Hog Calls

Drive to improve puts Bell in elite club

Florida guard Chris Chiozza (11) is fouled while driving to the basket by Arkansas guard Anthlon Bell (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the O'Connell Center on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Arkansas 87-83. (Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
Florida guard Chris Chiozza (11) is fouled while driving to the basket by Arkansas guard Anthlon Bell (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the O'Connell Center on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Arkansas 87-83. (Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Anthlon Bell excels the old-fashioned way in a world of college basketball dominated by one-and-dones and two-and-throughs.

He excels via dues-paying, stick-to-it seniority.

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson calls Bell "the last one left standing," referring to the four-man 2012-13 freshman class that had two transfer and one turn pro early. Bell blossomed slowly but surely through two years as a reserve shooter to a junior year where he was mostly a starter. As a senior, he is one of the main cogs in the Razorbacks' offensive attack.

Bell became the 39th Razorback exceeding 1,000 career points in Wednesday's loss to Florida. The 368 points Bell has scored for these 11-11 Razorbacks -- far exceeding his previous season-high 284 in 36 games last season -- boosts him to 1,010 career points going into tonight's game against Tennessee at Walton Arena.

Exceeding 1,000 points isn't surprising for a shooter with Bell's three-point range, but it is somewhat shocking considering how far he had to come to warrant the playing time required to exceed the milestone.

Anderson poked some fun at Bell about his defense recently in response to a question from longtime Democrat-Gazette beat writer Bob Holt.

"When he was a freshman, he couldn't guard a telegraph post," Anderson said. "He couldn't guard you, Bob."

Ever kind, Bob tried to ease Bell's burden

"That's kind of harsh on him," Holt said.

"Naw," Anderson replied. "He couldn't."

Several news conferences later, Bell and starting point guard Jabril Durham shared the podium when Bell was asked about Anderson's previous comments.

"Aw, you know Coach has always been on me saying I'm kind of slow on defense," Bell said. "It's my first time hearing about it."

Durham gleefully informed him of what Anderson said.

"He said you couldn't guard Bob," Durham said to laughter.

Even though Bob avidly works out and steadily sheds pounds, Bell can guard him these days.

Bell often holds his own defending some of the SEC's best. Bell has evolved, Anderson said, because of four years practicing against an array of Arkansas guards and learning from the bench what it takes to get off that bench.

Bell concurs.

"Just being more experienced and knowing how games are called and just getting my body ready," Bell said. "Being more physical and just having the want-to, saying, 'This guy is not going to score.' It's more of a mindset."

It's a more complete offensive mindset, too. Annually improving from 31 to 33 to 35 percent as Arkansas' three-point shooting leader, Bell sizzles as a senior, shooting 68 of 144 on three-pointers for 47 percent. Junior teammate Dusty Hannahs has made 58 of 128 on three-pointers to complement Bell.

And Bell has helped himself by vastly improving his midrange game and scoring off the dribble.

He never would have achieved this much without steadfastly staying the course.

"He is not only doing it on the floor but off the floor, too," Anderson said. "He is scheduled to graduate on time. I am really proud of him, and he knows there is a lot more out there for him."

Sports on 02/06/2016

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