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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Mike Anderson had plenty of good will with Arkansas fans when he was hired in 2011, thanks to his time as an assistant coach during the schools glory days.Those 17 years next to former coach Nolan Richardson, including the 1994 national championship, never seemed as far away as they did during last season when Arkansas finished 16-16.Thats why, in an attempt to reclaim some of that good will lost over the course of five seasons with only one NCAA Tournament appearance, Anderson brought in an influx of top junior-college talent this year to go along with Southeastern Conference preseason Player of the Year Moses Kingsley .Whether the additions of guards Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon, along with forward Arlando Cook, are enough to return the Razorbacks to their 27-win level of two seasons ago is unclear. But its a start.The thing that excites me is weve got more pieces now, Anderson said. Pieces to the puzzle that fit what we want to do.Arkansas spent much of last season unable to recover from the early departures of former SEC Player of the Year Bobby Portis and All-SEC performer Michael Qualls.This season, the Razorbacks hope to mesh quickly around Kingsley, who considered leaving for the NBA before deciding to come back for his final season.The 6-foot-10 Nigerian center emerged from Portis shadow last season to average 15.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and he had an early glimpse of his new teammates during a 10-day, four-game team trip to Spain over the summer. He liked what he saw, just as Arkansas fans hope the same in Andersons sixth season.I feel like the team has help now, Kingsley said.Some other things to watch as Arkansas attempts to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing it last season:HOT-SHOOTING HANNAHSKingsley isnt the only top returner for the Razorbacks, with sharp-shooter Dusty Hannahs also back after leading the team with 16.5 points per game last season. The senior was fifth in the SEC in 3-point percentage last season, hitting 43.3 percent from behind the arc, and said he absolutely expects Arkansas to return to the NCAA Tournament this season.DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTThe Razorbacks were 247th in the country last season while allowing opponents to average 74.7 points per game. Not surprisingly, defensive improvement has been a point of emphasis for Anderson -- who is counting on better perimeter defense with Barford and Macon, along with junior Anton Beard. We have to make teams uncomfortable with the basketball, Anderson said.POINT DUTYFormer Arkansas point guard Jabril Durham graduated after leading the Razorbacks with an average of 6.4 assists per game last season, and Anderson expects the 6-foot-3 Barford to try and take over that position of lead playmaker. Barford averaged a national-best 26.3 points per game in junior college last season, but he also averaged 5.1 assists per game two years ago and has good passing ability.BEARDS RETURNBeard played in 23 games last season, but he never appeared fully comfortable after missing the first semester following his arrest on forgery charges. The junior has stayed out of troubles way this year, and Anderson is counting on the guard to return to his All-SEC freshman form of two years ago -- when he averaged 5.8 points per game.THOMAS DEBUTThe power forward position was a prime weakness for Arkansas last season, and Anderson hopes 6-foot-8 Colorado transfer Dustin Thomas can help fill that void. Thomas averaged 4.4 points per game as a sophomore with the Buffaloes two seasons ago, and he was second on the Razorbacks in rebounding during their four games in Spain this summer.Fernando Valenzuela Dodgers Jersey . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Maury Wills Jersey . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-joe-kelly-jersey/ . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Mike Piazza Dodgers Jersey . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Corey Seager Jersey . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers.This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Washington CapitalsOverall: 47 Title track: 96 Ownership: 19 Coaching: 21 Players: 43 Fan relations: 19 Affordability: 89 Stadium experience: 54 Bang for the buck: 50 Change from last year: +8Despite another spirit-crushing playoff defeat by the rival Penguins, Year 2 of the Barry Trotz era went even better than the first. The Capitals 120 points landed them the Presidents Trophy as the NHLs regular-season champion, and they might have made a real run at the Stanley Cup had they not been drawn, because of the leagues convoluted playoff format, against red-hot Pittsburgh in the second round. Still, Washingtons continued improvement didnt go unnoticed in our standings.Whats goodTheir team lost to the Pens for the eighth time in nine postseason tries, but long-suffering Caps fans remain fully behind Trotz, whose coaching rank remains near the top 20 in sports. Ownership continues to climb (now at 19th, seven places over 2015) thanks to the shrewd stewardship of Ted Leonsis, whos as engaged and approachable as any check-signer in hockey. Combined with the thrilling on-ice product -- captain Alex Ovechkin led the league in goals for the fourth straight year, while Braden Holtby won the Vezina Trophy as the NHLs top goalie -- Leonsis attention to detail helped fan relattions (No.dddddddddddd 19) enjoy a two-spot bump.Whats badThe closest the Caps got to a Cup in their 40 seasons was a runner-up finish in 1998, when they got swept by the Red Wings in the finals. Perhaps the decades of postseason disappointments have taken a toll. Whatever the reason, fans in the District are surprisingly fatalistic about their future, with a title track that seems absurdly low (96th!) for a team that finally looked like a legitimate contender last year. Meantime, it still isnt cheap to attend games at the Verizon Center -- the Caps rank just 89th in affordability. Among the 23 U.S.-based NHL teams, only five teams have a higher average ticket price ($71).Whats newAt least Caps fans get value for their money. Ovechkin is the most exciting player in the game. Trotzs up-tempo ethos creates offense. (Washington had a plus-59 goal differential last season, 17 more than the next highest-scoring team.) They lost a league-low eight games last season. And Holtbys otherworldly shot-stopping helped Ovi and Co. allow fewer than 200 goals against, one of three NHL teams to accomplish the feat. Its little surprise, then, that bang for the buck shot up 34 spots from a year ago.Next: New Jersey Devils?| Full rankings ' ' '