FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Tom Collen will rely heavily on his so-called unknowns this year.
The Razorbacks women’s team lost three starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, and Arkansas is counting on a handful of freshmen and veterans who have had nondescript careers up to this point to replace them.
Arkansas will get its first look at the new players in primary roles when the Razorbacks play Rogers State, a NAIA team, in an exhibition game at 2 p.m. today at Walton Arena.
“We’ve talked a lot about establishing an identity for this team,” Collen said. “We have some players who have been sitting on the bench for a while, and in some cases acouple of fifth-year seniors. This is their opportunity to show.
“These players have never taken on the role of being starters or primary roles. They’ve been support players. I think I’m as anxious as anybody to find out if they can step into these new roles and perform at a high level.”
The Razorbacks, picked to finish eighth in the SEC in thepreseason, are looking to build on last year’s breakthrough season. Arkansas lost its first four SEC games and then turned things around with a program-record eight-game conference winning streak.
Arkansas’ run keyed a 24-9 season that ended with a second-round loss to Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament. Gone from that team are WNBA draft pick C’eira Ricketts, guard Lyndsay Harris and forward Ashley Daniels.
Ricketts, Harris and Daniels were three of the Razorbacks’ top four scorers a year ago, providing nearly 29 points a game. Daniels led the team with 6.4 rebounds a game.
“Obviously we did lose some key players,” sophomore point guard Calli Berna said. “We got a lot of learning experience getting to playwith them.”
Senior center Sarah Watkins, the Razorbacks’ one legitimate known standout, said she doesn’t have any doubts about this year’s team. It’s true that some players haven’t done it on the court yet, but Watkins is a believer nonetheless.
“We lost some really good players but, at the same time, we’re going to have players stepping up this year that maybe didn’t get the chance to step up last year,” said Watkins, a preseason second-team All-SEC pick. “They’re going to get an opportunity, and I think they’re going to show up big time.”
Watkins averaged 10 points and 4.4 rebounds last year and should combine with senior forward Quistelle Williams to give Arkansas a solid inside game. Williams had a so-soregular season before averaging 14.5 points a game in the NCAA Tournament.
Jhasmin Bowen has the potential to supply solid depth if she can play as well in extended action as she did a year ago in bits and pieces.
Berna started 14 games as a freshman but averaged just 3.6 points a game. Collen hopes Berna can quadruple that production this year.
Collen also has high hopes for senior guard Erin Gatling, who played well in small exposures as a third point guard after transferring from Southern Mississippi. Gatling has played so well during the preseason that Collen expects to start her at shooting guard today ahead of promising true freshman Dominique Wilson.
“I think they have all the potential in the world to havebreakout years,” Collen said of Bowen and Gatling. “I also know they’re a little tentative, a little nervous. They’re going to have to get out there and prove to themselves they’re capable of doing it.”
Fifth-year senior Kelsey Hatcher shot just 22.2 percent from the field as a junior, which was a surprise because of her reputation for being a sound scorer. If she can regain her touch, Hatcher will be a key reserve.
Juniors Keira Peak and Dominique Robinson should trade minutes and standout defensive play at small forward. Peak isn’t much of an offensive threat, but Robinson could be a consistent scorer if she can regain confidence.
“Once we start getting settled in, we’re going to become a pretty good team,” Watkins said.
Exhibition ROGERS STATE VS. ARKANSAS WOMEN WHEN 2 p.m. today WHERE Walton Arena, Fayetteville NOTEWORTHY Rogers State is a NAIA team from Claremore, Okla. ... The Hillcats were 22-12 a year ago, their third consecutive season with at least 20 victories. ... The Hillcats reached the quarterfinals of the NAIA Championships. ... First meeting between Arkansas and Rogers State.
Sports, Pages 26 on 11/04/2012