FAYETTEVILLE — Marcus Britt’s Arkansas teammates see him as a throwback player.

“We call him ‘Old School’ because there’s nothing flashy about his game,” junior guard Stefan Welsh said. “He just comes in and gets the job done.

“ Every team needs somebody like that, a glue guy. He comes in and does all the little things to help the team.”

Britt, a 6-3 sophomore from Forrest City, has provided a steady hand off the bench for the Razorbacks (4-1 ), who are in a transition period with seven newcomers.

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While Britt was one of four newcomers last season on a team loaded with seniors, he now finds himself among the most experienced Razorbacks, along with Welsh and junior forward Michael Washington.

“I do feel more confident, more comfortable,” Britt said. “I do a little more talking.”

Going into tonight’s Arkansas-Texas Southern game, Britt is averaging 3. 0 points and 2. 0 rebounds in 17. 0 minutes. He’s hit 5 of 12 fieldgoal attempts and 3 of 4 free throws with 4 steals, 4 assists and 2 turnovers.

Those aren’t big numbers, but good ones given Britt’s limited minutes. His 2-to-1 ratio in assists to turnovers is the team’s best.

In Arkansas’ last game, an 86-61 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday, Britt had career highs with 9 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes.

“Marcus has been really good,” Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey said. “He brings a little bit of calmness to us out there.

“ I’m very, very proud of Marcus. He helps us play well.”

Depending on where he’s needed, Britt can play shooting guard, point guard or small forward.

“His versatility is a real plus,” Pelphrey said. “We can put him in different spots and we don’t have to worry about him not knowing or understanding what to do, because he’s proven he can handle that part of it.”

Pelphrey said Britt always has been able to defend on an SEC level, which is why he averaged 6. 7 minutes last season for the 23-12 Razorbacks.

If a starter needed a break, coaches knew they could put Britt in and he wouldn’t be a liability defensively and could handle the ball. He averaged 0. 8 points and 0. 3 rebounds, but the Razorbacks had other players to do those things.

This season, Britt is being counted on to do more and help freshman starting guards Courtney Fortson and Rotnei Clarke make the adjustment from high school to the SEC.

In the summer, Britt stressed to Arkansas’ newcomers how important it was to work hard in the weight room so they’d be ready when the season started.

“I told them that when I first got up here last year, I thought it was going to be easier,” Britt said. “Then when I got on the court, everybody was bigger, stronger and faster than me.”

Arkansas assistant Rob Evans said Britt, whose summer workouts pushed his weight to 198 pounds, has an attitude coaches appreciate.

“Marcus is the type of guy we like to coach because he’s going to give you everything he’s got every day in practice,” Evans said. “That’s why he’s gotten better in all phases in the game.

“ He is old school, because whatever the coaches ask him to do, that’s what he does.”

Britt has hit 2 of 4 three-pointers this season after shooting 2 of 15 as a freshman.

“That was tough last year, but I didn’t lose confidence in my shot,” Britt said. “I believe I’ll do a whole lot better this season.”

Pelphrey said Britt’s threepoint shooting last season was deceptive because he never took more than two attempts in a game. In nine games, he attempted one three-pointer.

“I don’t think last year was a fair assessment of how well he can shoot,” Pelphrey said. “He could never get in a rhythm.”

That’s why Pelphrey said before this season that he wanted Britt to take open three-pointers, because he knew they’d start falling.

“It’s exciting isn’t it ?” Pelphrey said with a smile when Britt’s 2-of-4 shooting from three-point range was mentioned. “Told you he was a better shooter than that.” Britt at a glance CLASS Sophomore HEIGHT / WEIGHT 6-3 / 198 pounds POSITION Guard AGE 20 (born Feb. 27, 1988 ) HIGH SCHOOL Forrest City HOMETOWN Madison