ARKANSAS BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY

Anderson's Hogs see positive signs

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson watches during media day at the team's basketball center on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson watches during media day at the team's basketball center on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' basketball team opened practice Monday with a depleted roster and low expectations -- from outsiders at least.

Inside the Razorbacks' new practice facility, Coach Mike Anderson and his players said the team might have taken some unexpected hits in the off-season, but won't roll over.

"We're not going backwards," Anderson said.

Arkansas will put "a Razorback product" on the court, Anderson said, despite starting the season with a lack of manpower and experience.

The Razorbacks' roster includes 10 scholarship players who accounted for 21 percent of the scoring and 28 percent of the rebounding from last season's 27-9 team that made Arkansas' first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.

"They're going to fight, they're going to scratch, and they're going to claw," Anderson said. "They going give themselves a chance to win."

Four starters from last season are gone: forward Bobby Portis -- the SEC player of the year -- and guard Michael Qualls leaving early for the NBA and guard Ky Madden and forward Alandise Harris being seniors.

Then Arkansas took a double-punch to the gut July 22.

That's when guard Anton Beard -- the Razorbacks' only returning starter -- and forwards Jacorey Williams and Dustin Thomas were arrested in connection with a counterfeit investigation and news broke that forward Ted Kapita, a highly-touted signee, wouldn't be academically eligible.

Beard remains on indefinite suspension, as does Thomas, a transfer from Colorado who must redshirt this season. Beard and Thomas have an Oct. 27 court day on charges of first-degree forgery along with Williams, who was dismissed from the team and transferred to Middle Tennessee State. Kapita is planning to play professionally in France.

No Razorbacks had been arrested in Anderson's previous four seasons as coach.

"I was kind of blindsided," he said. "But at the end of the day when it happens, I think the measure of not only the person, but the program, is how you deal it, and I think we're dealing with in the right way.

"We'll go with the guys that are doing the things they're supposed to do on and off the floor. That's how we built this program."

Senior guard Anthon Bell averaged 7.9 points last season, which makes him Arkansas' leading returning scorer.

"We know people are counting us out right now, and that's OK," Bell said. "We've just got to come onto the court every night and prove we're still here.

"There's no letdown coming."

The Sporting News picked Arkansas to finish 13th in the 14-team SEC. Athlon picked the Razorbacks 10th and Lindy's picked them 12th.

"Everybody's looking at what's on paper, but our mind-set is we're preparing to win a championship," Anderson said.

The Razorbacks will count on perimeter scoring from Bell, junior guard Dusty Hannahs and freshman guard Jimmy Whitt.

Hannahs, a former Little Rock Pulaski Academy standout, redshirted last season after transferring from Texas Tech, where he averaged 7.7 points two years ago.

"People think we're undermanned, but I think we still have a lot of talent," Hannahs said. "It's going to be a fun year.

"I think we're going to shock some people."

Junior guard Manny Watkins said the Razorbacks are sticking together after the unexpected losses of key players.

"It was difficult, but every team goes through ups and downs," Watkins said. "The good teams are able to get through it.

"They stay level-headed, and as a group of guys, I think we've done that. We're focusing on getting better each and every day.

"Other guys just have to step up."

Junior Moses Kingsley, 6-10, and 6-9 sophomore Trey Thompson will be counted to provide strong play inside.

"We're looking forward to proving people wrong," Kingsley said.

Anderson -- who never has endured a losing season in 13 years as a head coach at Alabama-Birmingham, Missouri and Arkansas -- is ready to embrace the underdog role.

"I think that's what you get into coaching for," he said. "It's a challenge. It's a great opportunity.

"We've got to be a team that has a big, big heart this year."

Arkansas will hold tryouts for walk-ons tonight in the hopes of finding some players to help fill out the roster.

"We'll probably have everybody that plays in the HPER up here," Anderson said, referring to Arkansas' recreational building for students. "It might be an opportunity, because we're going to need some bodies."

Sports on 10/06/2015

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