FAYETTEVILLE — For a stretch of No. 10 Arkansas’ season opener on Monday, it seemed a different player hit the floor with an injury on every other possession.
And that came hours after the Razorbacks announced star freshman guard Nick Smith would not play against North Dakota State due to right knee management. Arkansas, which is 1-0 after a 76-58 victory on Nov. 7, is now gearing up for a home game against Fordham on Friday.
And the Razorbacks, fourth-year coach Eric Musselman said Wednesday, are not at full strength. Not even close, really.
“I mean, we’re banged up right now,” he added. “Ricky (Council) hurt his elbow. (Trevon Brazile) has an ankle that he rolled pretty good, and then obviously Anthony (Black rolled an ankle), so how it looks over the next 48 hours before Friday’s game, I don’t know.”
Arkansas on Wednesday will be without three or four players, including Smith, in practice.
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“Until I get off with the media I won’t know who is suiting up for practice,” Musselman said, “but I certainly know because I got an e-mail this morning and have had some conversations with our trainer (Matt Townsend) that there are four guys who will not be going full court today and will be limited at best to some half-court situations.”
Asked for an update on Smith’s status moving forward, Musselman noted the freshman is day-to-day and will not work out with the team Wednesday or Thursday. Musselman does not anticipate he will play against the Rams.
Smith is a consensus preseason All-SEC first-team selection and a projected top-five pick in next year’s NBA Draft by most talent evaluators.
“I think we kind of leave that up to the trainer and Nick,” Musselman said. “But the anticipation right now is that we have to worry about trying to get these other guys that did play as close to being healthy as possible.”
In his absence Monday, Council and Brazile led the charge offensively with 22 points and 21 points, respectively.
Brazile added a career-high 12 rebounds, as well, off the bench. Council was a late addition to the starting lineup and made 9 of 14 shots in his debut.
Black, another 5-star freshman guard, finished with 3 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 2 turnovers in 30 minutes. Arkansas outscored North Dakota State by 14 when he was in the lineup.
Musselman said Smith's teammates and coaches want him to return to the floor soon because they enjoy playing alongside him and his competitive nature. But until he does, the goal is to prep available bodies for the next game on the schedule.
Fordham, a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, won its season opener 88-74 against Dartmouth on Monday to begin the tenure of head coach Keith Urgo.
Smith, according to Musselman, was very engaged in the Razorbacks’ first game while sitting on the team’s bench.
“The referee kept telling guys to sit down,” he said. “Finally, I went down there and said, ‘Who are they talking about?’ And four or five guys pointed to Nick.
“We're still trying to figure out who we are. Roles are fluctuating and the starting lineup is fluctuating. With 11 new players, that's just kind of how it is going to be. But obviously when someone as offensively dynamic as Nick is is not in uniform, somebody else is going to get an opportunity.
“The shot distribution is going to go to other people, and you just need them to step up and play well.”