MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. -- Voters in the SEC preseason men's basketball media poll are high on Daniel Gafford, but not the Hogs.
Gafford, the University of Arkansas forward, was an All-SEC first-team choice, but the Razorbacks were picked to finish 10th.
If University of Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson was offended by being so low in the poll, he did a good job of hiding it.
"I thought we'd be picked last, to be honest with you," Anderson said Wednesday at SEC media days. "When you look at what we lost, we went from being one of the older teams in terms of having seniors to now we're a younger team."
Arkansas lost eight players from last season's 23-12 NCAA Tournament team, including All-SEC senior guards Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford. Seniors accounted for 79.6 percent of the Hogs' scoring and 72.9 percent of their rebounding.
"But at the same time, our mindset -- like everyone else here -- is we'll put a team out there that's going to contend for a championship," Anderson said. "Being young won't be an excuse."
The Razorbacks have nine newcomers and three scholarship returnees in Gafford, sophomore forward Adrio Bailey and sophomore forward Gabe Osabuohien.
"We might be young, but that doesn't really mean anything," said Gafford, a 6-11 sophomore from El Dorado. "We've got enough talent to take us a long way this season.
"We've got a lot of young guys coming in, and they're working hard. They're going to provide good minutes and great things for the Razorback program."
Arkansas' only guard with major college experience is sophomore Jalen Harris, a transfer from New Mexico who redshirted last year.
Other newcomers include freshman guards Desi Sills, Isaiah Joe, Keyshawn Embery and Jordan Phillips; sophomore guard Mason Jones, a junior-college transfer; and freshman forwards Reggie Chaney, Ethan Henderson and Ibby Ali.
Redshirt freshman guard Khalil Garland still hasn't been medically cleared to play.
"As I stand here, we've got more questions than we do answers," Anderson said. "Hopefully, with the season coming upon us, we can answer those questions."
Arkansas' nonconference opponents include Texas, Indiana, Georgia Tech and Texas Tech.
"When you're relying on so many freshmen like Arkansas, it puts even more pressure on your nonconference season," said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, a former Duke player. "And when you're relying on freshmen, it makes it harder to win earlier.
"Then you're going to have to win late. If you don't win early, you better win in your league. That's where the real pressure comes."
Anderson said the preseason poll isn't always accurate.
Last season's SEC co-champions -- Auburn and Tennessee -- were picked 11th and 13th, respectively, in the preseason media poll.
"Just because you're told something, doesn't mean you have to follow it," said Tennessee junior forward Grant Williams, the SEC Player of the Year last season. "I would say that with the talent Arkansas has on its team -- or any team -- you know what standard you're going to hold yourself to.
"You can say, 'We're going to be back this year,' and just take that mentality. But if you're a competitor, that's not what you do.
"The whole thing is, you shouldn't care what people are saying. Whether they say you're the best team or the worst team, you should just focus on what you're trying to accomplish."
SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Kentucky
2. Tennessee
3. Auburn
4. Mississippi State
5. Florida
6. LSU
7. Alabama
8. Vanderbilt
9. Missouri
10. Arkansas
11. South Carolina
12. Texas A&M
13. Georgia
14. Ole Miss
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Daniel Gafford – Arkansas
Reid Travis – Kentucky
Tremont Waters – LSU
Chris Silva – South Carolina
Grant Williams – Tennessee
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Bryce Brown – Auburn
Jared Harper – Auburn
Jalen Hudson – Florida
PJ Washington – Kentucky
Quinndary Weatherspoon – Mississippi State
Jontay Porter – Missouri
Admiral Schofield – Tennessee
SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Grant Williams – Tennessee
Anderson said the young players have been progressing in practice.
"These guys are listening and their eyes are open," he said. "They're learning how to compete at this level."
Bilas said how the newcomers make the transition to the SEC holds the key to Arkansas' season.
"It depends on how the new guys assimilate to college basketball, and especially how they assimilate to an improved SEC," Bilas said. "The SEC is better this year than it was last year, and it was better last year than it was the year before.
"So finishing ninth or 10th could put you within shouting distance of the NCAA Tournament. I don't think it gets you in, but winning a couple extra games here and there could be the difference in the eighth spot and the 10th spot.
"The eighth spot this year, I think, is an NCAA Tournament team. The league is certainly seven deep. Whether it's seven, eight, nine, that's going to be determined by how teams do in the nonconference."
Gafford said he's been impressed by how the newcomers have handled Anderson's grueling practices, especially when the Razorbacks go twice in the same day.
"They've shown me that they can handle adversity with the way they're working," Gafford said. "It shows me that they have that dog mentality.
"They're getting to where they're more comfortable with the program now."
Gafford said he believes Arkansas will be an NCAA Tournament team again.
"I know a lot of people are saying we're not going to make it," he said. "But we're going to disappoint a lot of people this year -- a lot."
Sports on 10/18/2018