Good vibrations back for Hogs entering tour

FAYETTEVILLE -- The vibes are much better around the Arkansas men's basketball program this summer than a year ago.

Coach Mike Anderson is working with a full roster bolstered by eight newcomers, has three of the top four scorers returning from last season and is leading his team through full-scale practices before the Razorbacks leave Aug. 6 for a tour of Spain that will include four exhibition games.

It's in sharp contrast to late July of 2015, when the Razorbacks were rocked by a double dose of bad news.

Three Razorbacks -- guard Anton Beard and forwards Jacorey Williams and Dustin Thomas -- were suspended indefinitely by Anderson after their July 22 arrests that eventually led to forgery charges.

News broke a couple of hours before the arrests that freshman forward Ted Kapita wouldn't be academically eligible to play for Arkansas when the season started.

It was a day that radically altered the Razorbacks' outlook coming off a 27-9 season and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.

Beard was the team's only returning starter and Williams and Kapita figured to challenge for starting spots. Thomas was redshirting after transferring from Colorado, but was being counted on to add depth in practice.

Anderson dismissed Williams, who transferred to Middle Tennessee State. Beard and Thomas were reinstated to the team in late November, but Beard wasn't allowed to play until the first semester ended in early December and missed nine games along with four months of workouts. Kapita never made it to campus.

That all came after Bobby Portis, the 2015 SEC player of the year, and second-team all-SEC performer Michael Qualls had elected to enter the NBA Draft.

Playing with a depleted roster last season, Arkansas finished 16-16 overall and 9-9 in SEC play while going 4-8 in games that were decided by four or fewer points or went into overtime.

"We had some adversity that took place and we dealt with it," Anderson said Monday when the Razorbacks held their first practice in preparation for the Spanish tour. "We didn't like the outcome that took place last season, so we want to continue that surge that we had when we won 27 games [in 2014-2015]. We will continue with that momentum.

"What better way to do it than to have an opportunity to go and get some early-season practices in. Hopefully, that can set the tone for what's to come."

All of the Razorbacks' newcomers are eligible and have been on campus for several weeks, going through workouts. There have been no off-the-court issues.

"Our guys are doing what they're supposed to do," Anderson said. "When things take place, there are lessons learned, and hopefully it can make all of us better."

Anderson said the Razorbacks "got kind of knocked off" their course for success last season.

"Now we're back on that path and this team's got a chance to have some depth, have options," he said. "We didn't have many options last year. We went through some games with nine players. It's hard to practice with nine guys.

"Now we have more depth for the way we want to play, more guys that fit what we're doing."

Anderson said from his perspective the practices with all of his players are more beneficial than the exhibition games.

"Especially this time of year," he said. "We've had eight weeks where we have done some two-hour skill development. So now we get a chance to have practices where we're actually doing team things.

"We can get a better picture of this team at this point and hopefully then come back in the fall and build on it."

The Razorbacks' returnees include senior guard Dusty Hannahs (16.5 points per game last season), senior center Moses Kingsley (15.9) and Beard (7.0) along with senior guard Manny Watkins and junior forward Trey Thompson.

Kingsley, a second-team All-SEC pick last season, won't join the Razorbacks for practice until Friday. He's in Los Angeles this week taking part in the Nike skills camp, where the NBA counselors include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.

"I think it's a great, great honor for Moses to see where he is against some of the better players in the country," Anderson said.

Arkansas' newcomers are led by junior college All-American guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon, along with junior college transfer forward Arlando Cook. Thomas is a third-year junior eligible to play after redshirting. The freshmen are forwards Adrio Bailey and Brachen Hazen and guards C.J. Jones and RJ Glasper.

"They're an exciting bunch coming in," Anderson said. "I know we've got a chance to be more athletic.

"We'll see how that all pans out as we get ready to go over here to Spain. It'll give me an idea of what we are."

Sports on 07/26/2016