FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Mike Anderson called his first season “a year of adjustment” because of the injury issues and depth problems that have challenged his team.
It looks like the Razorbacks (16-8, 4-5 in Southeastern Conference) will face a little more adversity when they play South Carolina (9-14, 1-8) on Saturday.
Anderson said starting forward Michael Sanchez is doubtful for the game in Bud Walton Arena because of a sprained right shoulder he suffered during the second half of the 81-59 loss at Georgia on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-9 Sanchez has started 23 games of Arkansas’ 24 games this season and is averaging 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds.
“Another adversity hits this team and we will see how we respond,” Anderson said.
Sanchez may not be among Arkansas’ top scorers, but was described as an important “blue-collar guy” by Anderson because of his experience in the post.
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The senior — who has battled injury issues throughout his career — left the court Wednesday night after scoring two points in 12 minutes.
“You’re losing an experienced guy more than anything else,” Anderson said. “A stabilizer. A guy that does all the little dirty work. The little things. Even last night I thought we missed him when he went out. Just the little things like screening or keeping the big guys off the block. Fixing things on defense. … That’s what Mike has done for us.”
Anderson said there’s some good news: Sanchez suffered no torn muscles in the shoulder. He couldn’t put a timeline on how quickly Sanchez could return, however.
“One thing I know about Mike is he’ll work to get back,” Anderson said. “There’s seven games left that he has a chance to play, work to get himself back in position to playing. He’ll do that.”
If Sanchez can’t play against the Gamecocks it wouldn’t be the first injury-related absence for a frontcourt player.
Marshawn Powell was lost for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in mid-November after averaging 19.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in two games. The Razorbacks also played without Marvell Waithe for two games because of a strained calf muscle, which he suffered two minutes into the Michigan win on Jan. 21.
The latest injury to Sanchez will leave the Hogs with three forwards — Waithe, Hunter Mickelson and Devonta Abron — against South Carolina. Anderson said quarterback Brandon Mitchell, who joined the team in January and has played four minutes in three games, will see more playing time as well.
Waithe — who had totaled eight minutes in Arkansas past five games because of the injury — equaled a career-high with 30 minutes at Georgia. He finished with 10 points and six rebounds, giving the Razorbacks a lift off the bench.
“Marvell played really well for a guy that’s been out for quite awhile,” Anderson said. “I thought he played with passion. He played with energy. The hustle, the desire. … He played 30 minutes. I was really shocked with that. But that just shows me a little bit more about his makeup.”
Arkansas also will continue to lean on Mickelson and Abron, who have combined to average 8.0 points and 7.1 rebounds in SEC games. Brandon Mitchell, who joined the team in January, also is likely to earn more playing time after logging just four minutes in three appearances this season.
“We’ve just got to make use of the guys that we have, utilize the bodies that we do have,” Anderson said. “That’s why a guy like Brandon will probably get even more minutes now with Mike not being in. So it’s been a season of adjustments. I think for the most part these guys have done OK. From a coach’s standpoint, from a teaching standpoint, from a strategy standpoint, you’re always having to adjust.
“I think, to me, that’s been the biggest part of it here. Having to make adjustments with guys being in and out.”
Anderson Disappointed
It’s no surprise Anderson was disappointed with his team’s performance at Georgia. But there was area in particular that drew his ire: the backcourt’s performance on the glass.
Arkansas was outrebounded 44-21 by the Bulldogs. Guards Julysses Nobles, B.J. Young, Mardracus Wade, Rickey Scott and Ky Madden grabbed five rebounds combined.
“Our guards have been really, really rebounding the basketball,” Anderson said. “But you look at last night, Nobles, zero rebounds. Rickey Scott, one rebound. Mardracus, one rebound. We have got to be a team. When we are playing well, everybody is involved. Especially on the glass.”
Strong Shooting
Arkansas struggled offensively at Georgia, but guard Mardracus Wade continued to shoot well from 3-point range.
The sophomore went 5-for-5 from long range and finished with 15 points. He is shooting 50 percent (51 of 102) on 3-pointers this season, which leads the SEC.
“Mardracus has worked to become someone people have to pay attention to on our basketball team,” Anderson said.