FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas junior guard Mardracus Wade had started46 consecutive games before being replaced in the lineup by Fred Gulley on Saturday when the Razorbacks beat Vanderbilt 56-33.
“He’s started for us, so it’s just one game,” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said Monday when asked about Wade. “That’s all.” Wade played 12 minutes in the first half off the bench against Vanderbilt and scored three points with one assist, then didn’t play in the second half. Talking with reporters before Monday’s practice, he sounded frustrated about his second-half benching.
“I come in here and play with the same effort 110 percent,” said Wade, who is averaging 7.4 points. “I play hard. I try to stay positive.
“I don’t know what Coach A had going that day or what was in his plans or what not, but he’s got to do what’s best for the team. Whatever, I’m happy we came out with the win. I was excited about that.” Anderson, asked after the Vanderbilt game why Wade didn’t play in the second half, said other Razorbacks were playing better.
Wade said the second-half benching put some doubts in his mind that he hoped discuss with Anderson.
“I didn’t do anything to lead up to it,” Wade said. “So there’s a lot of stuff in my head right now. A lot of things we’ve got to talk about, hopefully, after practice or maybe [this] morning or whatever.
“Of course, there’s always something on his mind and there’s something on my mind. Hopefully, we can get things worked out and hopefully I can be out there pretty soon.” Anderson said Wade needs to have better practices to take into the games.
Sports, Pages 20 on 01/15/2013