Desperation

Arkansas finally got the SEC win it needed, 89-80 over Alabama, in front of a sparse but strong 14,000-plus at Bud Walton Arena.

Rotnei Clarke finally showed Razorback fans what he was recruited for, hitting six 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 26 points.

The Hogs got the win in desperation mode, already under their worst start in SEC play ever, a span of 17 years.

Head coach John Pelphrey asked the players to play like they were desperate, desperate to get a win--desperate to get that loose ball, to knock down that open shot, to box out on the backside, to hedge on a screen.

And by doing that, Arkansas (13-5, 1-4) delivered to its fans the kind of basketball they saw in wins over then No. 4 Oklahoma and then No. 7 Texas.

If the Razorbacks can ride the momentum of this one, and manage to win six of their last 11, 7-9 should be decent enough to warrant a fourth or fifth place finish in the Western Division, maybe higher.

Maybe Arkansas can win out. Who knows.

But one thing is for certain. This team will come to play from now on, with this desperate attitude that Pelphrey is looking to instill in them everyday. Desperate to prove to the country that those wins over OU and Texas were not flukes, but that they are indeed a good basketball team.

Another thing is for certain--the power of the Courtney Fortson wig must live on.