FAYETTEVILLE — Missouri State won 11 games total last season.
The Bears (10-0) have a shot to get their 11th victory of this season when they play Arkansas (6-5) at 7 tonight in Walton Arena.
Missouri State hasn’t started 11-0 since the 1958-1959 season.
“They’ve played well at home against quality opponents, and they’ve played well on the road against quality opponents,” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. “I guess you could arguably say they’re the best team we’ve played this year.”
That’s saying something considering Arkansas has lost to Louisville (69-66) in St. Louis and at Oklahoma (67-47).
“These guys are just as good if not better than those teams,” Pelphrey said. “From our side of it, we know how we competed in those games and the challenge that lies ahead of us for this one.
“They defend, they rebound, and they put a lot of pressure on your defense. They play with a lot of energy and passion.”
The Bears beat Arkansas 62-59 last season in the inaugural game at JQH Arena to hand the Razorbacks their only nonconference loss, but Missouri State finished 11-20.
“I knew this team would get there,” Bears’ second-year coach Cuonzo Martin said of this season’s turnaround. “I’m a little surprised it’s this early.
“But they’re playing well together and playing well as a team and they’re defending. Not at the level we will be eventually, but they’re defending and having fun.”
The Bears have been winning with a combination of returnees (sophomore forward Kyle Weems and junior forward Will Creekmore) and newcomers (junior guards Adam Leonard and Jermaine Mallett, freshman guard Keith Pickens and sophomore center Caleb Patterson).
“They’ve gotten better in terms of the guys that returned,” Pelphrey said. “And obviously they’ve added some key pieces through recruiting.”
Weems, 6-6, is averaging team-highs of 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds.
“He makes a lot of effort plays, he’s physical,” Pelphrey said. “He shoots threes, he offensive rebounds.
“He does a lot for their basketball team to help them play well and win.”
Missouri State’s home victories include Auburn and Tulsa, and it is 3-0 on the road, winning at UALR, Arkansas State and Saint Louis by 10 or more points.
After the Bears beat Saint Louis 73-63 on Saturday, Billikens Coach Rick Majerus said he’d be “shocked” if Missouri State doesn’t win the Missouri Valley Conference title.
“They’re athletic, deep and tall,” Majerus said. “They took it to us.”
Missouri State has 13 players averaging between 7.1 and 31.4 minutes.
Leonard, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky averaging 13.6 points, is the only Bear averaging more than 27 minutes.
“One through 13, that’s the nature of our team,” Weems said. “We’re deep ... If one person goes down, someone is there to pick it up.”
Arkansas is deeper than at the start of the season when it was missing five scholarship players because of suspensions or injuries, but the Razorbacks are playing without sophomore point guard Courtney Fortson (indefinite suspension) and sophomore forward Michael Sanchez (foot injuries).
Senior forward Michael Washington missed two games earlier this season because of a sprained back, but has led the Razorbacks in their past two games with 22 points against Alabama State and 25 against Stephen F. Austin.
“That’s what we’ve expected from him all year,” Arkansas sophomore guard Rotnei Clarke said. “He’s turning it on here in recent games, and I believe he’ll continue to do that.”
Missouri State’s undefeated start has gotten some national attention. The Bears are getting enough votes in The Associated Press poll to be 33rd in the balloting.
“Coach always mentions to us that your work isn’t going unnoticed,” Weems said. “We know that we’re getting a little bit of attention, but we’re nowhere close to where we need to be.
“We’re not satisfied. We’re trying to keep a humble head and get better and get wins.”
Sports, Pages 17 on 12/22/2009