The Arkansas Razorbacks made it worthwhile for their fans to stick around at Bud Walton Arena Friday night.

Led by a monster performance by junior forward Michael Washington, the Hogs made up a nine-point deficit and tamed the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, 91-87, in their season opener.

Washington nailed down a double-double with 30 points and 14 rebounds.

At some point this season, the 2008-09 Razorbacks basketball team will be more than what it is right now.

It has the makings of an interesting if not good basketball team.

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But at the moment, John Pelphrey’s second Razorbacks squad is more of a collection of talent than a team at this point, and while they play extremely hard, they are not yet as efficient as they could be.

But I have to say, they pulled closer together as Friday night wore on.

One couldn’t expect much more from a squad that saw its top eight players bid farewell to the program last spring.

As young and inexperienced as Bobby Petrino’s football squad was in August, Pelphrey’s basketball squad is even more raw.

And for a time, its opponents will be licking their lips for the taste of red meat.

The best things the Razorbacks did until the two-minute mark in their season opener were of an individual nature.

A thunderous dunk by Michael Washington to draw the Hogs within 3 with 12: 15 to play, or a splendid dipsydo drive to the basket by Courtney Fortson, a snarling rebound by Michael Sanchez or an arcing trey by Rotnei Clarke.

All were big-time plays, but when not backed up by the basics on both ends of the floor, they become lost and forgotten along the way.

A great play at one end of the court is neutralized by the simple failure to block out at the other end.

That being said, there are sparks of something special with this squad.

Clarke’s ice-water, transition 3-pointer with 29. 3 seconds to play that pulled the Hogs within 76-75 is evidence. Courtney Fortson’s tenacious drive and acrobatic layup that forced overtime is further evidence.

But at some point a lack of consistency tends to drown out even the best of plays.

That was not the case Friday. To their credit, the Hogs pulled out the victory.

No doubt, by January this Razorbacks squad will be very different.

By that time, the Hogs should know each other better, be more mature and most importantly have six more weeks of coaching under their belts.

This season is going to be a baptism by fire for the Hogs. They are going to take some lumps, but that is part of the growing process.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the game, to me though, was Arkansas’ fans.

While the Razorbacks were battling to stay within a 3-pointer of the Lions for much of the second half, Arkansas’ fans were sitting on their hands, except the student section.

It took a Montrell McDonald dunk with 2: 00 to play to bring fans to their feet. Once they got to their feet, their noise and support lifted the Hogs.

Now, players win and lose games, but we all know a revved-up crowd at Walton Arena tends to make magical things happen.

If Hog fans had of gotten into the game earlier, the late-game heroics might not have been as necessary.

Terry J. Wood is the sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.