FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey has accepted an invitation to fly with the Blue Angels in one of their fighter jets on Wednesday at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville.

"I don't think I'm an adrenaline junkie," Pelphrey said Monday while talking about the impending start of basketball season. "I'm not going to go sky diving or jump off Bud Walton Arena or those types of things."

But Pelphrey said he couldn't turn down a chance to fly with the Blue Angels because of his admiration for them after reading a book about their commitment and teamwork.

"I'm sure there are a lot of things I can learn from them about being part of a team that may make me a better coach," he said. "Maybe some things that I can relay to our guys."

Pelphrey has never flown in a jet fighter.

ADVERTISEMENT

"There weren't too many of those around when I was growing up in Paintsville," he said, referring to his Kentucky hometown. "I hear flying in one is a bit of a challenge."

But what is a more challenging prospect to Pelphrey: getting ready to fly in a Navy F / A-18 Hornet for the first time or coach a team that has lost its top seven players from last season and is counting heavily on newcomers ?

"Great question, I guess we'll find out," Pelphrey said. "There's probably a level of anxiety with both.

" I don't know if I want to elaborate on that. I've still got to coach these guys."

Pelphrey will begin coaching the 2008-2009 Razorbacks in full-scale practices for the first time Friday.

The only returning players are junior guard Stefan Welsh, junior forward Michael Washington and sophomore guard Marcus Britt, who averaged a combined 10. 4 points and 5. 6 rebounds last season.

Redshirt freshman forward Michael Sanchez practiced with the Razorbacks last season, but he didn't play. Freshman forward Andre Clark began practicing with them in February and also didn't play.

The other five newcomers - freshman guards Courtney Fortson and Rotnei Clark, freshman forwards Brandon Moore and Jason Henry, and junior college transfer forward Montrell McDonald - will practice for the first time as Razorbacks on Friday.

Gone from last season are the top seven scorers, including six seniors and Patrick Beverley, who would have been a junior but was declared ineligible by Arkansas for undisclosed reasons and has since signed with an agent in hopes of playing as a professional.

"Make no mistake about it, this is rebuilding," Pelphrey said. "You don't lose that many guys from any organization and there not be some transition from one year to the next."

But Pelphrey said the Razorbacks still have the same goals of playing in the NCAA Tournament and winning the SEC West and overall titles.

"Somebody asked me, are those expectations and goals realistic ?" Pelphrey said. "If they're not realistic, then we need to work harder to make them become realistic.

" We're not changing the bar."

The Razorbacks said they're excited about their prospects for this season despite their lack of experience.

"You never know what's going to happen with a team full of young guys," Welsh said. "But what we may lack in experience at the beginning of the season, what we may lack in size, we're going to make up for with our intensity, our heart and our toughness. We pride ourselves on that.

" It's going to be a real fun year."

Clark said he understands Arkansas likely won't be picked to do well in the SEC in preseason polls after going to the NCAA Tournament the past three years.

"There's always going to be some negativity," Clark said. "When you lose that many players, people expect the team to struggle.

" But I believe we really can compete and be a shocking team this year. We're young, but we're very athletic and we're going to play hard all the time."

Pelphrey said he knows Arkansas has a great system in place with the up-tempo, pressing style he's committed to coaching.

"It's going to come down to how hard we work, how badly we want it, and do we understand what it's all about to be a part of the team," Pelphrey said. "This is a time right now where we've got to establish our brand."

But before he starts coaching his new team in practice, Pelphrey will get a new experience riding with the Blue Angels.

"I figure they're not going to want me coming back talking bad about it," Pelphrey said. "So I think they're going to make sure the experience is a good one."

Pelphrey hopes to be able to say the same of the Razorbacks this season.