Arkansas Razorbacks
Overall Rank: #79
Conference Rank: #7 SEC
Arkansas Team Page
2010-11: 18-13, 7-9
2010-11 postseason: none
Coach: Mike Anderson (First year at Arkansas, 200-98 overall)
Mike Anderson is back home at Arkansas. He spent 17 years there as an assistant to Nolan Richardson before embarking on a head coaching career of his own with stops at UAB and Missouri. Coach Anderson inherits a pretty tough situation with the Razorbacks, but the return to the era of Richardson, in a way, has the state excited that the success of Richardson’s tenure can be repeated. Recruiting will not be a problem as Coach Anderson can get pretty much every recruit in the state that he wants and there are plenty of others out there who like to run up and down the floor as the “40 minutes of hell” returns to Fayetteville.
Who’s Out:
However, for now, there is some rebuilding to do. Rotnei Clarke, Jeff Peterson and Delvon Johnson were the only three players on the team who started more than 18 games during the 2010-2011 campaign. Clarke was a great all-around scorer, connecting on 43.8 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc and averaging 15.2 points per game. Peterson ran the point about half of the time and was a steady ballhandler. Johnson developed into a fine interior scorer and one of the best rebounders and shot blockers in the SEC. Forward Glenn Bryant, who averaged 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds last year, and guard Marcus Britt, who started 16 games, are also gone.
Who’s In:
The one thing Coach Anderson always needs is bodies. These guys will be running. But there are also a lot of holes to fill. Point guard B.J. Young was a great pickup for Arkansas and the 6-3 point guard should be starting from day one. Young is a scoring point guard who can attack the basket. He is a great athlete who does his best running on the break and he will get plenty of opportunities to do that. He is not a shooter yet and there will be some bad decisions made as he tries to push the tempo, but this team will have to grow up around Young. Do-it-all guard Rashad Madden will help out the entire backcourt. The 6-5 Lepanto, Arkansas product can play three positions. His size makes him a small forward or a wing, but he may be the smartest passer this team has. Whether he has the ball in his hands or not, Madden will be on the floor a lot as a freshman. Hunter Mickelson and Devonta Abron are the newcomers that will be added to the frontcourt. Mickelson lacks the strength to battle in the paint right now, but he can get up and down the floor and hit the glass and that will get him a long look at the starting power forward spot.
Who to Watch:
Marshawn Powell will have to turn into the leader of this team. The 6-7 junior is a beast under the basket, but he did have a bit of a sophomore slump with his numbers slipping down to 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. Without Johnson by his side, Powell will have a lot of pressure on him unless somebody else can step into Johnson’s role. Marvell Waithe could have a breakout season of Johnson like proportions. Waithe was a big pickup from the junior college ranks last year, but never really found his spot on the team. When he was on the floor he was quite productive. At 6-9 and 216 pounds, Waithe certainly has the size to emerge as a solid player. Michael Sanchez can provide experienced depth when he can stay healthy.
Final Projection:
Julysses Nobles is the main returning player on the perimeter. Nobles is a good passer, but he turned the ball over way too much last season. He is better suited to play off the ball and become this team’s top shooter. He did not take too many three-pointers last year, but Nobles did connect on 42.0 percent of his attempts. With Clarke out of the picture, Nobles could be the dynamic scorer who can attack the basket and shoot from long range. With Nobles, Madden and Young in the backcourt, this is a dangerous group who can all run and all handle the ball. Rickey Scott and Mardracus Wade will need to help out since no player on Arkansas is going to be playing 35 minutes per game. This team is loaded with potential. The present may not be great, but the future is looking that way.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
Projected Starting Five:
B.J. Young, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Julysses Nobles, Junior, Guard, 8.4 points per game
Rashad Madden, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Marvell Waithe, Senior, Forward, 3.6 points per game
Marshawn Powell, Junior, Forward, 10.8 points per game
Madness 2011 Men's Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#21 B.J. Young
#29 Rashad Madden
#57 Hunter Mickelson
#131 Devonta Abron
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