Hogs Count on New Blood: Total Transfusion With Newcomers Makes for Lots of Questions for Pelphrey and UA

A crowd of reporters gathered around Courtney Fortson, anxious to hear the freshman guard's thoughts on the upcoming Arkansas basketball season. To his left in the museum that serves as the Bud Walton Arena lobby in Fayetteville was the display case that houses the 1994 national championship trophy.

Several feet away from the dreadlocked Fortson, a member of the Arkansas media relations department was looking in between other basketball trophy cases, hoping to find Rotnei Clarke, another in-demand freshman guard. A magazine photographer needed Clarke for a cover shot.

With the rich basketball history of Arkansas as a backdrop, the highly regarded freshmen were formally introduced to the public. Expectations are high for second-year Arkansas coach John Pelphrey's first recruiting class.

Historically, the Razorbacks have been one of college basketball's best programs. Now players like Fortson and Clarke are charged with helping Pelphrey reestablish a tradition that includes 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, six Final Fours and a national championship in 1994.

Time will tell what sort of impact the team's newcomers have. A group ranked as high as 11th nationally by recruiting services doesn't get to wait in building a legacy.

Gone is near all of the scoring, rebounding and playmaking ability from last year's 23-12 team. Only one starter – and a part-time one at that – returns for the Razorbacks, who will be looking for a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Clarke said the newcomers are looking forward to the exceeding the lofty expectations. Continuing success that Arkansas has experienced is very important and lack of experience won't be an accepted excuse.

"We've worked very hard to be put in this position," Clarke said. "We know it's a unique opportunity to come in as a freshman and make an immediate impact. Usually you've got to sit and watch a couple of years. It's exciting."

No Experience

If nothing else, Arkansas will have plenty of youthful enthusiasm this season. Included on the 11-man roster are seven players with zero game experience at the NCAA Division I level.