in Florida's favor, Anderson said.

Anderson handled the situation like most good coaches do. Publicly he defended his player, called the technical "baffling" and advised officials for the future that opponents would "target" the big man trying to rile his temper.

Privately, really not all that privately considering he benched Kingsley at the outset of Saturday's game, Anderson gave Kingsley an earful regarding body language, spoken language or whatever could prompt him getting slapped with a T.

Anderson told media last week, when talking about the technicals, "it ain't going to happen again," and he added emphasis to the word "ain't."

It certainly couldn't happen at the outset with Kingsley benched.

"I got the point," Kingsley said Saturday.

Anderson concurred.

"I think the message was served and he is ready to move forward," Anderson said after Kingsley scored a team-leading 17 points with five rebounds in 23 minutes. "You have got to understand that you are a target. And you have got to go with the flow and play above that. I thought he did tonight."

Kingsley starred, but he was not a savior against Tennessee.

Arkansas vanquished the Vols from start to finish, thanks largely to Kouassi.

The Razorbacks led 12-2 when Kingsley replaced Kouassi at 14:32.

Kouassi contributed a tip-in, two rebounds, a deflection leading to an Arkansas basket and defensively provided a shot-altering presence.

"One of our better defensive performances by our team and we started with Willy Kouassi in the starting lineup," Anderson said. "It seemed like he was an energizer in that capacity."

That's what Anderson yearned for from Kouassi upon his arrival but didn't necessarily know he would get.

Arkansas' roster was severely depleted before Kouassi became available as a fifth-year graduate transfer who was nursing an injured wrist.

"When I first saw him, I was like, 'Whoa! What are we going to get out of this guy here?' Anderson said. "But Willy has worked extremely hard and he is a quick learner. Having the opportunity to go against Trey (Thompson) and Moses every day has benefited him. This is it for him when you talk about the basketball part of it, and he is giving us everything he's got. He is bringing great energy to the table."

Sports on 02/08/2016