FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. • Mike Anderson was relaxing with a friend at the Final Four in Houston last year when a phone call interrupted their visit.
The former Missouri coach just happened to be with Frank Haith, who had received no attention as a possible replacement for Anderson at Mizzou. But before that call ended, Haith had been offered the job and Anderson was among the first to know.
It was a moment of joy for the new Arkansas coach, one that helped ease the anguish he felt leaving a program he had primed for success.
"People realize that we're friends and buddies," Anderson said. "When he got the call we were together, so it goes deeper than a lot of people think. When I went to Missouri, the program was at a certain level. I think I did my job because they were able to bring someone else in and the program is now one of the best in the country. I had the program where we wanted it."
Anderson felt Mizzou had landed in good hands. He then turned his focus to rebuilding Arkansas, a program that was familiar to him after he spent 17 seasons as an assistant to Nolan Richardson through 2002.
TWO TEAMS, ONE COACH
Anderson feels as if he has two teams these days, one that gets his full-time attention and one — which is 25-2 and ranked third nationally — he admires with pride from afar.
He returned to the Razorbacks after a nine-year absence with hope of resurrecting their glory days. But he still refers to Missouri as "we," a habit that is likely to fizzle when Mizzou joins Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference next season.
"I never thought I would be coming back (to Arkansas). I never did," Anderson said. "It's one of those situations that just happened. In my mind I never thought I'd be back ... with what took place for me when I left. The toughest decision I ever had to make was when I came here because I knew what we had done (at Missouri)."
Arkansas failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in John Pelphrey's final three seasons. Anderson's tenure has started with a 17-10 record and rejuvenated fan interest as attendance has jumped to an average of 13,175, an 11 percent increase.
Injuries have taken a toll on the court. The Razorbacks lost leading scorer Marshawn Powell to a knee injury after two games, and starter Michael Sanchez is sidelined because of a sprained shoulder. That has left Anderson with eight scholarship players, including four freshmen and two sophomores.
The youth was apparent Saturday when Florida blasted the Razorbacks by 30 points. However, it was the first home loss in 18 games since Anderson's return.
UPWARD BOUND
The future looks bright with players such as guard B.J. Young, a freshman from McCluer North High who scored 31 points against the Gators.
"With the major injuries we've had and the first year of everyone playing this style, coach Anderson has done a great job bringing us together," Young said. "We just want to do the same for him."
Anderson's two predecessors, Pelphrey and Stan Heath, had winning records but were a combined 56-88 in the SEC. The Razorbacks are 5-7 this season. They have performed as a young team might, winning at home and struggling on the road. The best wins have come against No. 17 Michigan and Vanderbilt.
"My job is to create a culture that's conducive to winning," Anderson said. "You've got to get the right kids. At UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) and Missouri the same thing took place. Character can outweigh talent. We didn't have the most talented players but our players got better. I was here when it was at its highest heights. I understand what it took to get there."
During the Richardson-Anderson partnership, Arkansas was 389-169. The Razorbacks won the national championship in 1994, went to three Final Fours and reached the Sweet 16 six times.
HURT FEELINGS
Returning to the scene of such success was attractive. But to get to Arkansas, Anderson left a bad feeling with many in Columbia. He indicated his plans to stay at Mizzou before taking the Arkansas job. He said he understands some of those feelings that developed after he left.
"Those kids are part of my family. They will be for the rest of my life," he said. "Obviously they were hurt and even when you talk about some of the fans. Why? When I got there, there was not a lot of empathy about the program. Now there are feelings about it and I understand that. But I'm so excited for those guys. They're going to do great things."
When Haith was hired, he had a friend who could answer every question. And while much of the country expressed shock about Haith, Anderson wasn't among that group.
"Do you think that's just a coincidence?" he asked without elaboration.
He was pulling for his friend all along.
