Arkansas G Patrick Beverley, the 2007 SEC Freshman of the Year, was ready to transfer to the University of South Florida and sit out the 2008-09 season. His mother, though, would not allow it, so Beverley will remain with the Hogs.

For the second consecutive year rumors have surfaced about Beverley leaving the Hogs for the Bulls. Last year when Stan Heath, who recruited Beverley to Fayetteville, was fired by Arkansas and then hired by USF, there were rumors about Beverley leaving. But he stayed at Arkansas.

In the past few days, there was more transfer talk coming out of Fayetteville. This time, though, the talk initiated from Beverley - or at least on his Facebook page - where he wrote “I’m leaving.”

WholeHogSports.com reported Beverley later updated his Facebook page about having to make a “tough decision.” On Friday, when given a chance by Brandon Marcello of the Northwest Arkansas Times to end the speculation, Beverley refused to comment.

Monday, though, I spoke with Lisa Beverley, Patrick’s mother. She laughed and said the rumors were false. Her son, who averaged 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds as a sophomore, was not leaving Arkansas and would not be transferring to USF.

Sources who spoke with Patrick Beverley said he wanted to be a Bull, but his mother wanted him to remain at Arkansas. I guess, mother knows best.

On a final note, my apologies for not alerting the masses - or thousands, or hundreds, or dozens, or the two people who noticed - that I was on vacation the past two weeks.