FAYETTEVILLE — John Pelphrey addressed the media in the interview room, and then everyone reconvened in the basketball museum for one-onone time with players.

Basketball officially starts Friday, but the NCAA allows some time for coaches to work with players in the weeks leading up to the start of practice. So Pelphrey and staff have a little working knowledge of their newest charges.

Not much, though, because the team is young enough they could have held the news conference on KinderCampus.

Pelphrey gave a short evaluation of every guy during his time at the podium and then moved on.

Both players and staff have much to learn as the season approaches, but at least one thing seemed clear on Monday.

ADVERTISEMENT

This team has more chemistry.

Of course, last year’s seniors went together as well as a box of random shoelaces.

Marcus Britt (from Forrest City ) was sitting on one end of a sofa and Michael Sanchez (Springdale ) was a couple of feet away.

Britt was asked if John — “Coach Pelphrey ?” Britt asked — would get more technical fouls this year or would Sanchez foul out of more games.

Sanchez laughed out loud and said, “I heard that.” Sanchez is a little fiery.... OK, he’s a fierce competitor who backs down from no one but backs up everyone on his team.

Britt smiled a little, but only after Sanchez laughed.

With television lights blazing and digital cameras flashing, it was easy to stand in the back and see the uneasiness.

Most of these guys were dealing with the Arkansas media for the first time, and while some looked like they bordered on being overwhelmed, they held together well.

Britt, who said he spent long hours in the HPER building during the summer working on his jump shot along with Brandon Moore (New Orleans ), noticed that much of the attention was focused on two true freshmen: Rotnei Clarke (Claremore, Okla. ) and Courtney Fortson (Montgomery, Ala. ).

Clarke is a shooter. A pure shooter.

Of course, the concern among the fans is can he get his shot off in the SEC and can he play defense.

“I like having him on my team when we have pick-up games,” said Britt, who is probably the best returning on-the-ball defender. “When he shoots, chances are good it is going in, and I don’t think he’s going to have trouble getting his shots.” Britt was then asked if he could shut down Clarke, and while he was obviously uncomfortable with the question, he finally said: “I’d like to think I can.” Fortson, with long, flowing braids that are identical length, might be the first true point guard to wear the Razorbacks uniform since Kareem Reed.

He looks like a free safety at 5-11 and 180 pounds.

“Quick, very quick,” Britt said of Fortson, who is supposed to be a great passer in the open and half court and a guy who penetrates off a cross dribble.

The freshman class includes Sanchez (redshirt ), Jason Henry (West Memphis ), Moore and Andre Clark (North Little Rock ).

Clark spent the second semester on campus after his prep school dropped basketball, and you didn’t need perfect vision to see the change in him.

Clark, 6-9, would have been lucky to tip the scales at 200 pounds last season, but now he’s a very solid 218.

When asked about his readiness, he said: “I’m getting there.” That’s not the answer that has been drilled into him for the past few months, and he quickly corrected himself: “I’m ready.” Arkansas has 11 players: 4 juniors, 1 sophomore and 6 freshmen.

Most likely, that will be the youngest team in the high Division I level.

“We are definitely, definitely in a rebuilding year,” Pelphrey said, and then added, “definitely.” Pelphrey, a former Kentucky Wildcats basketball player, was asked who he favored in Saturday’s Arkansas-Kentucky football game.

“Arkansas, no doubt about it. I’m pulling for the Razorbacks all the way,” he said.

So Pelphrey now has a team made up mostly of his recruits — players who possess high energy, good chemistry, and have a lot to learn in a short time.