FAYETTEVILLE — If Arkansas is to break a NCAA Tournament drought dating to 2008 this season, it's likely Bobby Portis will be a primary reason.
Expectations are sky-high for the Razorbacks' most revered big man since Corliss Williamson last suited up two decades ago. Portis is a preseason all-SEC selection and could be a first round selection in the NBA Draft next June if he decides to go pro.
But returning his home state school to national relevance is of paramount importance to Portis, a 6-foot-11, 243-pound sophomore who was only 2 months old the last time the Razorbacks made the Final Four.
In the 20 years since, Arkansas has won only one title of any kind - the 2000 SEC Tournament - and has never advanced past the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. Portis, not lacking in confidence, believes that can change this season.
"This team can go far in the tournament and actually win the national championship," Portis said.
"We got the experience last year through the ups and downs, and we were a couple of plays away from making the tournament. This year one of our focal points is finishing."
After winning eight of nine games during a stretch during February and March, the Razorbacks were likely within one win of making the NCAA Tournament last year. But Arkansas was blown out by Alabama in the regular season finale and lost by two points to South Carolina - the league's No. 13 seed - at the conference tournament in Atlanta.
The Razorbacks' consolation was a trip to the NIT. Arkansas beat Indiana State in the first round before losing to California in the next game, but it was hardly the experience the team had hoped to have just a couple of weeks before.
"I thought we probably should have been there," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. "I don't cry over spilled milk, but you look at the things we did - we were 8-2 going down the stretch and had played some pretty darn good team. We were one of the hotter teams."
Anderson expects bigger things from his team this season, beginning with Portis. The Little Rock Hall graduate participated in a pair of prestigious skills academies (Lebron James and NIKE Big Man) this summer, and has grown physically since the end of last season.
"I think he's really strengthened his core," Anderson said. "It's like he's a guy on a mission. This summer he had a chance to go to some different camps and I thought that really pushed his confidence to another level.
"He got pushed around at times (last season), especially early in SEC play. Bobby is one of those guys that embraces those moments to learn from. I think we'll see it really pay off for this year."
The drive to be great is partially responsible for keeping Portis in school earlier this year. NBA teams took notice of his play late in the season, particularly against Julius Randle and Willie Cauley-Stein in a win at Kentucky's Rupp Arena.
"Bobby is different than a lot of other guys," Anderson said. "…He doesn't want to go sit on somebody's bench and just kind of be there. He wants to be a great player."
Portis improving from last season could push the Razorbacks over the NCAA hump. He averaged 12.3 points, a team-high 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season, earning freshman all-SEC honors.
He broke Scotty Thurman's single-game record for a freshman by scoring 35 points in a win over Alabama and his 230 rebounds were the most ever by a freshman at Arkansas.
Still, Portis felt he could have done more.
"Last year I think I fell short of being a leader because I was a freshman and didn't want to say anything," Portis said. "But this year I think it's big for me to be a leader. Last year in certain games we needed a leader and I shied away from that role. This year I need to be a leader and hopefully everyone else will follow suit."
Anderson said Portis has led by example this off-season.
"He has a great mentality in terms of wanting to be one of the best players not only just here, not just in our conference, but in the country," Anderson said. "To back it up he's in the gym morning, noon and night. I have to kind of tone him down and say, 'Hey, get away.'
"Last year I told him to go at his own pace. I didn't want the pressure on him of being the savior of our program. My deal with him was to go at his own pace. Well, his pace was second-team all-conference. So that speaks volumes about him."