The Arkansas basketball team has relied on intense defensive pressure to win basketball games under head coach Eric Musselman, and the Razorbacks will be able to continue that trend in 2023-24 with Houston transfer Tramon Mark.
Mark was a top defender on a Cougars team that ranked fifth nationally in defensive efficiency during the 2022-23 season. The 37-game starter finished fourth on the team in blocks (15) and third in steals (39) while posting a defensive rating of 91.3 (the lower, the better), according to Sports Reference.
The Dickinson, Texas, native also helped lead Houston to a Sweet Sixteen and Final Four during his time with the program. A 6-foot-6 wing, Mark brings invaluable experience and physicality to the Razorbacks, something Musselman recognizes.
"T-Mark, you're talking about a guy that started on a team that was ranked No. 1 for most of the year," Musselman said Tuesday. "So that alone speaks volumes. Houston, one of the toughest teams physically. One of the best defensive teams every year. One of the most disciplined coaches, so T-Mark got all of that."
Musselman went on to say that Mark is a hard worker who understands expectations. A hard worker, talented defender, physical player and experienced — does that remind you of anyone?
Arkansas senior guard Davonte "Devo" Davis has a reputation for being a lockdown defender. In his three seasons with the Razorbacks, Davis has posted a 98.5 defensive rating. He and Mark create a formidable defensive duo capable of shutting down most opponents on a given night.
"I think he’s a player that defensively, him and Davonte 'Devo' Davis together are going to be really good," Musselman said. "Devo has taken on the challenge, even as a freshman, to guard the opposing team’s best player regardless of if that player plays the 1, 2 or the 3. Oftentimes, Devo is assigned to the power forward if need be. Now, he’s got another partner to try to contain...I think T-Mark can do that same thing for us."
Musselman isn't the only one that shares this opinion. Transfer guard El Ellis, the leading scorer for Louisville last season and a known offensive threat, is fully aware of Mark's potential.
"Just watching him at Houston and now seeing him in person I feel like he can do a little bit of everything," Ellis said. "He can guard really every position on the floor. I just feel like his versatility is going to be really big for us. And he’s won at every program he’s been at, so he's going to bring that mentality and he’s going to bring guys along."
Mark wasn't the only American Athletic Conference transfer to join Arkansas over the offseason. Temple's Khalif Battle and Cincinnati's Jeremiah Davenport also made the move to Fayetteville. The latter played against Mark and had good things to say about his game.
"I played against him when we were in the same conference for three years," Davenport said. "Scouting him, he’s very tough, very tough, very tough. He came from Houston, the No. 1 team in the country for a very long time last year. Rebound, do the small things for the team. I personally saw it. He can do a lot for this team."
The Arkansas basketball defense finished with the same defensive rating in each of the last two seasons, coming in at 94.7. That number ranked No. 27 nationally in 2022-23 and No. 32 in 2021-22.
Mark's addition to the team could be just what Arkansas needs to get over the hump and finish in the upper echelon of college basketball defenses, but Mark first needs to adjust to the SEC style of play.
Mark scored a career-high 26 points versus Auburn to send Houston to the Sweet Sixteen in March and he has already adjusted well to the new system at Arkansas.
"Coach Muss tells us a lot about the little details and the little details you need to win the game, end the game and to start off the game and stuff like that," Mark said. "So it’s been real good. Just learning every day, practice, workouts, just learning from those guys."
After an offseason against some of the best offensive weapons the country has to offer in El Ellis (17.7 points per game) and Khalif Battle (17.9 points per game), Mark should be fully prepared to play lockdown defense in the SEC and beyond.
"Just making plays for the team whether that's scoring, passing, rebounding," Mark said. "Making big plays, but the small plays too. Doing whatever the team needs at the right moment."
Arkansas fans will get their first chance to see Mark and the rest of the team in action for a charity exhibition game against Purdue on Oct. 28 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
