Hog Calls

Hogs' Madden has grown on, off court

Rashad Madden, Arkansas senior, drives to the basket as Alex Robinson, Texas A&M freshman, defends in the second half Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Rashad Madden, Arkansas senior, drives to the basket as Alex Robinson, Texas A&M freshman, defends in the second half Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- If he were a betting man, Mike Anderson would have wagered that Ky Madden would be among the first to go and not the last to leave.

Madden, a senior point guard from Lepanto who played high school basketball at East Poinsett County High School, is the last left from the 2011-2012 Arkansas Razorbacks roster that Anderson inherited from previous coach John Pelphrey.

Madden never played for Pelphrey but was a November 2010 signee for 2011-2012, as were Devonta Abron, Hunter Mickelson and BJ Young. Abron transferred to TCU after one year. Mickelson transferred to Kansas after two. Young turned pro after two.

All left on good terms but left nonetheless.

Three upperclassmen who Anderson inherited transferred during his first summer here. Another transferred after one season.

Madden remained. Anderson wouldn't have believed it in 2011, the coach told his radio audience Monday night.

"The first time I saw Ky when he came on campus, knowing me, I didn't think he would last for me," said Anderson, who is in his fourth season as the Razorbacks heads coach. "I'm one of those guys who is a disciplinarian. I am tough on them and give tough love.

"I can say he has done a wonderful job. He has shown leadership to this basketball team, and he has impacted this basketball team."

Madden had a temperamental reputation in high school, deserved it seemed, upon first encountering him at the high school all-star game that 2011 summer at Walton Arena.

You would never know those temperamental times, judging from his first season at Arkansas until now.

His considerable growth on and off the court speaks well of Madden and his college years.

GOOD FIELD, NOW HITS

Baseball's slang of "good field-no hit" generally applies to a catcher, a shortstop, a second baseman or a center fielder but seldom a third baseman.

So Bobby Wernes was an exception as a sophomore junior college transfer third baseman for Dave Van Horn's Razorbacks last season.

Wernes started 56 of the Razorbacks' 65 games last season. He hit .217 with 1 extra-base hit and 1 double in 175 at-bats.

Van Horn played him anyway. The infield was thin on depth, but mainly Wernes' defense was that good.

"He was probably the best defensive third baseman in the SEC last year," Van Horn said during the preseason. "He's our best fielder, flat-out fielding the baseball, but the bat's got to come on."

Well, it has. Not only has Wernes' fielding been spectacular for the 7-2 Hogs, but he was hitting .522 going into Tuesday's 7-0 victory over Eastern Illinois. He was 12 for 23, including 1 double, 3 triples and 1 home run before an 0-for-4 performance Tuesday reduced him to a still strong .387.

Wernes' improved hitting correlates to hitting the weights, Van Horn said.

"He's gotten bigger and stronger and really worked hard," Van Horn said. "He's off to a tremendous start for us, and we need it."

Sports on 03/04/2015

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