FAYETTEVILLE -- Sidney Moncrief, who starred on the University of Arkansas' 1978 Final Four basketball team and was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1979, will be honored at Walton Arena today before the Razorbacks' game against LSU for his induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Razorbacks were a combined 83-11 in Moncrief's last three seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament, including a 32-4 record when Arkansas went to the 1978 Final Four in St. Louis with Moncrief, Ron Brewer and Marvin Delph -- 6-4 guards who became know as "The Triplets" -- leading the way.
"We are very proud of Sidney, and it's an opportunity for us to recognize a great Razorback," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "We always talk about those Triplets and what they meant to the program."
Anderson attended Moncrief's induction ceremony in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 18 after Arkansas beat Indiana 73-72.
"I had the chance to visit with him [Thursday], and he's excited about having the opportunity to come and be recognized," Anderson said. "That's a big, big honor, the Hall of Fame."
Moncrief, a Little Rock Hall standout before signing with the Razorbacks, is the first Arkansas player inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Former Arkansas coaches Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson previously were inducted.
Playing before college basketball added a shot clock and three-point basket that have increased the game's pace, Moncrief averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 122 games at Arkansas. His 1,015 rebounds remain an Arkansas record, and his 2,066 points are second all-time behind Todd Day's 2,395.
Moncrief went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee and Atlanta. He was a five-time All-Star and twice was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Bench needed
Arkansas averaged 18.2 in bench points in its first 13 games, including a high of 38 points in a 98-74 victory at Colorado State on Dec. 5.
Then the Razorbacks' reserves failed to score in Wednesday night's 57-51 loss to Florida.
"I expect a bounce back from our bench," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "The energy they bring, the defensive mindset -- that triggers the offense for them. I'm looking for a much better effort from all of those guys."
Reggie Chaney, a 6-8 freshman forward who has scored eight or more points in four games off the bench with a high of 12 against Austin Peay, played a season-low five minutes against Florida and was 0 of 2 from the field with a turnover.
"He just got frustrated out there," Anderson said. "It just seemed like he was trying [too hard] to make things happen, trying to go get it. He was really missed. He just didn't play well."
Chaney, freshman guards Keyshawn Embery-Simpson (0 of 4) and Desi Sills (0 of 3), and sophomore forward Gabe Osabuohien (0 of 1) combined to shoot 0 of 10 off the bench.
Embery-Simpson has scored 14 points twice this season -- against Colorado State and Austin Peay -- and Sills scored 14 at Texas A&M. Osabuohien's season's high is six points against Montana State and Texas A&M.
Phillips transfer
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson announced earlier this week that freshman guard Jordan Phillips is transferring.
It seemed like odd timing for a player who missed all but a handful of workouts the previous six months while recovering from hip and knee injuries and was gradually being worked into the rotation.
"Obviously, the guy's had a couple of surgeries, so he's kind of behind some of these other guys," Anderson said. "He felt he needed a change."
Anderson was asked whether Phillips' decision to transfer caught him by surprise.
"Nothing surprises me nowadays," he said.
Phillips, who wasn't medically cleared to practice until Nov. 19, played in seven games off the bench and averaged 1.4 points and 0.7 rebounds in 5.4 minutes. He shot 15 percent from the field (3 of 20), was 0 of 6 on three-point attempts and hit 4 of 4 free throws.
Make it 47
Sophomore guard Mason Jones became the 47th Arkansas player -- and second this season -- to score 30 or more points in a game when he had 30 against Florida.
Razorbacks freshman guard Isaiah Joe scored 34 points against Florida International on Dec. 1.
A Razorback has scored 30 or more points in 119 games, led by Rotnei Clarke's 51 against Alcorn State on Nov. 13, 2009.
Sports on 01/12/2019