FAYETTEVILLE — Adrio Bailey is having a career year in his final go-around at Arkansas in many respects.
The Razorbacks' senior forward, who has started in all 14 games this season, is averaging career bests in scoring (6.6), rebounding (4.9), steals (1.6) and blocks per game (1.9). Surprisingly, he has even improved his perimeter jumper, knocking down 5 of 12 3-point attempts this season.
But his greatest impact has come on the defensive end. He is top 10 nationally with a personal defensive rating of 79.0, and, according to KenPom analytics, is No. 58 in the country with a block rate of 8.1 percent and 89th with a 3.7 percent steal rate.
Bailey, though, cannot play every minute of every game. But, at the moment, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said Thursday he does not know who to turn to along the front line after Bailey.
"There’s no question that I’m searching as a coach to try to find somebody that can spell Adrio some minutes at the 5," he said. "We’ll look. We’ll just keep searching."
That designation for much of the season has belonged to sophomore forward Reggie Chaney. His role moving forward, however, is a bit up in the air following a pair of rough performances to open Southeastern Conference play.
Chaney, who began the season on indefinite suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules, has played only 14 minutes in Arkansas' games against Texas A&M and LSU. He has scored two points on one field goal attempt, handed out an assist, turned the ball over three times and committed six fouls in that span.
He does not have an offensive or defensive rebound in league play.
Against the Tigers, he was whistled for four fouls, including a technical foul, in seven minutes. He was assessed the technical late in the first half for slapping the basketball into the crowd after being hit with a foul on LSU forward Darius Days under the rim.
"I mean, you can’t punch a basketball," Musselman said. "You can’t do it. A player punched a basketball and he had four fouls in five minutes. I wish I could, you know ... how does a man walk on the moon? I don’t know. But somebody did. And somebody punched a basketball. I don’t know how, but he did it."
Grad transfer forward Jeantal Cylla, who has one start this season, is an option behind Bailey, as is 6-8 Ethan Henderson. Cylla (6-7) has been used sparingly since Arkansas' win over South Dakota on Nov. 22. He has not seen the floor in two of the last three games and has not played more than four minutes in a game since the beginning of December.
Musselman said the UNC-Wilmington transfer has patiently waited his turn on the bench.
Playing five guards when Bailey sits is a possibility as well. That lineup - Isaiah Joe, Mason Jones, Desi Sills, Jimmy Whitt, Jalen Harris - has outscored the Aggies and Tigers 32-20 in 17 minutes, 58 seconds of game time, come up with eight steals and handed out six assists versus two turnovers.
Asked how Chaney personally responded in practice on Thursday, Musselman said he isn't worried about one player.
"I’m trying to figure out who’s going to play behind Adrio," he added. "That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Who’s going to produce and provide us something? That’s what I’m trying to find."