FAYETTEVILLE — Senior guard Gary Ervin already sensed the latest new Arkansas basketball coach was convincing when John Pelphrey met with the team Monday.

Then came a minor detail that was telling.

“He put on the hat [as he was introduced ], so that tells you a lot,” Ervin said, knowing Dana Altman didn’t slip on a Razorbacks cap given to him last week when he accepted and then turned down the Razorbacks within 24 hours of each other.

Arkansas players’ moods shifted between optimism and doubt when Altman was briefly named Stan Heath’s successor. But they seemed more in sync following their first meeting with Pelphrey. They even dressed more like a team Monday, each wearing black Arkansas warmup suits.

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The same day as Altman’s hiring, forward Darian Townes asked for his release amid rumors that more players were on the fence about returning. At least one Razorback doesn’t anticipate many defections now, though academic issues with at least one player and two who tested positive for marijuana could complicate the logistics of next season’s roster.

“Everybody’s going to be back,” said swingman Sonny Weems, among seven seniors who would return in 2007-2008.

Signed recruit Nate Rakestraw of Springdale Har-Ber said he liked what Pelphrey had to say. And for the second consecutive week, standout guard Patrick Beverley declared his intention to remain a Razorback. Early in the afternoon, Beverley quietly took some shots in the nearly empty arena and said the last two weeks were tough to endure.

Beverley was much more upbeat after meeting Pelphrey.

“It’s been a really frustrating time. Everybody’s kind of worn down about everything,” Beverley said. “We’ve been anxiously waiting who our new coach was going to be. Now that we’ve got one we can’t wait to get back on the court.

“ I’m just excited to continue playing basketball for the University of Arkansas.”

Several players concluded Pelphrey was more comfortable and confident than Altman.

“You could see the difference today,” guard Stefan Welsh said. “Coach Pelphrey was a lot more excited, more fiery. Players respond to that. It’s real special to know that we’ll have almost our whole team back with a coach like that. I think it’s going be a real good year for us.”

Pelphrey’s SEC roots —playing for Kentucky and coaching six seasons on Billy Donovan’s Florida staff— made him a little more familiar than Altman’s head coaching experience at less visible Creighton.

“Even for guys not pretty familiar with him, you hear what’s going on with his background and the guys he’s coached for and played for,” Ervin said of Pelphrey mentors Rick Pitino and Donovan. “You know what to expect from a guy like that.”

Pelphrey talked about his senior season at Kentucky in 1992, when the Wildcats reached the NCAA Tournament’s East Regional final and played one of the most memorable games in college basketball history against Duke.

Now, it’s up to Pelphrey to get a senior-dominated team to buy into his system and lead it as far as it can go.

“It’s a little bit unique. Basically, I’m the third guy in a very short period of time they’ve heard was the coach,” Pelphrey said. “But we’re going to start our relationship and start developing that trust level.”