By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas guard Rotnei Clarke said the Razorbacks feel like a different team heading into Southeastern Conference play because of point guard Courtney Fortson’s return from suspension.
A pair of SEC coaches agreed Monday morning.
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury and Alabama’s Anthony Grant — whose teams play the Razorbacks on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, this week — believe Arkansas will be much-improved because Fortson is back in the lineup.
“He makes them a totally different team,” Stansbury said. “He gives them some swagger, gives them some confidence. He’s a guy who can really attack that basket and get to the rim, get easy baskets and get other players easy baskets.”
Fortson made his season debut in Arkansas’ 96-85 loss to then-No. 2 Texas on Jan. 5, scoring 19 points and handing out 7 assists in 33 minutes.
He immediately ignited the slumping Razorbacks, leading them to one of their best outings. The Razorbacks led by as many as six points in the first half, were tied 48-48 at halftime, and trailed by just two points with two minutes left.
Fortson beat defenders off the dribble, got to the rim and found open teammates for jumpers.
“The addition of Courtney Fortson back to their team, I think, really adds a new dimension,” Grant said. “It really makes everybody else better.”
Fortson’s return has given the Razorbacks confidence heading into SEC play despite losing three straight and carrying the league’s worst record (7-8) in SEC play. Arkansas draws a tough task in its SEC opener — traveling to Starkville, Miss., to play the Bulldogs on Thursday night — but Clarke said Fortson’s presence helps morale.
“Just being able to work together in practice and knowing our gameplan going into the game is going to be really good,” Clarke said. “Just knowing that he’s going to be out there again, just having that week to get ready for it, and knowing he’s with us the whole week, that’s important.”
The Razorbacks hope Fortson’s impact will be a much-needed lift in an arena that hasn’t been kind to them the past several years. Arkansas hasn’t won in Humphrey Coliseum since the 2000 season, losing on its past nine trips to Starkville.
Fortson will tangle with MSU point guard Dee Bost on Thursday. The sophomore, who is averaging 11.6 points and 5.4 assists a game, gave the Razorbacks fits in two games last year and is part of a lineup averaging 41 percent from 3-point range.
“I’m sure those young men will come fired up, ready to do battle to do anything to help their teams win,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said.
Pelphrey said Fortson has done a good job on the practice court since the Texas game. One concern is his stamina. Pelphrey said Fortson wasn’t in “game shape” against Texas and cramped up late.
But Pelphrey believes Fortson is capable of getting back in rhythm quicker than most players.
“I thought he’d come back and have a huge impact on the game,” Pelphrey said. “If you had to pick one guy who would get back into the flow pretty quickly, that would probably be one guy I’d pick.”
Sanchez Season in Question
Arkansas will open SEC play without power forward Michael Sanchez, who continues to be slowed by plantar fasciitis. In fact, there’s a chance Sanchez might not return at all this season.
Sanchez has missed 11 games this season and Pelphrey said there’s no date set for his return.
“I think when you get to a point where you’ve got about a month-and-a-half, two months left, I think certainly the season is no question in jeopardy for him,” Pelphrey said.
