Time for the Muss Bus to Shift Gears
Is there any bigger Razorbacks football fan than Eric Musselman? Probably not. The third year basketball coach is coming off the program’s most successful NCAA tournament run since the mid-90s, but the 2021-22 version has stubbed a lot of its toes so far this year. Blowout losses to Oklahoma and Mississippi State and an embarrassing in-state loss to Hofstra were all camouflaged to many Hogs fans by the success of the football team. But that all ended in Tampa.
Frankly, the basketball team is not very good right now.
But the key phrase is “right now.” Remember, last year’s team started off 1-3 in conference play. The Athletic’s Seth Davis thinks it’s time to buy Arkansas stock. As he points out, coaching and talent can correct existing problems.
I’d be concerned if I thought this team lacked talent, but its main problem has been at the defensive end, and that is something that I believe Eric Musselman will be able to correct. It’s also a good sign that 6-6 super senior transfer Stanley Umude, who averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for South Dakota last year, had his best game of the season (19 points, three rebounds, two steals) in the loss to the Bulldogs.
The pieces are there for the Muss Bus to get rolling again. Coach Musselman has proven in the past that he can right the ship, so he’s earned the benefit of the doubt. Even his first team had plenty of ups and downs before pulling things together just in time for COVID to prematurely end the 2020 season.
So let’s wait until February before we start gnashing our teeth and worrying about the odds for a postseason berth. College basketball is built on runs. The Hogs have time to get it together and get on a run of their own. Perhaps that begins tomorrow night against Vandy at Bud Walton Arena.
