It started as one of those questions posed like a statement that some media tend to preface interviews with these days.

" Talk about being selected firstteam All-SEC. "

Well, Sonny Weems kind of figured he should know what he's talking about before he talks.

" All right, " mused the University of senior small forward from West Memphis before Tuesday's practice. " I didn't know that. I just found out when you told me. It's good, I guess. "

" So you mean you just found out ?"

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Weems stayed relaxed.

" I just found out when you told me, " he said.

Yeah, and Arkansas senior center Steven Hill was named to the SEC All-Defensive team by the same SEC coaches that voted Weems first-team.

" Oh for real, " Weems said. " You knew he was going to get that. "

After all, Hill, the Razorbacks'7-foot shot-blocker, was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year last year. He likely would have been again this year but for Mississippi State shot-blocking sensation Jarvis Varnado emerging as the league's chief eraser.

Hill was as relaxed about his honor as Weems was about his.

" That's news to me, " Hill said. " Is that the first year they had an All-Defensive team ?"

Actually it is the first SEC All-Defensive team named by the coaches since 1992.

" That's awesome, " Hill said calmly. " I take a lot of pride in my defense. "

Razorback fans know well Hill's big man, low-key demeanor through his four Razorback seasons.

But Weems, a junior college transfer from Arkansas-Fort Smith, only has two Arkansas seasons, just one with coach John Pelphrey who replaced Stan Heath after last season.

Weems'demeanor doesn't exactly fit the 6-6 slashing, leaping, 3-shooting, team scoring / steals leading play that's the high-energy substance of an apparently laidback style.

It's an incongruous mix that Pelphrey, a fiery sort, admitted he first struggled to fathom.

" A lot of people think he is laid back, and maybe he is a little bit, " Pelphrey said. " But his engine is running a little faster than it ever has, and by the same token I have respect that nothing that ever happens to Sonny gets him to a breaking point. You are not going to see Sonny Weems snap. Because most of us get to a boiling point and we break something. "

Attending media promptly broke into laughter about Pelphrey mentioning breaking something. The coach, you may recall, broke a Plexiglas panel during an emotional moment when Arkansas defeated Auburn last Saturday in Walton Arena.

" That's something all of us could learn from, as opposed to making a mistake and having to go back and say'I'm sorry' for it, " Pelphrey said.

So Pelphrey doesn't envision his senior ever kicking out a glass panel ?

" If he did, it would surprise me, " Pelphrey said, smiling. " That would be out of character for him. That's a toughness he has and I appreciate it. "

What Pelphrey really appreciates is Weems is tough enough to take what the coaches dish out and improve for it.

" We've all known he's got tremendous physical abilities, " Pelphrey said. " But I think the reason Sonny Weems is a good basketball player is every time you try and coach him, he looks you dead in the eye and says, ' Yes, sir' and goes out and gives you a pretty good effort. It's a lesson for others. "

Weems'even keel causes Pelphrey not to fret going into Friday's SEC Tournament game in Atlanta about his leading scorer only tallying 5 and 7 points these last two games and hitting just 5 of his last 23 from the field.

After all, the previous 19 games Weems had scored between 11 and 28 points and scored at least 20 in nine.

" We are not worried about him scoring the ball, " Pelphrey said. " He's going to be fine. "

Pelphrey called Weems " very deserving" of his firstteam All-SEC honor.

Pelphrey also lauded Hill, who has blocked 67 shots this season, extending to 311 his career blocked shots, second at Arkansas only to Oliver Miller's 345 shot blocks from 1989-92.

" That's what he does, " Pelphrey said. " Last year he was the Defensive Player of the Year. He's a big part of our defense, certainly our best defensive player. He's done it again, certainly another good honor. He certainly has the respect of the other coaches and media. "

Earning a second-round SEC Tournament bye for finishing second in the West, the Razorbacks, 20-10, 9-7, at 2: 15 p.m. Friday in Atlanta play Thursday's first-round Auburn vs. Vanderbilt winner.

The Hogs practice again today at Walton Arena and fly tonight to Atlanta.