Post-Game Quotes

ARKANSAS vs. Mississippi State

Jan. 30, 2008

POST-GAME QUOTES

Arkansas Head Coach John Pelphrey:

“We were certainly fortunate to win. (Mississippi State) was the hottest team in our league, one of the hottest in the country. But, it’s one game, not two. I’m proud of all of our guys, in terms of how hard they played. We wanted to do the little things more. I thought we were a team. I thought we had ‘it.’ It was pretty cool because I know how good State is. We’ve got enough experience under our belt, we should be able to do it again.”

(On Vincent Hunter)

“What Vincent Hunter has done for our program, not only for five years, but for the last two weeks, is special. No one loves the Razorbacks more than Vincent. Tonight, he was the guy—his defense, his leadership. How special it was when that three-point shot went in and he shot it from Little Rock.”

(On perimeter play and Jarvis Varnardo)

“Sonny (Weems) was special again tonight. Patrick was special scoring the ball. The three-point line is not something you can count on, it’s fickle. To make some shots against a team like Mississippi State, because of their shot blockers, is very important. It was big (to get Varnardo on the bench). We would rather have him on the bench than on the court.”

Arkansas players

C, Steven Hill

“It was a good win for us. It was nice to win a home game. We’re trying to get back to basics, defensively, after some tough losses. (Jarvis) Varnardo is very effective blocking shots. We did a good job of going into his body and drawing fouls.”

G/F, Sonny Weems

“(Mississippi State) is a great defensive team. Coach (Pelphrey) told us to go right at their post players. That was the game plan. We have big hearts, and we looked deep inside and decided we weren’t going to let this season go to waste (after losing to South Carolina and Georgia).

G, Patrick Beverley

“Sonny (Weems) has been practicing his butt off. He’s stepping up as a scorer and a leader. Our defensive intensity and pressure is key to our offense and our victories.”

F, Michael Washington

“It was a big win, but you have got to look at the big picture. It’s a long season and we have to come to practice consistently.”

Mississippi St. Head Coach Rick Stansbury

“I give Arkansas a lot of credit. I thought they played exceptionally well.”

“When Sonny Weems and Patrick Beverley shoot the ball and score like that, it’s very difficult to match up with, so I give them a lot of credit.”

“We weren’t at our best. Arkansas had a lot to do with that. We’ll put this behind us and get ready for Tennessee.”

“We had to play in foul trouble that first half. We played the last 15 minutes without Jarvis (Varnado). That really cost us to have to go to the bench and depend on some young guys.”

“I just thought the emotion of the building and playing on the road tonight got to us.”

“We didn’t have the offensive toughness you’ve got to have on the road.”

On Sonny Weems…

“Those games when he plays and he’s assertive, that’s when they’re at their best. And he was assertive tonight.”

Mississippi St. guard Jamont Gordon:

“We were way better than the way we played tonight. We turned the ball over way too much and they had the home crowd behind them the whole way through.”

“The difference tonight was definitely the home crowd. This was one of the toughest road games we’ve had because of how loud their crowd was.”

“(Arkansas) got shots to fall when they wanted to and they got rebounds when they wanted to. We just couldn’t get those things done tonight.”