A new coach. A new opportunity for a road win. Maybe a new mindset.

This is uncharted ground for Alabama’s basketball team. Philip Pearson makes his debut as interim coach after Mark Gottfried resigned under pressure earlier this week midway through his 11th season.

But the irony here is the turmoil in Tuscaloosa isn’t far from what Arkansas is facing when the teams collide at 8 p.m. tonight at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

Before conference play began, the Razorbacks were 12-1 and coming off victories over top-10 teams Oklahoma and Texas.

In a stunning swoon, Arkansas is 0-4 in the SEC for the first time. The Hogs lost at Ole Miss and Florida and at home to Mississippi State and Auburn by an average of 15 points.

Arkansas coach John Pelphrey’s attention is on his team, not Alabama. Quotes that could be attributed to Pearson instead are Pelphrey’s.

“If you look at the definition of desperate, it says almost beyond hope, at the end of your rope,” the Arkansas coach said this week. “It says you could become hopeless and give up. Part of the definition says extremely intense. If we play like our life is on the line, when we do that, we overachieve.”

Going to Arkansas (12-5, 0-4 SEC) is never a picnic. Facing them in that context explains why Pearson said, “It’s not the place I would have picked to play, but all these SEC road games are tough.”

Alabama (12-7, 2-3 SEC) has become an expert on the subject. The Crimson Tide hasn’t won on the road in the league since it defeated LSU in 2007 — a streak of 14 games. They haven’t won at Arkansas since 2005.

ESPN is broadcasting the game nationally. It should be must-see TV only because nobody knows what to expect from these two teams.

“I don’t have anything to compare it to or judge it (against),” Pearson said Tuesday. “I sat down last night and met with each one of the guys one-on-one for about 10 minutes each, and had some good talks with them. Everybody seemed to be in good spirits.”

The players seemed to appreciate the opportunity.

“He wants us to play hard, go on the road and get it done,” said point guard Mikhail Torrance, who, incredibly, was shut out against Kentucky after scoring 20, 24 and 24 points the previous three games. “He’s been great about getting us prepared so far. … Coach Pearson wants to win. He’s a competitor just like me. I know he’ll do what it takes to win.”

Brandon Hollinger, who two games ago lost his starting job to Torrance, sees the opportunity for “a fresh start.”

“Coach Pearson really believes I can help this team win, and that I can play ball,” Hollinger said. “I’ve got to practice hard and sit on the side until my name is called, and be ready when it is called.”

Arkansas is led by Michael Washington, who is the only player in the SEC currently averaging a double-double (16.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg). Three other Razorbacks average at least 10 points per game — Courtney Fortson (14.5), Stefan Welsh (12.7) and Rotnei Clark (10.4).

Pearson is very familiar with Fortson, the freshman from his alma mater, Jeff Davis in Montgomery.

“Obviously, I’ve known him for a number of years,” Pearson said. “He’s a good player and is having a fantastic start for Arkansas as a freshman. A good, quick player — kind of makes the game go — is fun to watch.”

Another Montgomery freshman, Alabama’s JaMychal Green, is the SEC’s Freshman of the Week. Green was the only Tide player in double figures against Kentucky — 15 points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Green leads all SEC freshmen in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and is 10th in scoring (9.2 ppg).

Alonzo Gee, who scored 8 points against UK, still leads the team in scoring with 13.9 ppg. Scenario Hillman is next at 13.3 ppg.

Pearson is eager to get started.

“Our guys have worked real hard the last couple of days in practice,” the interim coach said. “I’ve been real impressed with the way they went about their business in a trying time. I think they’re looking forward to getting a game under their belt. I am, too.”