Jimmy Carter.

Arkansas fans should be thrilled Mike Anderson is coaching the Razorbacks.

They shouldn’t expect a miracle in his first season, though.

He has a tough task in front of him.

The Hogs’ returnees, with the exception of Marshall Powell, are role players. The incoming recruiting class is highly-touted, but relying heavily on freshmen isn’t the recipe for success unless you’re Michigan in the early 90s or Kentucky now.

Arkansas should be more competitive and exciting than in recent memory, but there are a lot of question marks for the Razorbacks.

Here are some predictions for the upcoming season. This is based off previous seasons, recruit highlight tapes, a few pickup games and the Primetime at the Palace scrimmage, so take it as seriously as the people that believe LeBron will be better than Jordan in time.

5 Predictions for 2011-12

1.      B.J. Young will lead the team in scoring.

Junior forward Marshawn Powell might prove me wrong, but Young is easily Arkansas’ best playmaker. The true freshman is an adept ballhandler, has great quickness and can finish around the rim.

Young shot better than 70 percent from the field as a high school senior. Don’t expect that this season, but he should have a big offensive impact for the Razorbacks and will be a top-tier guard in the Southeastern Conference by the end of the season.

2.      Rickey Scott will average at least 20 minutes per game.

Scott struggled with injuries and didn’t play much – 12.4 minutes – when he was healthy as a freshman. Expect a different player this season.

Anderson said he’s the best fit for his system on the team and when you watch him sky for rebounds then lead the break on a consistent basis, you’ll agree. He’s a big, athletic guard that will earn a lot of playing time.

3.      Arkansas will have at least two players on SEC All-Freshman team.

Young, forward Hunter Mickelson, guard Ky Madden and forward Devonta Abron will all play major minutes as freshmen, both out of necessity and because they’re talented.

Young was the headliner of the 2011 recruiting class and is the easiest pick to end up on the All-Freshman team. Madden, Abron and Mickelson will all have major roles.

4.      A true freshman will lead the team in rebounding.

This would be Mickelson or Abron.

Of the returning players, Powell is an undersized 6-foot-7 power forward. Seniors Michael Sanchez and Marvell Waithe could contend for the rebounding title, but the freshmen get the nod now.

Mickelson is an active 6-foot-11, 236-pounder that led the team in rebounding during early scrimmages and should also lead Arkansas in blocked shots. Abron is a 6-foot-8, 255-pounder banger that will get major minutes because he’s skilled and the Razorbacks’ best physical player inside.

5.      There won’t be off -court drama.

Almost as much as his lack of winning, former coach John Pelphrey’s inability to run the program off the court drew the ire of Arkansas fans.

Anderson ran a tight ship at UAB and Missouri. When he had trouble in Columbia his second season, he handled it firmly and didn’t have issues the rest of his tenure.

He’s the boss. He’s made it clear he won’t tolerate off-court issues.

5 Predictions Sure to Be Wrong

1. Arkansas will make the NCAA Tournament.

Arkansas can make the postseason. The Razorbacks probably will.

The NIT is the better bet, though.

The SEC still isn’t highly regarded as a basketball league this season, but look at the schedule and pick out 10 conference wins. It’s tough to find eight.

Don’t set expectations too high. It’s a young team and a new system.

2. The Razorbacks will be a good rebounding team.

Mike Anderson’s teams at Missouri and UAB weren’t recognized as good rebounding teams. Arkansas isn’t a physically imposing team this season.

The Razorbacks don’t have much depth inside and none of the interior players are standout rebounders. An athletic and decent-sized backcourt will have to help on the boards.

3. The Hogs won’t miss Rotnei Clarke.

Anderson said identifying a knockdown shooter is one of his main priorities.

Bad news, coach. He left town in June.

Arkansas has several decent shooters, but don’t expect anyone to hit 40 percent from 3-point range. Walk-on Kikko Haydar might be the best shooter on the team.

4. Michael Sanchez won’t miss any games.

A more interesting prediction would be an over/under on how many games Sanchez will miss. Four seems fair.

The fifth-year senior has struggled to overcome injuries his entire career and missed the start of practice after undergoing a surgical procedure on his back. Arkansas needs his toughness and experience, but it’s almost become more a question of when he’ll get hurt than if it’ll happen.

5. Bud Walton Arena will start selling out.

Fans love the hire and are excited for Anderson’s return, but the enthusiasm isn’t all the way back yet. There will be better attendance than in recent memory, but it will take time to reengage a fan base that has sat through a decade of bad basketball.

All bets are off if Arkansas gets off to a hot start in nonconference play and wins some games early in the SEC, though.

Jimmy Carter is the sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow him on Twitter @jicartersports.