FAYETTEVILLE - It behooves the Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday night at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock against the University of Texas-San Antonio for Desi Sills not standing out so above the rest of the Razorbacks’ bench like last Saturday at Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
After a season-opening overtime loss to Texas, coach Mike Anderson’s now 6-2 Razorbacks had won six consecutive games. They won them with their young bench infusing energy in increasing numbers adding up tangibly in offensive and defensive numbers and inflicting intangible wear and tear on opponents.
However in last Saturday’s 78-77 loss to Western Kentucky, Anderson lamented, postgame.
“Our bench didn’t play well,” Anderson said. “A big component of our basketball team is our bench, guys coming in and bringing energy and bringing that defensive mindset. We didn’t do that tonight.”
Well, one guy did.
Desi Sills, the 6-2 freshman guard and two-time state champion graduate of Jonesboro High School.
“He played really well,” Anderson asserted.
Anderson doesn’t like what amounted virtually to a one-man bench, but he was surely grateful for that one guy last Saturday.
For with the Hogs far from their A-game in the second half quickly losing their 41-33 intermission lead, Sills kept them in the game down to the last shot. He scored all nine of his points in the second half and played just as effectively defensively.
Sills was instrumental rallying the Razorbacks from behind for nearly all the final 15:37 until they grasped that one last lead, 77-76 with 45 seconds left. They lost it permanently on a Hilltoppers layup with 19 seconds left.
“He willed us back into this game,” Anderson said. “We went down I think eight points and I thought his defensive presence out there, his energy level, attack the basket, finishing, he was just dialed in. That’s what I’m looking for. I’m looking for those guys that in the waning moments, when you have to make plays, who are those guys going to be?”
Anderson knew at least one last Saturday.
“No question about it, it was very impressionable, that young guy coming out tonight and how he played,” Anderson said.
Catching up to the coach Monday between his on air sessions at his Miked Up radio show at Sassy’s Barbecue and Grill in Fayetteville, Anderson’s impressions of Sills’ game against Western Kentucky remained just as strong after viewing the game film.
“I’ve been really proud of how Desi is playing,” Anderson said. “He’s picking it up each and every day offensively and defensively. He was the energizer the other day. That’s good to see. He’s getting more and more confident on the floor and we’re going to see that much more of him.”
Back during the October preseason, the team’s most heralded player, preseason All-SEC sophomore center Daniel Gafford of El Dorado, predicted Sills would play early.
“Desi Sills is going to be our defensive dog this year,” Gafford said of Sills’ defensive prowess and persistence that Anderson consistently craves. “I mean he brings intensity to the court.”
Sills arrived with such defensive renown, it’s easy to forget he averaged 20 points a game as a Jonesboro senior and 15.5 points per game as a junior.
“Des can score,” Anderson said. “He’s capable of it. And the more you see of him, the more you see of his offensive capability.”
If that’s what the Hogs need at the time.
“He’s a winner,” Anderson said. “He’s going to do what’s capable to win.
“A lot of guys predicate their game on offense. He doesn’t. He plays defense, but offensively he’s capable, too.”
Whatever strikes a spark seems his match.
Especially as Arkansas and the score waned at the second half’s outset.
“Sitting over on the sideline knowing the starting five was like kind of lacking on energy and my job is to come off the bench and give energy,” Sills said after Saturday’s game. “That's what I wanted to do.”
For him, the close but no cigar did not suffice and must be atoned.
“They had a better game than us, offensively and on defense,” Sills said. “We didn't come out mentally prepared, so next time we will.
“Starting Monday, we’re going to come in mentally prepared as a team. As a whole, we’re going to work together and try to bounce back Saturday.”