By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke can’t ever remember starting a game on the bench.
The sophomore started every game for the Razorbacks last season. He was a regular in the lineup in high school and on AAU teams. In fact,
Clarke said the only time he might’ve come off the bench was when he was a four- or five-year-old.
“If I did it, it was when I was little,” Clarke said. “I don’t remember.”
So coming off the bench during Arkansas’ 72-69 win against Stephen F. Austin was an unusual feeling.
But it was better than the alternative: Sitting out his second straight game with knee tendonitis.
Arkansas’ leading scorer was back on the court after being slowed for much of the past two weeks by an aching knee. The sophomore scored 9 points off the bench in 27 minutes. Clarke said Sunday he feels much better and will be ready to help the Razorbacks once again when they play Missouri State (10-0) in Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night.
“I’ve done a lot of rehabbing, a lot of treatments to get to the point where I am right now to where I can go 100 percent in the game (Saturday),” Clarke said. “I’ve done a lot. It feels good. It feels great even after the game. I’m completely better.”
Arkansas coach John Pelphrey made the decision to play Clarke during pregame shootaround Saturday even though the guard was limited to one practice in the past two weeks. Clarke, whose knee has bothered him since the loss at Oklahoma on Dec. 2, stayed loose on the sideline before being inserted into the game with 14:33 left in the first half.
He made his biggest impact early in the second half, knocking down a 3-pointer and making a bucket on consecutive possessions to help the Razorbacks overcome a five-point deficit. He also knocked down 1 of 2 free throws in the final minute of the game.
“I wasn’t really sure going through the pregame practice,” Clarke said. “It felt fine and once I got out there I told coach it’s whatever. I’m good.
“I didn’t know if I’d be able to play that much, but it felt good playing.”
Pelphrey said the playing time didn’t seem to bother Clarke’s knee Sunday, as the Razorbacks returned to practice to prepare for Tuesday’s game.
“I think he feels OK,” Pelphrey said.
Clarke’s return gave the Razorbacks more depth in the backcourt. Clarke, Marcus Britt and Stefan Welsh combined to score 33 points Saturday.
The three will continue to be counted on against Missouri State. Point guard Courtney Fortson continues to serve a suspension and will miss his 12th straight game Tuesday night.
Clarke believes he’ll be ready to help once again, whether it’s from the lineup or off the bench.
“We got the win so it didn’t really matter to me,” Clarke said. “It was all right with me. However coach wanted to do it was fine.”
