| | By Jay Bilas
Special to ESPN.com
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Friday, Oct. 13
Coach Nolan Richardson has one thing that nobody in the SEC has ... Joe Johnson.
Behind Johnson, Brandon Dean, T.J. Cleveland and Teddy Gipson, the Razorbacks can contend again in the West Division. With a
core group of veterans, along with a long list of newcomers, Richardson can
get back to his frenetic, stifling, full-court defense and press his
opponents into submission.
The only problem is if Johnson is slowed by an offseason ankle surgery after injuring himself at the trials for the U.S.
Under 20 National Team. As long as Johnson is healthy, Arkansas can beat
anyone.
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Frontcourt
Joe Johnson is the undisputed leader of this team, not to mention perhaps the best player in the SEC.
Johnson (16.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 46 percent FGs) did not play a full season last season, but the Razorbacks were a
different team with him in the lineup. The 6-foot-8 Johnson is a Pippen-like player who head coach Nolan Richardson likens to Corliss Williamson. He has perimeter shooting ability and can put the ball down on the floor and take it to the basket.
He remains an intriguing player who has a forward's size and a guard's skills. It makes him tough to
match-up with. If he can limit his turnovers, he would be unstoppable.
Sophomore Larry Satchell shot 51 percent from the field last season and is a rebounding and defensive forward who is most effective inside the paint, while sophomore Carl Baker (4.4 ppg, 46 percent 3pt) can provide a big man who can step away from the basket offensively, while guarding both inside and outside.
Satchell is a long-armed player who is tough in the low post with good jumping and shot-blocking ability. Baker is very athletic and can run the floor. He's also capable of getting stickbacks to go with his turnaround jumper.
Alonzo Lane, a 6-7 sophomore forward, is another very gifted inside player with long arms. Lane (7.9
ppg, 4.1 rpg, 56 percent FGs) has good hands, goes to the glass and has nice power moves. One problem, however, is Lane gets fouled a lot and has not been an accurate free-throw shooter.
Dionisio Gomez and Michael Jones round out the frontline.
|  | | Brandon Dean can take the ball to the basket with authority, but it's his defense that makes him a coach's favorite. |
Backcourt
Brandon Dean and Teddy Gipson return to form a nice guard tandem.
Dean averaged 8.5 points a game, hitting 44 percent of his shots while slashing to the basket. He is not a great shooter, but he has tremendous defensive skills, which makes him a player in Richardson's system. Dean needs to take the ball to the basket more and shoot fewer threes to be his most effective.
Gipson (8.7 ppg, 40 percent 3pt) is the better shooter of the two and can also take the ball off the dribble. T.J. Cleveland is another quality defender who is relentless in pursuit of the ball and can play the point. He missed several games with an ankle injury, yet still led the team and was second in the SEC in steals.
Brandon Davis, Jannero Pargo and Blake Eddins will round out a deep backcourt that will come at teams in waves.
Bottom Line
Richardson just signed a seven-year contract extension to remain the coach of the Razorbacks. He will enjoy coaching this group because he has a group of athletes who can really provide lineup flexibility and the numbers to play as fast as Richardson wants to play. This team might be a season away from being really good, but it will still challenge for the SEC West. | |
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