If John Pelphrey prepares his Hogs as well as he prepared himself for Monday’s news conference that announced him as the Arkansas Razorbacks’ head basketball coach, Arkansas fans should be in for some good times at Walton Arena once again. Coached to near perfection, Pelphrey made all the right moves Monday at Walton Arena as he was introduced to fans. When Frank Broyles handed him a Razorback baseball cap, he fitted it snugly on his red head without any regard for the possible “ hat head” look that would follow. He and his wife Tracy both knew the Hog Call and participated in it like old pros. Pelphrey paid homage to the architects of Razorback basketball — Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson — spoke of Razorback greats Moncrief, Delph, Brewer, May, Day and Miller and praised Arkansas’ ardent fan base. And just as importantly said Fayetteville would not be his stepping stone. “ If I were the head coach at Kentucky, I’d be an idiot the minute my feet hit the ground, ” Pelphrey said. “ Coaching there would ruin everything I accomplished there as a player. This is his job for me. ” Pelphrey said his style of basketball is the pressing and running sort fathered by Rick Pitino, who coached him at Kentucky, and carried on by his mentor Billy Donovan, whom he served as an assistant for six years at Florida. In other words, Pelphrey wrapped his loving arms around the Razorback Nation and whispered the sweet words every Razorbacker from Bella Vista to Helena and Jonesboro to Texarkana wanted to here. “ I understand how precious this opportunity is, ” Pelphrey said. “ They don’t come around very often, and I want to make the most of it. ” Just six days after Dan Altman jilted Arkansas to return to his beloved Creighton, Pelphrey made Hog fans feel good about their program and themselves once again. And that means a lot to Hog basketball fans who have been put through the wringer in recent weeks. All Hog fans want is a team that works hard, lives up to their ability, plays an exciting brand of ball and wears their Razorback red proudly. Given that, fans will fill Walton Arena and they will travel to the SEC and NCAA tournaments, just like the Big Blue of Kentucky. Pelphrey understands and values that. After playing at Kentucky and coaching at Oklahoma State and Florida, Pelphrey knows a thing or two about big time basketball, and he showed it when he mentioned the banners that ring the ceiling of Bud Walton Arena.

I don’t even think Altman looked up to notice them in his news conference last week.

As a player and as an assistant, Pelphrey had a hand in hanging a few such banners since being named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball as a senior at Paintsville (Ky. ) High in 1987 and his goal is to add to Walton Arena’s collection.

It will be a tough job. Arkansas has not hung a Sweet 16 banner since 1996 and has not advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 1999.

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But Pelphrey took the first bold step in restoring greatness to Arkansas’ basketball program Monday. He showed a true respect for and understanding of what Razorback basketball is all about.

Pelphrey seems to have the drive and hunger to succeed and the plan to make it happen. Only time will tell if he is truly the right fit for Arkansas’ program.

But for the time being, Hog fans should set their cynical natures aside. Pelphrey has shown the Razorback program respect. Hog fans should afford him the same consideration.

Terry J. Wood is the sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.