Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Mike Anderson is fully aware of the challenge that awaits Arkansas on Saturday.

The first-year Razorbacks coach, however, isn’t bemoaning the fact that his youthful Razorbacks drew defending national champion Connecticut as part of the Southeastern Conference-Big East Challenge.

Anderson looks at the game as an opportunity, another building block in what he hopes is a solid foundation for years to come at Arkansas.

Anderson left Missouri in March to return to the Razorbacks (5-1), where he was an assistant coach under Nolan Richardson for 17 seasons. He took over a program that hasn’t reached the NCAA tournament in three seasons, one that bears little resemblance to the national powerhouse it was.

It’s a program that sustained another setback this season when junior forward Marshawn Powell suffered a season-ending knee injury after Arkansas’ second game. The 6-foot-7 Powell had averaged 19.5 points in the first two games on 71 percent shooting, and his loss will be felt against the No. 8 Huskies (6-1).

“It’s an awful big challenge for our basketball team, and the challenge got a lot bigger with the absence of Marshawn Powell,” Anderson said. “It’s the ultimate challenge, but at the same time it’s a great opportunity.”

The Razorbacks have won three straight since a loss to Houston in their first game after Powell’s injury. They’ve done so by pressing the action and keeping with Anderson’s up-tempo mentality — forcing an average of 20 turnovers, and 25.3 points off them.

Arkansas’ highly touted collection of freshmen has also begun to put their stamp on the program in Powell’s absence. The four (BJ Young, Ky Madden, Devonta Abron and Hunter Mickelson) are averaging a combined 33.1 points per game, up to 37.5 since Powell’s injury.

The 6-foot-8 Abron has averaged 10.3 points per game since moving into Powell’s forward spot in the starting lineup, including a career-high 13 points in his last game. Young, meanwhile, has been the most prolific scorer of the group. The 6-foot-3 guard is averaging a team-best 13.3 points per game of the healthy Razorbacks, 15.5 in Powell’s absence.

“We’ve all just had to grow up quicker, learn faster and be ready,” Abron said.

While Anderson would prefer to have Powell’s ability and leadership on the court, he’s also aware that the injury has forced the development of the freshmen — something he expects to pay off down the road.

“They look over there and (Powell’s) not there; that’s one way it’s going to help,” Anderson said. “Who does that mean has to step up? These guys have to look in the mirror at themselves. It’s an opportunity for those guys to showcase what they’re capable of doing and learn.”