FAYETTEVILLE -- Thanks to Jabril Durham, Anton Beard reemerges like the invaluable blue-collar contributor he is and not miscast as the white-collar savior for a 5-4 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team.
Especially for an Arkansas team off a 27-9 2014-2015 season. All-American/first-team All SEC/SEC Player of the Year Bobby Portis, and Michael Qualls, second-team All-SEC, starred as 2014-2015 underclassmen then signed NBA contracts.
Guard Ky Madden and forward Alandise Harris were senior starters.
Then a freshman, Beard last season beat out new junior college transfer Durham as starting point guard.
This season, Beard was suspended while the judicial system resolved forgery cases lodged against Beard, Dustin Thomas, the transfer from the University of Colorado redshirting and recently reinstated to practice, and former Razorback Jacorey Williams, who has since transferred to Middle Tennessee.
All three are fulfilling probation requirements.
Beard practiced once his case was resolved but remained suspended for nine games through the fall semester.
Saturday night the North Little Rock High School graduate debuts as Arkansas hosts Mercer at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.
Under such circumstances, coaches generally prefer returning a player like a regular guy treasuring a second chance rather than trumpeted to save the day.
Given Durham's SEC leading 73 assists, Auburn's Kareem Canty's 36 assists mark the SEC's next best, and Durham's team-leading 17 steals while averaging 4.3 rebounds though only 6-1, the point guard won't require any immediate Anton Beard takeover/makeover.
"Obviously, Jabril is really playing well," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said Monday night. "He has taken command out there on the floor. He's not only making assists but defensively he is everywhere, touching balls and making steals. And he's really starting to shoot the ball."
Durham won't move over but welcomes Beard moving in.
The entire team welcomes him, Anderson said, affirming Beard's resolve to learn from his mistakes.
"I think you will see a kid that does everything he can to represent this university," Anderson said.
With Madden graduated, Arkansas' floor seems plenty big enough for Durham and Beard. Whether spelling each other or meshing like twin point guards, both defend and rebound. Offensively they will occasionally score but chiefly set up 3-point shooting guards Anthlon Bell and Dusty Hannahs or penetrate to feed big men Moses Kingsley, Trey Thompson, Willy Kouassi, and Keaton Miles and freshman swingman Jimmy Whitt.
The Razorbacks should be significantly deeper with Beard joining Thompson. Thompson returned from a sprained ankle for Arkansas' first consecutive victories last Saturday and Tuesday.
Arkansas went 1-3 with Thompson injured early in the loss against Georgia Tech and then missing the next three games.
The Hogs also become tougher with Beard. Along with fearless sixth-man guard Manny Watkins, Beard is apt to have Arkansas leading the SEC in diving for loose balls, floor burns and most road-kill like charges taken.
"We have always been a team of options," Anderson said. "Adding Anton is a plus. He brings toughness and plays to win."
Sports on 12/16/2015