JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Arkansas' road back to the NCAA Tournament was long and bumpy at times.
The journey had a familiar feel for Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson.
"It took a lot of patience," said Anderson, who has an 85-47 in four seasons at Arkansas. "It's what we do."
Arkansas is the third program in need of rebuilding that Anderson has taken to the NCAA Tournament along with Alabama-Birmingham and Missouri.
When Arkansas plays Wofford tonight in the West Regional, it will be the Razorbacks' first NCAA Tournament game since 2008.
It's an opportunity Anderson has been working toward since his return to Arkansas -- where he was an assistant coach for 17 seasons -- from Missouri. He led the Tigers to NCAA Tournament appearances his past three seasons after taking over a program that in the two seasons prior was a combined 28-33.
UAB was 44-45 in the three seasons before hiring Anderson. He led the Blazers in the NCAA Tournament in his second season, when UAB beat No. 1 seed Kentucky to reach the Sweet 16. He took UAB to the NCAA Tournament in his last three seasons of a four-year stay.
"Success follows Mike wherever he goes," Georgia Coach Mark Fox said.
Arkansas was 46-47 in the three seasons before Anderson's return, and he took over a team that lacked the depth to fully implement his "Fastest 40 Minutes" mantra. There was a talent drain when three players transferred.
"I said we've got to work with what we've got until we get what we want," Anderson said. "In between that, it was a lot of heartaches, a lot of ups, a lot of downs, but to me it's all about these kids."
Anderson said he wouldn't trade the rebuilding years at Arkansas -- when the Razorbacks went from 18-14 to 19-13 to 22-12 before this season's 26-8 record -- for anything.
"My job is to make a difference, and if I can get these guys convinced to win off the floor -- work in the classroom, get their degrees, and be a part of this community -- I think the wins will take care of itself," Anderson said. "Because we're going to get the right kind of kids.
"If they've got some talent, we're going to get it out of them."
Anderson has fixed the academic and disciplinary problems that plagued Arkansas.
After the basketball team lost a scholarship four years ago because of low Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores, Arkansas is projecting a perfect 1,000 for the program in a few weeks when the NCAA releases its annual APR report.
The Razorbacks aren't getting in trouble off the court under Anderson, and they've become more active in community projects.
"You look behind the scenes first and see academically what Mike has done, how he navigated us through the APR problems and how he's filled his program with high character young men," Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said. "The way they've conducted themselves off the court and the way they've performed in the classroom, now we're starting to see that performance on the court, too.
"Mike is a high integrity, high character person himself, and that's the way he runs his program."
Arkansas junior guard Michael Qualls said the Razorbacks are deeper, more talented and more together than at any other time during his three seasons on the team.
"No one is worried about their personal agendas," Qualls said. "We're all worried about winning."
During Anderson's time as an Arkansas assistant for Nolan Richardson, the Razorbacks won the 1994 national championship, finished second to UCLA in 1995, made the 1990 Final Four and played in 13 NCAA Tournaments overall.
"You're talking about a guy that understands it, because at the pinnacle of our success, I was there," Anderson said of returning Arkansas to national relevance. "I understand how the Razorback family feels. They're thirsting for this."
Long said it will be easier for Anderson to recruit with the Razorbacks' return to the NCAA Tournament, Bobby Portis being voted SEC Player of the Year by coaches and media, and a new practice facility and academic center set to open soon.
"All of these things are pieces Mike didn't have before that he has now for recruiting," Long said. "I believe Mike will have us consistently competing for SEC championships, and then making the NCAA Tournament and competing for a national championship."
Some fans grumbled when the Razorbacks played in the NIT last season instead of the NCAA Tournament, but Long rewarded Anderson with a contract extension prior to the start of SEC play this season.
"We talked at the beginning when Mike came here, don't take shortcuts," Long said. "I assured him, 'You've got the time to build it the right way,' and that's what he's done."
Sports on 03/19/2015