Pelphrey happy for Beverley but looking ahead

LITTLE ROCK For John Pelphrey, last week's NBA draft was another reminder of what might have been.

Former Razorback Patrick Beverley was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 42nd pick, then traded to the Miami Heat. Beverley played for two seasons at Arkansas before being suspended last August. He left to play for a Ukrainian team, and Pelphrey's Razorbacks won only two Southeastern Conference games last season.

"So happy for Patrick. It was a dream of his to have a chance to play in the NBA," said Pelphrey, entering his third season as Arkansas' coach. "Certainly any time you have a guy that goes in the early 40s there, it kind of makes you want to say, 'What if?' But you can't really live there with the past of our basketball team what he'd have brought to us."

Beverley's departure wasn't the only reason the Razorbacks faltered. Arkansas lost its top five scorers from 2007-08 and hasn't fully recovered. The Hogs actually beat Oklahoma and Texas at home last season, but those victories were quickly forgotten as Arkansas staggered down the stretch to a 14-16 record.

Pelphrey has also had to contend with disciplinary issues. Talented swingman Jason Henry was suspended just before the SEC tournament, and guard Marcus Britt was suspended after his arrest in late May on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Beverley even resurfaced recently, saying someone wrote a paper for him while he was at Arkansas. He also made comments that implicated teammates, but later backed off those statements.

There was some good news for the Razorbacks this offseason, such as the return of 6-foot-9 Michael Washington, the team's leading scorer. Washington submitted his name for the draft but ultimately decided to come back for his senior season, meaning the Razorbacks should return all five starters.

"We're getting ready to head into the second summer session where we do have a lot of guys here, and we'll get a chance to see some of the returning players," Pelphrey said. "How they respond from all the experience and playing time that they gained a year ago the bumps and bruises, the good, the bad see how they take it and handle it and how much ownership they've got."

Although all of Arkansas' starters are expected back, the bench could look significantly different. Forwards Andre Clark and Brandon Moore both left the program after they each averaged nine minutes a game as freshmen.

The roster now includes seven newcomers. Pelphrey hopes guard Julysses Nobles can contribute immediately and take some of the pressure off point guard Courtney Fortson.

Fortson averaged 33 minutes per game last season.

"He's still going to need to play 30-plus," Pelphrey said. "Courtney's going to have to be an all-league player for us to have success."

Shooting guard Rotnei Clarke, who started every game last season as a freshman, might also play some at the point.

Guard Stefan Welsh is also back and will try to improve his shooting. Welsh started 24 games in 2008-09. He shot 36 percent from the field while attempting the second-most shots on the team.

Welsh and Washington are the lone seniors on the roster for this coming season.

"I think we'll hopefully be a year closer to where we want to be. We need to do a good job in recruiting and sign a couple more really good players in November," Pelphrey said. "I think we're getting really, really close here to kind of getting back hopefully, and being able to be in the conversation consistently about the SEC West."