Neighbors hopes Arkansas women will turn hoops page quickly from loss at UCLA

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – As far as on-court results, No. 5 UCLA’s 101-52 destruction of visiting Arkansas in women’s college basketball on Sunday night wasn’t a pretty thing to watch for Razorback faithful.

But Arkansas head coach Mike Neirgbors was insistent at his inaugural monthly Lunch and Hoops luncheon Tuesday afternoon at the Catfish Hole that the trip to Los Angeles was not a lost weekend.

“I know it was easy to watch the game against UCLA and think there was no improvement, but after watching the film there was improvement, but there was just a big jump in who we played,” Neighbors said. “Don’t be surprised if you see UCLA beat (defending national champ) South Carolina next Sunday when they play them.

“We did a lot of good things defensively, but they just shot over us. We will find out if that trip was a good for us when we play Oral Roberts and Arkansas State these next two games.”

Indeed Arkansas (3-2) will host Oral Roberts (3-1) Thursday night at 6 p.m. in its NAHA N7 game celebrating Native American Heritage Month and then Arkansas State (2-2) on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena.

Both are high-scoring teams with depth that allows them to play up-temp basketball.

“We are playing back-to-back teams that have routinely scored 100 points in their games,” Neighbors said. “Arkansas State scored 100 points against Arizona State (in a 100-96 road win) and 114 the other night against Mississippi Valley (State) (in a 114-54 victory) and made 19 or 20 3s.

“…This is going to be up and down, it’s going to be a little bit wild at times. So it will make us appear that way was well. You are going to get your money’s worth in both of these home games because they are both scoring 90 points a game routinely.

“…Oral Roberts looks a little bit like a hockey team. They will substitute 5 for 5 sometimes and they play really, really hard. We have done pretty well in that style.”

Neighbors believes taking on foes like UCLA is a positive thing for his young team – win or lose.

“You always want to face somebody from another league that is like the best teams in our league,” Neighbors said. “So that was our preparation for South Carolina, Texas, LSU, Tennessee – those teams at the top.

“We like every other year to go on the road when we are not playing a tournament outside the United States so we can potentially get better for what the postseason might bring.

“It happen to be UCLA in a year they brought in an unbelievable (recruiting) class and had a lot of returnees. The game was a big challenge for us. The score was the way it was because they were really good, we didn’t make enough shots and they didn’t have four of their players that were at the end of their bench.

“So they had to have their starters in there the whole time. She wasn’t trying to run up the score or any of that stuff. It’s just how they to play that game out.”

He also stressed the off-the-court positives of road trips like the one to Los Angles.

“As far as the trip, any trip…we were going to enjoy our trip,” Neighbors said. “We are going to do our prep and practice and then we are going to Hollywood and try to see some stars. Then we are going to go to the Santa Monica Pier, get to see the ocean and enjoy our trip out there.

“It’s to bond us together and to show these kids other parts of the world and for others, other parts of the country. I will always try to be a teacher/coach.”

Arkansas still has six games before 5-9 freshman guard Phoenix Stotijn of Haarlem, Netherlands, is eligible to play on Dec. 15 against visiting Texas Tech.

“Phoenix, who has been here now since Christmas of last year, had an NCAA eligibility issue that we appealed many times, but were unsuccessful in those appeals,” Neighbors said. “So she will not be be eligible until the Texas Tech game.”

Neighbors says there will be no easing Stotijn in.

“So that is why you still see her out there (at games), why you see her out there if you come to practice and practicing with us and getting ready,” Neighbors said. “Because it will be an immediate thing where she will go from not playing to playing about 30 minutes a night.”

Photo by John D. James