Arkansas to mesh overseas

FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Mike Anderson hasn't forgotten, and isn't ignoring, a difficult last season at Arkansas.

Rather, the Razorbacks coach is simply treating the disappointing 16-16 record as a singular setback in what's been an otherwise growth-filled first five seasons following his return to the school where he was an assistant for 17 years. Anderson will have his first opportunity to see if last season's struggles were an aberration or a sign of things to come when the new-look Razorbacks travel to Spain next week for a four-game exhibition schedule against European competition.

It's a welcome trip for Anderson, who is eager to put last season's up-anddown results behind him, and for Arkansas, which has added an influx of junior-college talent in search of returning to its NCAA Tournament level of two seasons ago.

"I feel the timing couldn't be any better for this kind of trip," Anderson said. "For the junior-college kids, I think this is a real critical time for them to get acclimated."

The Razorbacks have eight new players on their roster as they prepare for the 12-day trip that will see them play four games in three cities. Among those are three of the top JUCO recruits in the country, guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon along with forward Arlando Cook.

Anderson had improved his win total each year at Arkansas until last season, but the departure of Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Bobby Portis and the offseason arrests of three players for using counterfeit money last summer helped put an end to that streak.

It's a streak, however, a re-energized Anderson believes can begin again with a roster that has the potential to be as deep and talented as any he's had.