Arkansas Razorbacks: Mike Anderson Doubts

Many people are doubting the current head basketball coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Let me put it the simplest way I can. Mike Anderson is the best coach for Arkansas and he isn’t going anywhere!

Arkansas’ exit from the NCAA Tournament was certainly disappointing, but what did we actually expect from this team? They achieved something no other team had achieved in 20 years of basketball at Arkansas. The 27 wins and a round of 32 exit is quite the accomplishment for a coach in his 4th season.

We all know it can be agonizing to watch this team at times, but they simply won ball games. Isn’t that what Mike Anderson came here for?

I’m certainly not the all-time defender of coach Anderson, but I do believe in him and his ways. I’m the first to admit that watching him smirk on the sideline and continue to look baffled and confused just irritates the piss out of me, but at the end of the game we’re singing the Arkansas fight song to victory and we’re doing it 25+ times in a season.

Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Mike Anderson directs his team against the Wofford Terriers in the first half of a game in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, it’s that dumb founded look that you see above! I’ve been a so-called “hater” of Anderson all season long because of his coaching style. I’m truly not a fan of a coach that can’t draw up a play for one of our best players. On the other hand, he’s a spectacular motivator and mentor to these players.

This is the first time I can remember a team staying out of trouble, or avoiding suspensions. The players react to what Mike Anderson has to say because he’s the ultimate player’s coach. He reminds me a lot of former Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt. I know many of you won’t like that comparison, but let’s think about it. All the players loved to play for him, he always got the players to come out with energy and we always questioned his play calling. Sound familiar?

The most important aspect that’s making Mike Anderson such a great coach is his ability to make each player better. We don’t get to see what goes on during practice. Take a close look at what he’s done to players like Rashad Madden, Michael Qualls and Bobby Portis.

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Madden was a mess during his first two seasons and I certainly never thought he’d be able to run the point guard position as well as he did. Qualls was a dunking machine for two seasons and miraculously became this all-around basketball player over the summer. Then, there’s Portis! He hit the weight room and showed his talents by winning SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore. Now we’re just praying he comes back!

I realize the season just ended, but if Portis and Qualls stay, just wait until you see what this team can accomplish next year with freshmen Jimmy Whitt and Ted Kapita coming in. We’re also adding a transfer in Dusty Hannahs, who will play much like Anthlon Bell. He’s a pure shooter and could become a serious weapon off the bench.

The point of this article is to calm Razorback Nation down a little bit because it isn’t 1994. Mike Anderson certainly has us on the right track and we could be seeing an elite team for the next few seasons, so sit back and enjoy Hog fans.