Who is this Bobby Portis guy everyone keeps talking about? Oh yeah, he was the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year last season after averaging 17.5 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Arkansas Razorbacks, which finished 27-9 with a second-place SEC finish. And after his big year, the 6-11 Portis left after his sophomore season to begin his career in the NBA where the Chicago Bulls drafted him in the first round, 22nd overall.
After playing behind Bulls big men – Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson – at the beginning of the season, Portis looks to be finally seeing some playing time with injuries taking their toll on the Bulls’ front court.
Of course after losing Portis and second-leading scorer Michael Qualls, along with graduated seniors Ky Madden and Alandise Harris, the Razorbacks were expected to hit some road bumps this season … and they have, going 6-5 so far, losing some close games in the nonconference season with conference play right around the corner. But the Hogs’ struggles have little to do with Portis’ shadow last season.
Junior Moses Kingsley was Portis’ backup off the bench last year, averaging 3.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 1.1 blocks in almost 11 minutes per game. This year is quite different for Kingsley, the Abuja, Nigeria, native. Kingsley, 6-10, has done well taking over for Portis as he is averaging a double-double 16.1 points and 10.3 rebounds, blocking 2.8 shots, hitting 55 percent of his shots, while sinking 71 percent of his free throws, 9 percent better than last season, in 27.5 minutes per game.
The Razorbacks were picked to finish 11th in the SEC in a preseason poll, but I feel they could be more toward the middle of the pack and possibly make a run in the SEC tourney. They’re creating an identity for themselves led by Kingsley’s excellent inside play and the 3-point shooting of senior Anthlon Bell, averaging 17.1 points to lead the Hogs, and redshirt junior Dusty Hannahs, second in scoring at 16.5. Bell is hitting 45 percent of his shots from behind the arc, while Hannahs is better at 47 percent.
Senior point guard Jabril Durham has been a passing machine leading the SEC with 7.7 assists per game and running the point very well. Sophomore 6-9 forward Trey Thompson has been coming around strong since missing three games with an ankle injury and sophomore Anton Beard has returned from a suspension (forgery charges over the summer) and will be a positive impact after starting as a freshman last year.
And that’s not to mention defensive stalwart Manny Watkins, who is also averaging 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals. Freshman Jimmy Whitt has quietly averaged 8.5 points per game with two rebounds and two assists, and senior Keaton Miles has given good minutes this year. Six-foot-10 big man Willy Kouassi is playing back up to Kingsley well, averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in just over 11 minutes per game.
Of course not as deep as they were last year, I think the Razorbacks have the ingredients to make a run in the SEC, especially with Head Coach Mike Anderson at the helm. Anderson has improved each year since coming to Arkansas in 2011 and has a career 292-151 record for a .660 winning percentage. Of course I don’t expect the Hogs to match last year’s success because you can’t ignore the big losses, but I think they have enough to surprise some people. Merry Christmas!