Rickey Scott Trying to be Himself

FAYETTEVILLE--Periodically Rickey Scott has needed to be reminded by those who saw him as a high school player that he can often look like somebody else on the college level.

"One of my old teammates from high school called me," Scott told the Razorback Nation, "and asked me, 'Why are you not playing like yourself? You're not normal.'  He made me think about that and I just wanted to change it around."

Scott also got a wake up call from Razorback head coach Mike Anderson who said to him, "Time is ticking. You're not a freshmen or a sophomore anymore. You got to show people what you can do."

Through the first 11 games of the season Scott is averaging just 5.3 points and 15 minutes of playing time per game but Anderson says some blue collar traits are starting to show up in Scott's game.

To me he's playing with more aggressiveness," Anderson told reporters as the Hogs reported back from the Christmas break. "(I see) a little bit more toughness. In order to get on the floor we've got to have more guys that are doing that."

"I took it personal," Scott said of the calling out he got from Anderson. "I took it and I came out and practiced hard and I think once you practice hard you'll bring it to the game."

Teammate B.J. Young said that if Scott can unleash his full arsenal of talents he can make a big difference in the kind of season the Razorbacks will have.

"Rickey Scott can do a lot of things," Young observed. "He can pass. He can score. Rebound. He's a good size guard. I think Rickey Scott is going to be a real key for our team this year."

"I've been seeing it in practice," Anderson revealed. "To me he's playing with a lot more confidence. Assertive, that would be the word. He's one of the better guys when you talk about pushing the basketball. He really gets the ball down the floor and gets it to people."

Now that Scott is playing like himself again Hog basketball fans have to be hoping that fake Rickey Scott has left the house never to resurface.