Razorbacks kill the Camels

November 4, 2008 9:03 am · By Dustin · 5 Comments

John Pelphrey is building a machine.

Not much is expected out of the 2008-09 Razorback Basketball team. They’re picked last in the SEC this year by most media outlets, but the 3-5,000 fans who showed up for the season opening exhibition against Campbellsville last night would beg to differ.

Mike Washington led the Razorbacks with 22 points and 7 rebounds, Stephan Welsh added 20, and freshman sharpshooter Rotnei Clarke lived up to the hype by contributing 17 points as the very young Razorbacks killed the Cambellsville Camels 103-58.

There was a lot to be excited about. The Razorbacks haven’t had a consistent threat from the outside since Pat Bradley left nearly 10 years ago, and Welsh and Clarke both looked capable of filling that role. The Razorbacks looked athletic in a full court defense that created opportunities in the open court with steals, one 10 second call in the backcourt, and would have had another one had Cambellsville not called a timeout. The Razorbacks also took five charges in the game, three of them by Michael Washington.

The basketball IQ is on the rise. We have some capable outside shooters. And all of that without the guy some are calling the on-the-court leader in freshman Courtney Fortston, who was suspended for the first exhibition for undisclosed reasons.

Even the band, under new direction this year, looked fresh with two guitars, a bass, and a trapset set up in front of the regular horn section.

Better get your tickets now. These guys are going to surprise some people. For realz.