Arkansas Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

With five starters returning—including one of the league’s top big men (6-9 Michael Washington) and one of its best shooters (Rotnei Clarke)—there is reason to see Arkansas bouncing back from last season’s disastrous 2-14 SEC record.

In addition to Washington, who averaged team-bests of 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds, and Clarke, a 39.3 percent 3-point shooter, the Razorbacks welcome back top young point guard Courtney Fortson.

Fortson made 128 turnovers as a freshman, but also handed out 172 assists, second only to Nick Calathes of Florida in the conference. He also averaged nearly 15 points a game.

Senior Stefan Welsh also returns to the backcourt, but there are depth issues on the wing with the dismissal of Jason Henry for disciplinary reasons.

Junior Jemal Farmer, a junior college transfer, and freshman Julysses Nobles are going to have to step up rather quickly.

Returning starter Michael Sanchez is not a big scorer but is a dependable rebounder and defender inside. He averaged a tick under five rebounds a game as a freshman last year while starting 28 games.

A newcomer who could make a big contribution up front is Marshawn Powell, a 6-7 freshman. However, he is coming off a hand injury that might delay his progress.

In Arkansas’ favor is the upheaval in the SEC Western Division, where defending league champion LSU is facing some major rebuilding, Auburn has key losses and Alabama has a new coach.

Their major competition looks to be right next door with Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Arkansas has gone through quite an overhaul in personnel since last season. The dismissal of G Jason Henry followed the decisions by F Andre Clark and F Brandon Moore to transfer. G Stephen Cox decided to give up basketball to concentrate on golf. Another newcomer a year ago, junior college transfer Montrell McDonald, left the team last December.

• F Michael Washington started all 30 games for the Hogs last season, giving him 40 starts for his career. He was six rebounds short of averaging a double-double for the season at 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds.

• G Courtney Fortson led all freshmen and was second in the SEC in assists with 172, a 5.93 per-game average.

Last Year:   14-16 overall, 2-14 in the SEC.

Head Coach:   John Pelphrey (career 117-95); third year at Arkansas (37-28).

Quote To Note:   “I really didn’t think the perception of the Southeastern Conference going into the year last year was what it ended up being. For some reason or another, there was a perception that became a reality. By the end of November, December the media started talking about the league being down and we never really got that off of us. And we weren’t able to shake it off with our play either.”—Coach John Pelphrey, on the perception of the league now compared to a year ago.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Many new faces—more than would have been expected after the arrival of six freshmen a year ago—not only fill the roster but are going to have to play key roles early on, especially up front. Marshawn Powell, a 6-7 forward, has the ingredients to press the starters in addition to backing up Michael Washington. Other freshmen are Glenn Bryant, a 6-7 forward, and Julysses Nobles, a 6-1 guard. Three junior college transfers—6-5 wing Jemal Farmer, 6-9 F Delvon Johnson and 6-0 G Jeff Peterson—should be big additions. Johnson is known as a strong rebounder. Anthony Borden, a 6-10 center who signed with the Hogs, is headed for a junior college.

Key Early-season Games:   The Razorbacks have a very big game early when they play Louisville in St. Louis on Nov. 17 and a big road test on Dec. 2 at Oklahoma. The early home schedule features a game against Morgan State, which shocked Maryland on the Terrapins’ floor last season. The Hogs finish out the second month with a game against Baylor on Dec. 30 at North Little Rock and then have home games against Alabama-Birmingham and Texas the first week of January.

Program Direction:   The Hogs took a big drop from an NCAA entrant in 2008 to last place in the SEC Western Division last season. They should step up from that, but some player dismissals and other offseason problems may delay the program’s progress. At best, they look like an NIT team.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Courtney Fortson, G Stefan Welsh, G Rotnei Clarke, F Michael Washington, F Michael Sanchez.

Roster Report:  

• Several unidentified players who avoided being charged with rape after an incident in a fraternity house in August will face suspensions and other penalties, coach John Pelphrey said in a statement. “I can assure you that there will be meaningful consequences for those individuals who have violated team rules and have not met the expectations of conduct required of our student-athletes,” Pelphrey said.

The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas later reported that two- or three-game suspensions were given to junior G Marcus Britt, freshman F Glenn Bryant, and walk-on Nick Mason. The newspaper also reported that sophomore G Courtney Fortson was suspended for posting an “insensitive” message on Twitter during the investigation.

• F Marshawn Powell missed several individual workouts because of a broken hand but was deemed ready for the start of practice. Powell sustained the injury to his non-shooting hand in a pickup game.