Kingsley steps into spotlight

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Auburn senior forward Cinmeon Bowers got a quizzical look on his face when asked about Moses Kingsley during Wednesday's interview session at SEC basketball media day.

"Who?" Bowers said. "Where does he go to school?

"I've never heard of him. Sorry. No disrespect."

Kingsley, Arkansas' 6-10 junior forward, apparently didn't make much of an impression on Bowers when the Razorbacks won 101-87 at Auburn last season.

Bobby Portis led Arkansas with 22 points and eight rebounds. Kingsley had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in 8 minutes off the bench.

After spending most of the previous two seasons giving Portis a break, Kingsley figures to be Arkansas' top big man this season with last season's SEC Player of the Year moving on to the NBA as a first-round draft pick by Chicago.

"I'm very excited," said Kingsley, who along with senior guard Anthlon Bell represented the Razorbacks at SEC media day. "This is what I've been working for since I got to college.

"Playing time is up for grabs, and I'm ready to grab it."

Bell said Kingsley has been practicing well.

"Moses has been that force down low offensively and defensively," Bell said. "He's showing a lot of improvement in his jump shot and his ball-handling.

"I'm expecting a lot of big things from Moses."

What about those who question if Kingsley can play an expanded role?

"Just wait for the games and watch how he produces," Bell said. "I have a lot of confidence in Moses."

Kingsley -- who averaged 3.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots in 10.9 minutes off the bench last season -- said he's not replacing Portis.

"There's no replacing Bobby, he's such a great player," Moses said. "I'm counting on my team and my team is counting on me and we're going to try to get the job done together."

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said he believes Kingsley will have a good season and benefited from playing with Portis, who also was his AAU teammate.

"Moses and Bobby are real close, and he saw what it took for Bobby to get where he's at now," Anderson said. "So Moses is putting in the time.

"I think we'll see him in a different light this year because he's having the opportunity to play. I think he relishes the chance to show what he can do."

Anderson said Portis' presence had a lot to do with Kingsley's limited role previously.

"Moses had a great player in front of him," Anderson said. "It's not a knock on him."

Anderson said Kingsley did a good job on the Razorbacks' "blue-collar team" that would spell the starters.

"When Moses did play, he did well and did what Coach Anderson asked him to do," Bell said. "This year he's going to do the same thing, only with more minutes."

Kingsley said he's not concerned with how much he plays since his minutes are Anderson's call. Anderson said Kingsley's production and whether he can stay out of foul trouble will dictate how much he plays.

"One of the things Moses has to do is make sure he doesn't pick up quick fouls," Anderson said. "Being in that starting lineup, you've got to be able to manage that."

Former Arkansas guard Pat Bradley, now a Little Rock radio talk-show host, said Kingsley needs to play to his strengths as a defender and rebounder and score inside.

"He's not Bobby Portis, OK?" Bradley said. "He's not a three-point shooter.

"His impact, if he wants to be an All-SEC player, is going to begin with defending the basket, rebounding and shooting 60 percent or more inside the lane.

"I think he can be the leading shot-blocker and rebounder in the SEC. Why not? He can run, he can jump, he's active and he's going to get the minutes."

Kingsley said he knows defense is his top priority.

"You have to be a defensive player first," Kingsley said. "Your offense may not be there every time, but your defense can always be there if you're working hard enough."

Kingsley laughed when told that Bowers had never heard of him.

"Maybe he doesn't know who I am, but I know who he is," Kingsley said. "Maybe when I play some more, people are going to know me.

"I just know we're going to play against each other. I can't wait until then."

Sports on 10/22/2015