Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS

FAYETTEVILLE - A lot of college basketball programs would love to have Arkansas' attendance figures this season.

But by the Razorbacks' lofty standards, attendance is down through the first five home games at Walton Arena.

Arkansas is listing paid attendance and actual attendance on box scores for the first time this season, and according to the actual attendance figures, the average home crowd has been 11,202.

Previously, Arkansas based its crowd figures on what it listed as actual attendance.

In the past 15 seasons since Walton Arena opened, the overall average actual attendance in 120 games was listed at 17,243.

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After five games last season, Arkansas was averaging 16,028 - 4,826 more per game than this season. Walton Arena's official capacity is listed at 19,200, although the Razorbacks have announced larger crowds in the past.

Last season's five-game average was bolstered by 18,621 who watched the Razorbacks beat Missouri, coached by former UA assistant Mike Anderson, 94-91.

The season-high announced home crowd this season is 12,424 for the Razorbacks' 98-70 victory over North Carolina Central last Wednesday night.

"I haven't noticed if the crowds are smaller," said Arkansas redshirt freshman forward Michael Sanchez, who is from Springdale. "They seem just as loud as ever to me.

"They're still rowdy, I can tell you that. They sound like a packed house."

Junior forward Michael Washington said the players' focus is on the court.

"If we do something good, we know the crowd is going to respond," he said. "We know the fans are there supporting us."

Arkansas' announced paid average attendance of 13,540 ranks third in the SEC. The Razorbacks trail Kentucky (22,140) and Tennessee (20,339) and are well ahead of SEC West rivals LSU (8,845) and Alabama (8,812), the teams picked to finish 1-2 in the division in most preseason polls.

Reasons contributing to smaller attendance for Arkansas this season include:

A weak economy. People aren't spending as much money on entertainment, and that includes going to college basketball games.

A weak schedule. The five teams Arkansas has played at Walton Arena are a combined 10-38.

A weak team, perceptionwise at least. Arkansas is 6-1 but was picked to finish last in the SEC West and lost its star when guard Patrick Beverley was declared academically ineligible in August.

"I don't think anybody can argue with any of those reasons," Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey said. "I think those are all contributing factors.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it goes."

Last season Arkansas listed its actual home attendance average at 17,148. To reach that figure by the end of the season, the Razorbacks must average 19,435 in their remaining 13 home games.

"Attendance has not been quite what we expect," said Jeff Long, who took over as Arkansas' athletic director in January. "But I think certainly if you look not only at Arkansas but across the country, early-season nonconference games are sometimes difficult to draw to, especially on weekdays.

"That's not only an issue for Arkansas. It's across the country.

"At this point, our season ticket sales have been good. Now it's about getting our fans to come out every night."

Arkansas' season ticket sales this season are at 13,033 compared to 14,214 last year, a difference of 181.

Ticket prices have risen from $20 to $25 this season.

"I think if you look at our single-game tickets, we're a reasonable entertainment expense," Long said. "But I also know the economy is having an impact on people."

Arkansas is getting additional ticket revenue from selling courtside seats for the first time. The seats - originally 34 but now up to 39 - cost $12,000 per season with a five-year commitment totaling $60,000.

That's $468,000 per season brought in from the courtside seats.

"It is a significant amount of revenue," Long said. "The folks who can afford those seats see that as a positive thing."

Pelphrey, in his second season as Arkansas' coach, said he's too focused during games to notice how many fans are in attendance, but he's impressed and grateful for the support.

The Razorbacks are 20-1 in Walton Arena under Pelphrey, with the only loss coming last season to South Carolina, 70-66.

"I love our relationship with our fan base," Pelphrey said. "We feel very, very fortunate to have a chance to play in front of them.

"There's no question that this arena has had some incredible environments where it's been deafening.

"I don't know anybody who's come in here and said, 'Wow, that place isn't that impressive.' "

Home attendance figures to increase the rest of this season with coming nonconference games against Oklahoma and Texas and an SEC schedule that includes Kentucky and Tennessee.

Single-game ticket sales include 1,182 for Oklahoma, 1,080 for Kentucky and 661 for Georgia, the Razorbacks' final regular-season home game at which Arkansas' 1994 NCAA championship team will be honored.

"I fully anticipate this will still be one of the toughest places in the SEC to play," Pelphrey said. "No doubt about it."

Long said lower gas prices are an encouraging sign for increased attendance.

"When gas prices were up near $4 a gallon, I think people really had to make a decision about whether they'd drive up from Little Rock or Fort Smith or wherever," Long said. "Certainly gas prices are now a positive.

"Going forward with the economy, there's concern there because it's a big unknown. But I know this: Our fans are passionate, and I think they'll do whatever they can to hang onto their season tickets and support this team going forward."

Long said now is the time for fans who can afford it to secure season tickets, which were hard to come by when Walton Arena first opened.

"This is a young team, and an exciting team, and they're going to continue to grow," Long said. "By the end of the season they're going to be a darn good team, and next year they're going to be even better, and the next year even better than that.

"I think we'll get back to the time where it's going to be a tough season ticket to get. That day is coming pretty quick."