By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Mike Anderson knew his team was in for change when Marshawn Powell went down with a season-ending knee injury.
But one day after watching his team squeak out a win against Utah Valley, Anderson admitted it was a little more than even he expected.
“I didn’t know it would be that drastic, with Marshawn going down,” Anderson said. “And obviously now, there’s a lot of work to be done.
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“What I mean by that is, we’ve got to get some other guys to really step up their game.”
The Razorbacks (3-1) will try to take another step without Powell when they play Grambling State (0-4) in Bud Walton Arena tonight at 7.
Arkansas’ first week without Powell was a challenging one. The Razorbacks lost to Houston in Little Rock last Friday, then needed a 13-1 run to end the game to polish off Utah Valley.
Arkansas shot 33.3 percent against the Wolverines, struggling to find a consistent source of offense with Powell (19.5 points in two games) watching from the sideline. But the Razorbacks survived thanks to guard BJ Young (18 points) and improved defensive intensity down the stretch.
“I thought we played with a sense of urgency going down the stretch,” Anderson said. “So that’s the positive you can take from it. They didn’t panic. So now, having a chance to play against Grambling State (tonight) will give us another opportunity to go out and hopefully we can improve in a lot of different areas.”
Anderson highlighted a few suggestions Wednesday.
For starters, he said the Razorbacks must improve their physicality under the basket. Utah Valley muscled its way to 24 offensive rebounds, nearly winning the game by controlling the glass.
Anderson complimented guard B.J. Young for his willingness to help the undersized frontcourt against Utah Valley. The freshman finished with 11 rebounds and Anderson said the effort is needed across the board from the rest of the Razorbacks.
“We can’t afford to give up that many offensive rebounds,” Anderson said. “We did a good job defensively of limiting Utah Valley in the 30-percent shooting, and we shot 30 percent. But we’ve got clean up on the glass, and obviously continue to try to take care of the basketball.”
Arkansas also must find a way to squeeze production out of its frontcourt.
While Powell averaged 19.5 points in two games, the remaining foursome of Devonta Abron, Michael Sanchez, Hunter Mickelson and Marvell Waithe combined to score 11 against Utah Valley.
Anderson said the Razorbacks need to find a way to put post players in better position to score. And when they are, the big men need to finish plays, something they struggled with Wednesday.
“Sometimes you miss a gimme that bucket becomes a little smaller,” Anderson said. “I think it’s more about confidence than anything else.
“Those guys have got to be in position to score or go to the foul line and get some free throws and we are going to have an inside presence.”
Anderson said he’s confident Arkansas can still press teams with nine players, but said the Razorbacks will play “multiple defenses” Either way, Arkansas will continue to “get after people” defensively as they move on without Powell.
Young said he and the rest of the Razorbacks remain confident they can accomplish it.
“I think we still have a pretty good team and a pretty good chance to do some special things,” Young said Wednesday. “We’ve got to regroup and everybody else has to step up their level of play just a little more. I think we can get it done.”