Tall opening task

~ The first-year coach and his Redhawks will be looking at a Razorbacks team that possesses both height and talent.

When Scott Edgar was the coach at Murray State more than a decade ago, his Racers played Arkansas in the first regular-season game at the Razorbacks' Walton Arena.

Arkansas routed Murray State 93-67 on that late November evening in 1993.

Edgar can only hope another debut involving Walton Arena goes better tonight when he coaches his first regular-season game with Southeast Missouri State.

The Redhawks open the campaign with a 7:05 p.m. tipoff against the host Razorbacks, who are coming off their first NCAA tournament appearance in the past six years.

"This is a daunting task," said Edgar, who was an assistant at Arkansas from 1985 to 1991. "They're coming off their first NCAA play in quite some time, they're full of enthusiasm and they think they can be better than last year.

"But it's a wonderful opportunity for us. It's the first time this basketball team will be on the road together, and it will be a great learning experience."

While Southeast is coming off a 7-20 season, Arkansas went 22-10 last year, including a 10-6 Southeastern Conference record that tied the Razorbacks for second in the West Division.

Arkansas lost three starters -- including NBA first-round pick Ronnie Brewer -- and 62 percent of its scoring from that squad.

But Edgar pointed out that the Razorbacks are certainly not lacking for talent -- or height.

Seven of Arkansas' 12 players stand 6-foot-7 or taller and five of them are at least 6-9, including 7-foot junior center Steven Hill, who is one of the top shot-blockers in school history.

Southeast will have just one player taller than 6-6 on the court tonight, that being 6-9 junior center Mike Rembert.

"It's almost like going into the land of the giants," Edgar said. "Hill is a great shot blocker. We'll see him in the NBA some day."

Hill, who averaged just 3.5 points per game last year, is one of the Razorbacks' two returning starters, joining 6-8 junior forward Charles Thomas, who averaged 9.7 points.

Darian Townes, a 6-10, 255-pound junior forward, returns after averaging 9.5 points primarily off the bench.

The Razorbacks also feature Mississippi State transfer Gary Ervin at point guard and one of the nation's top junior college recruits in 6-6 swingman Sonny Weems.

Arkansas, picked to finish third in the SEC West Division, received 20 votes in The Associated Press preseason poll for an unofficial ranking of 35th.

"Top to bottom it's a very talented team," Edgar said. "They're very athletic."

Edgar fashions his Redhawks as a pretty athletic team in its own right, one he believes will be suited to play his "Fast and Furious" style.

He generally liked what he saw from Southeast in its two exhibition victories and figures it's time for the Redhawks to test themselves in an official game, against an opponent from a much bigger conference.

"I think a game like this is motivation for the kids," Edgar said. "It gives us a chance to find out where we are."

The Redhawks say they're ready to take on the Razorbacks.

"We've worked hard in practice and I think we did pretty good in the exhibition games," said senior guard Terrick Willoughby, one of two returning starters for Southeast. "We need to play a game and see where we're at."

Willoughby was a freshman reserve on the 2003-04 Southeast squad that held a halftime lead at Arkansas before losing 78-68. That was the last time Southeast faced the Razorbacks.

"I remember we played pretty good in that game and actually had a chance to win," he said. "They've got a lot of fan support and it's great atmosphere, but hopefully we can play well again and have a chance to win."

Added junior point guard Paul Paradoski, the other returning regular: "It's going to be a really good environment and we're looking forward to playing them. It should be fun."

Arkansas has been among the nation's top teams in attendance over the past decade, although 19,000-seat Walton Arena is not expected to be nearly filled to capacity tonight.

Edgar still expects an impressive atmosphere -- and, win or lose, he looks for the Redhawks to give a good showing.

"I expect us to play well," he said. "I'm anxious to see us go in that kind of environment."