If anything, Arkansas’ 1-1 finish to the season in the National Invitational Tournament is going to increase the buzz that has surrounded this team and Mike Anderson for the last month.
The Razorbacks got a fairly comfortable first-round win over a Providence team that isn’t very good. Facing Indiana on Saturday, things were a little tougher … especially on the road in a loud and hostile environment.
And the Hogs couldn’t get a win.
It was pointed out by many this past week the Providence game was an anomaly. When Gabe Osabuohien hits a 3-pointer in a game there’s something different. Bless his heart, Gabe fired up three more attempts Saturday and I’m not sure two of them hit the rim solidly.
Against the Hoosiers, Desi Sills popped up with 18 points and Isaiah Joe had 12, but there wasn’t much more in the way of scoring.
After a solid outing, the Hogs followed it up with a so-so effort and that’s the problem many fans are having with the way things have been going with Anderson’s teams.
On Saturday, the Hogs led most of the first half, but fell behind by two at the break.
Then came yet another cold streak.
Arkansas went nearly the entire final seven minutes of the game without a field goal and the only reason they were able to make things interesting at the end was, simply, Indiana isn’t very good, either.
The Razorbacks had the ball with 6.4 seconds remaining, which is having a chance. A pair of free throws from Mason Jones closed the Hoosiers’ lead to one but Devonte Green pushed the lead back to three with two free throws of his own.
A last second 3-point attempt from Jalen Harris wasn’t the worst look in the world, but probably a little deep for him and it clanged off the rim.
Down low, Reggie Chaney basically disappeared. He scored two points off just three shots and got just three rebounds.
Arkansas struggled down low, being outscored 30-10.
The Razorbacks end the season 18-16.
Arkansas’ basketball program has gone steadily downhill the last couple of years with a player some are hoping is a lottery pick in June’s NBA draft, but more likely will be a later first-round, early second-round pick.
When the SEC made a commitment to improve things in men’s basketball a few years ago, others stepped up their game while some feel Anderson didn’t change a thing.
It’s a league where every coach in a major sport has to spend more time recruiting than actual coaching and landing really good players just to stay competitive.
To compete for championships you better be landing either a whole lot of really good players or a couple of big time stars.
Then you have to put ’em on the floor and win games. Just trying isn’t good enough in the SEC and the Razorback fan base is getting restless.
Arkansas basketball has now gone longer without the success experienced during a 19-year run that included Final Four appearances and two championship games and a national title.
Anderson wasn’t brought back home to win one game in NCAA Tournaments, much less a solo win in a couple of NIT appearances.
As the program sits now, after eight complete seasons by Anderson, it’s not where anyone expected. A 62 percent overall winning percentage (55 percent SEC) with no conference or tournament titles is why there is an ever-increasing amount of noise.
What ultimately happens will be determined by other people over the next couple of weeks.
But going forward it’s reasonable to expect the minimum standard might not be making the NCAA or even winning a single game there.
When teams don’t meet expectations the coach has a problem, right or wrong.
And Mike Anderson has a problem.
