By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke spent a good portion of his break in the training room, rehabilitating each one of his bumps and bruises.
The sophomore soaked in ice baths, sat through treatments, and did whatever was needed to help heal his aching body after a difficult stretch.
So Clarke said the time off was very important.
“I think I needed (the break) pretty bad,” Clarke said Monday. “It was really good for me.”
Clarke and the rest of the Razorbacks will find out just how valuable it was when they return to action against Alabama State in Bud Walton Arena tonight.
It has been nine days since the Razorbacks last played, beating Delaware State to improve to 4-5. In that time, the Razorbacks took a few days off to concentrate on classwork during Arkansas’ final exam period. When they did practice, workouts were scaled back so banged-up players could recover from the wear-and-tear of a physical month.
“We’ve had a couple good practices,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. “We’ve also had a chance to take some time to hopefully rest our bodies a little bit and not do as much banging as you normally would.”
Players like Clarke, Michael Sanchez (feet) and Michael Washington (back) have been the primary concerns. Sanchez and Washington have combined to miss seven games this season with injuries. Clarke has played in all nine, but is logging 36.2 minutes a night with opponents blanketing him on defense.
Pelphrey said Clarke was a “shell of himself” during the stretch. He is averaging 10 points a game in the last three outings after a red-hot start offensively.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” said Clarke, who has cut his number of daily shots from 350 to 200 to try to rest. “Just being able to have a couple days off, get some rehab and I’ve been getting a lot of treatment.
“My body is feeling pretty good at this point.”
Alabama State (1-5) is the start of a stretch in which the Razorbacks will play three games in seven days before taking another lengthy break for Christmas. But Pelphrey believes is team is better equipped to handle the grind this time around.
Arkansas’ roster is up to 11 players after spending much of the season short-handed because of injuries and suspensions. The only scholarship player still missing is point guard Courtney Fortson, who continues to serve an indefinite suspension. Pelphrey said Fortson won’t play against Alabama State.
He did express some concern that his team could be a little rusty after concentrating on coursework much of the week. He’s hoping some of that rust was knocked off in practice the past two days, though, and the Razorbacks will extend their win streak.
“The thing I think I want for these guys is to be able to come out with an effort and intensity because they have been dealing with a lot,” Pelphrey said.
Clarke said it should be no problem for the Razorbacks, who believe the benefits of a lengthy break will be on display against Alabama State.
“I think we’ll be all right,” Clarke said. “We’ve practiced well when we’ve practiced. Hopefully we can come out quick and start out fast and not be rusty.
“That’s what we’re probably going to be focused on doing. Hopefully we can do that.”
Tonight’s Ticket
Alabama State (1-5) at Arkansas (4-5)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Bud Walton Arena
TV: Razorback Sports Network
Radio: Razorback Sports Network
Coaches: Alabama State — Lewis Jackson (75-64 in fifth season); Arkansas — John Pelphrey (41-33 in third season)
Projected Lineups:
Arkansas — C Michael Washington (6-9, Sr., 12.3 ppg), PF Marshawn Powell (6-7, Fr., 14.9), SF Jemal Farmer (6-5, Jr., 11.9), SG Rotnei Clarke (6-0, So., 21.1), PG Julysses Nobles (6-1, Fr., 7.3)
Alabama State — F Christopher Duncan (6-8, Jr., 7.6 ppg), F Tramayne Moorer (6-5, Sr., 10.0), G Jeffery Middlebrooks (6-1, So., 2.7), G Ivory White (6-4, So., 3.1), Menji Mundadi (6-3, Sr., 12.1)
