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Beverley warms up, UA wins Sunday, Mar 2, 2008 By Harry King FAYETTEVILLE - The most pervasive question of Arkansas' slump went unasked on Saturday. Until sophomore Patrick Beverley looked like freshman Patrick Beverley against Vanderbilt, the theories about his sub-par shooting ranged from mechanical to defensive game plans to him being weary from summer basketball. Nothing is wrong with Beverley. On an afternoon when Arkansas was in desperate need of a victory, he made 5-of-7 3s in the 78-73 decision over the No. 18 team in the country. The last time he made five treys in a game, Arkansas beat Auburn in the Southeastern Conference opener seven weeks ago. Prior to the Vandy game, assistant coach Tom Ostrom told some boosters that Beverley had been returning to Walton Arena at night to work on his shooting. In the post-game, Beverley teammates Sonny Weems and Gary Ervin also referenced Beverley's extended hours. I pefer to think the catalyst was his slam dunk that didn't count. As therapeutic as a couch and much cheaper, it won't be found in the play by play. Beverley had already missed three free throws when he chased down and fouled Jermaine Beal with 5:19 to play in the first half. He continued on for 45 feet to slam the ball. He said later that he didn't hear the whistle, but he loosened up after the stuff and made two 3s to help Arkansas to a 40-36 halftime lead. Vandy didn't win seven SEC games in a row without some backbone and from the 15:09 mark until the final seven seconds, neither team led by more than four. It was the sort of situation in which Arkansas has caved too often this year. Teetering toward the NIT after losing four of their last five, the Razorbacks are back in the NCAA Tournament picture at 8-6 in the SEC. Winning at Ole Miss on Tuesday could put them over the hump. In the second half, Beverley's stroke was unhurried and confident, much like a golfer who has knocked in a couple of 8-foot par putts. "When he got open, he knocked down shots," Weems said. "That's what we need out of him. When Patrick gets going, we're a different team." In losses at Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama, Beverley was 4-of-25 from long range. Darian Townes got control long enough to get the ball to Beverley for a 3 that put Arkansas in front 61-59 with 4:27 to play. Less than two minutes later, Alex Gordon was short on a jumper and Ervin took off with the rebound. He slowed for his teammates and then passed to Beverley, who waited for a defender to exit stage right and then moved to his left for a 3 and 66-62. With Arkansas leading by one, Beverley was in control, directing Charles Thomas to set a screen and then using that shield to get free for another 3 and 69-65. Vanderbilt called time - an important factor later - and Beverley threw a right-left combination before he headed to the huddle. At 71-68, he watched the battle inside while keeping one hand on Shan Foster about 15 feet from the basket. Vandy used a double screen to free Foster for his sixth 3 and then Beverley had the wherewithal to run the baseline toward Weems for the inbounds pass. Weems' two free throws made it 74-71 with 10.8 to play. Foster, who made 6-of-8 3s, took up a spot with his left foot in the lane with his shadow alongside. Before Jermaine Beal made two free throws, it was Beverley imploring the crowd and doing a sidestraddle hop on the free throw line to keep them going. At 74-73, Ross Neltner called a timeout that the Commodores didn't have. "My bad. My bad," he told a teammate. Helpless, Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings settled for a wry smile. Appropriately, it was Beverley with the final rebound. He took off dribbling down court before throwing the ball toward the rafters. ---- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
