FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Mike Anderson has no illusions about what Arkansas' standout group of four freshmen is about to experience.

The Razorbacks' coach has seen the group make significant progress since back-to-back losses against Connecticut and Oklahoma last month. The result has been a six-game winning streak for Arkansas (11-3) and its first-year coach.

Those wins, however, will mean little when the Razorbacks open Southeastern Conference play by hosting No. 15 Mississippi State (13-2) on Saturday night — and Anderson knows it.

"You can tell them, and they can listen from the other guys, but until you're in that arena ... you have to experience it yourself," Anderson said. "Ready or not, it's coming."

Arkansas was 18-13 overall last season, finishing 7-9 in SEC play and missing the NCAA tournament for the third straight year. The Razorbacks have finished with a winning record in the SEC only twice since the 2000-01 season.

Arkansas' hopes for success this season have largely hinged on the freshmen group of BJ Young, Hunter Mickelson, Ky Madden and Devonta Abron — Anderson's first signing class after replacing John Pelphrey in March. That wasn't necessarily the case in the preseason, but a season-ending knee injury to leading scorer Marshawn Powell sped up their timetable for development.

Combined, the four are averaging 32.9 points per game this season. Young has proved to be the biggest offensive threat in Powell's absence, leading the Razorbacks in scoring at 14.1 points in 23.8 minutes per contest, but the other three have made their presence felt as well.

The 6-foot-10 Mickelson has at least one block in every game and is averaging 2.6, including three in Arkansas' last game — a 83-66 win over Savannah State. Young had 17 points in the win, his second career start, appearing much more aggressive on offense after being limited to only six points in his first start.

He said the Razorbacks' early losses this season, particularly since the game in the wake of Powell's injury, taught the freshmen how to finish games better and to play with confidence throughout.

"I don't consider us freshmen anymore," Young said. "I consider us upperclassmen because now we've been in college, played a lot of game and minutes, so I think coach expects a lot from us.

"I think we're ready to show them what we can do, ready to show the fans what we came here for."

The freshmen haven't been the only surprising performance for Arkansas. Sophomore Rickey Scott has rebounded from a difficult start to lead the Razorbacks in scoring in three of the last four games.

Scott is averaging 11 points per game for the season after averaging 3.3 last season. He's offered plenty of advice to Arkansas' freshmen about SEC play, especially the rise in physicality.

While expectations for the Razorbacks aren't high outside of Arkansas, Scott relishes the role of underdog.

"They don't think we can succeed to the NCAA tournament, but I think we're definitely going to surprise people," Scott said.

The first opportunity for such a surprise will happen Saturday night against the Bulldogs, who had an 11-game winning streak snapped by No. 4 Baylor last week. They rebounded with a win over Utah State and are led by senior guard Dee Bost (15.9 ppg) and junior forward Arnett Moultrie, who averages 16.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

It's a daunting task for the Razorbacks, but one Anderson relishes.

"We're a team that we've got to maximize everyone's effort in order to put ourselves in a position and have a chance to win," Anderson said. "We've got to be the ultimate team."