Pitino Gets the Best of Pelphrey, Arkansas

ST. LOUIS - Rick Pitino easily got the best of another matchup against a former player. Then again, John Pelphrey was at a decided disadvantage.

Reginald Delk scored 20 points in a reserve role to double his previous career high and sparked key surges in both halves, helping No. 20 Louisville open with a 96-66 victory over depleted Arkansas in the Hall of Fame Showcase on Tuesday night.

"We had more numbers, we had fresher bodies," Pitino said. "I'm real proud of John Pelphrey, he's just undermanned right now."

Jared Swopshire added 10 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double and Pitino won in his 750th career game. Pelphrey played for Pitino at Kentucky from 1989-92, but is severely short-handed in his third season at Arkansas after suspending five players indefinitely - including three who were identified but not charged in a rape complaint.

"I'm not really worried about whether we were worn down or not," Pelphrey said. "This is what it is right now. We're not making any excuses."

Rotnei Clarke had 16 points for Arkansas (1-1), four days after scoring an SEC-record 51 points with 13 3-pointers in the opener against Alcorn State. Marshawn Powell had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Razorbacks, who have just six scholarship players.

"I felt like they had a pretty good game plan," Clarke said. "I didn't have a lot of looks."

Pitino said controlling Clarke was a crucial element of the plan, saying "We made up our mind we were going to yell out Clarke's name on every pass."

Pelphrey expected the attention after Clarke's big opener.