Like it is: Rebuilding year will test Razorbacks and fans

WALLY HALL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Nolan Richardson sat down heavily.
The scoreboard still read LSU 96, Arkansas 75, and the handful of Razorbacks fans who had made the trip were still in the gym.
Richardson had just finished his interviews with the media and his postgame radio show, and when he sat down it was with one of his oldest, dearest friends.
Sid Simpson, who more than 30 years ago developed a deep relationship with Richardson, was just what Richardson needed.
They spoke for several long minutes, and Richardson was just as deeply troubled by what he had seen from his team as he had been before, but whatever Simpson said gave the UA coach a shot of energy.
This has been a tough season for Richardson.
While Richardson is a gracious loser -- and a gregarious winner at times -- it is not something he is really good at.
It is definitely not something he likes or wants to be part of.
Richardson has certain standards, certain expectations, of himself and others, and there seems to be more on him now than just basketball.
His reassertion recently that he would not be a token came from his heart, and it came with passion. Not anger.
It bothers him more than he shows that it appears his title of associate athletic director is window dressing.
Just as all the contract double-talk did a couple of weeks ago.
It has seemed obvious since the UA took his Converse shoe contract and the accompanying $300,000 away for a school contract with Reebok, Richardson has been troubled.
Most likely, that is one of the reasons that Richardson, in his 15th year at Arkansas, was disappointed his contract was on someone's desk still unfinished.
Those would be real issues with anyone. Throw in the fact that this is a rebuilding year for the Razorbacks, and it is understandable why Richardson seemed so troubled Wednesday night.
Just six years after winning the national championship, Richardson seems to have become an easy and favorite target on call-in shows and message boards.
Accusations on those avenues range from him be retired on the job to having assistants who can't judge talent.
The truth is the Hogs are young. Richardson's defensive schemes may look simple, but there is a rhyme and reason for every move.
The freshmen have not learned every move, let alone the rhyme and reason.
The Hogs may not make the NCAA Tournament this year -- and should strongly consider not allowing Bud Walton Arena to be a fund-raiser for the NIT -- but it isn't the end of the world.
This is when real fans of a program can be counted on.
It is easy to cheer for a team on the way to the Final Four.
The players deserve the backing. They may not be winning enough to satisfy a largely spoiled support group, but they are trying.
Senior Chris Walker is donating every minute of his heart, soul and experience to the team.
Junior Brandon Davis contributes in up-tempo games.
Sophomore guards Brandon Dean and Teddy Gipson have not picked up where they left off last year.
Dean is nursing a sprained ankle that doesn't appear to want to heal, and Gipson was hitting a stride before the tragic death of his dad.
Gipson played exceptionally hard against LSU, but after the game you could see the haunting hurt in his eyes. He and his father were very close.
T.J. Cleveland and Jason Gilbert have improved from last year.
Still, with the departures of Chris Jefferies, Jason Jennings and Justin Hankins, Richardson has six freshmen. You can call it reloading, restocking or anything else, but it is still rebuilding.
Of the six freshmen, three can rock-and-roll on any given night.
Joe Johnson, Carl Baker and Alonzo Lane are prime-time players. They have offensive skills and will get after you on defense.
All three have only scratched the surface of their potential.
Dionsio Gomez has tons of athleticism but very little skill. Time and experience should change that.
Larry Satchell can rebound on defense but has struggled otherwise, and Charles Tatum has never seen a shot he didn't like.
As Richardson said with a quiet resignation Wednesday night, "They are just freshmen."
It is rebuilding years when players find out who their real fans are, and coaches their friends.

This article was published on Friday, January 28, 2000

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