By Kenneth Cross
Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman has given the Razorbacks a pilar in SEC basketball competition as the team has gotten to high levels in the past three NCAA Tournaments where it has an 8-3 record with two Elite Eights and a Sweet 16.
As the Razorbacks fought through a pair of injuries to big-man Trevon Brazile and guard Nick Smith last season, Musselman prepared Arkansas emotionally and mentally as well as physicality for the deep March challenges once again. The best definition of this was when they took out Kansas, 72-71, to get to the second weekend of NCAA play for the third year in a row.
Last season, Arkansas had three one-and-done players in Anthony Black who went with the sixth pick in the first round to the Orlando Magic; Smith was No. 27 in round one, which landed him in Charlotte and then Jordan Walsh went with the No. 38 pick to the Boston Celtics.
The key was potentially the development of six freshmen who will one day play in the NBA although Coach Muss is a noted guru of transfer portal applications.
“I thought our freshmen last year developed,” said Musselman. “We go from 10th in the SEC to growing with each game. Then, it’s a team that upsets Kansas and plays in the Sweet 16. It was because that group got better.”
Brazile could be the Razorbacks’ next high NBA pick as he had a torn ACL early last season. Musselman says that the rehab has gone well with him and the Arkansas team doctors and trainers.
“He’s been a little bit ahead of schedule on everything,” explained Musselman. “We have been really, really patient with Trevon and we will even on Friday when we have our first exhibition game.”
Brazile transferred over from Missouri where he started 23 of 25 games as a freshman as he shot 53.5 percent from the field and blocked 1.9 shots per game.
“In my opinion when he got hurt, he thought he was one of the best players in the league,” said Musselman. “If you are one of the best players in the SEC, then you are one of the best players in the country.”
As Brazile fits into the middle, senior Devo Davis will be a key in the backcourt on both ends of the floor as he is a noted defensive stopper and has the speed and skill to create on the offensive end.
The transfer portal was once again kind to the Hogs in Musselman’s fifth season.
Former Houston Cougar guard Tramon Mark transfers over as he is noted for his defensive skills and Louisville ballhandler El Ells should bring solid character to both ends of the floor. Musselman added Khalif Battle out of Temple as another scorer, so with depth in the backcourt this will be a tough matchup on both ends of the floor.
“I think one thing with the transfers is there is a body of work against other Division I players,” stressed Musselman. “There’s a statistical analysis, so to speak, that goes into it. There’s the eye test that goes into it.”
Musselman also noted that feedback from a transfer’s coaches or people who have played against transfers is important as well.
It’s hard to ignore the experience level that a transfer has over an incoming freshman.
“That can change the maturity level and the ability to pick up on schemes, both offensively and defensively,” he said.