Coaches deal with changes

The head coaches of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Arkansas State University men’s basketball teams permanently suspended their leading scorers within the same week, and today their programs meet while they’re trying to establish control of their locker rooms.

UALR second-year Coach Wes Flanigan dismissed sophomore guard Andre Jones (12.3 points per game) on Feb. 5 for “conduct detrimental to the program,” and ASU first-year Coach Mike Balado dismissed senior guard Deven Simms (17.1) on Feb. 10 because Simms “was unable to adhere” to team standards.

Neither team has won since; and both coaches are looking for a change with five games left before the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

“We’re trying to establish a culture here,” said Balado, who was hired last March after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Louisville. “We’re not allowing kids to get away with things just because they’re talented. … In the long run, it’ll help this program. The decision needed to be made, unfortunately, and by moving forward, I’ll see who on my team will step up.”

ASU (9-17, 4-9 Sun Belt) has lost two consecutive games, and UALR (5-21, 2-11) has lost eight in a row. It is the longest Trojans losing streak since they lost eight consecutive during the 2009-2010 season when they finished 8-22.

Since the Sun Belt Tournament expanded to include all 12 teams in 2017, neither ASU (11th place) nor UALR (12th) is in danger of missing the postseason.

“We’re still fighting for seeds,” Flanigan said. “It’s not particularly over. We still have the possibility, if we’re able to finish out the season strong, we can possibly go from 12th to as high as an eight seed. We’re going to continue to grind this thing out, continue to get better, and we can’t put together a string until we win our first game.”

When UALR lost at home at ASU 70-62 on Jan. 20, Flanigan said that was “part of” the reason the slump began.

UALR had just come off a 77-65 victory to preseason favorite Texas Arlington and a last-second, 72-70 loss to Texas State.

The Trojans then let a 13-point lead slip as the Red Wolves made a season-high 13 three-pointers in ASU’s comeback victory. UALR has not won since. ASU junior guard Grantham Gillard started in place of Simms in the 87-67 loss at South Alabama last Saturday, but Balado said he still hasn’t decided whether Gillard will start against UALR.

Gillard recorded his first career double-double the first time against UALR with 23 points and 11 rebounds.