Everything Eric Musselman said after Arkansas was blasted by LSU
Jalen Graham was available at Arkansas’ post-game press conference within five minutes of the Razorbacks’ loss to LSU on Saturday.
Why does that matter?
Normally, it takes 15 to 20 minutes before anyone arrives to speak to the media. Graham took three questions before he was hustled away by Arkansas sports information director Mike Cawood. Normally, 10 to 15 questions are asked, too.
When Arkansas coach Eric Musselman hopped on the Zoom meeting, he wasn’t angry in tone. Just resigned. Most of the answers he provided after Arkansas’ 95-74 defeat at the hands of the Tigers were similar to what he had said in the Razorbacks’ six previous SEC losses.
His team is bad. He knows it. He’s working on it.
That’s of little consolation to those cheering for the Hogs, of course, but at this point, what is he supposed to say? Things have gone south in a hurry for the program. So fast, in fact, the season feels a bit like Bret Bielema’s penultimate season coaching Arkansas football. Things were great until they weren’t.
Here’s exactly what Musselman had to say Saturday.
Opening thoughts
Certainly have to give LSU credit, but we’ve got to get a lot better. The defending the 3 has been a problem all year. It’s our job as coaches to get them to exectute the gameplan. We knew they’re a good 3-point shooting team. Baker having a career night, those numbers are hard to do when you’re in a gym alone. His 25 points and Cook’s been a starter for them. He comes in and goes 7 of 7 from the foul line. Defensively, not good. Offensively, not good. Hopeful that we would be able to capitalize off our last two games. Obviously we did not. Disappointing we weren’t able to capitalize from what we have done from the last 80 minutes of play. Not a good game for us today.
Baker's game
He did everything well. He made 3s. He posted up. He beat us off the dribble. I’m sure it’s a career night for him. I would assume as good a game as he’s played his entire career.
A week off now
I’d certainly like to have a week off after a win. We’ve got to get better. We’ve got to keep coaching. We’ve got to keep trying to improve.
Khalif Battle sat in second half
Coach’s decision.
What did LSU do in particular?
It’s defending the 3 and it’s defending the dribble-drive. We’re not doing either. If we were, we’d probably have a better record. It’s our job to get players to improve. It’s our job to get players to follow the game plan. We’ve not been good defending the 3 all year. Can never compare teams of the past. We’re doing the same drills, just execution come game time is not there.
Point guard play
We’ve got a lot of areas to grow in, for sure.
Big step back, frustrating
The only thing I know is to go back and coach. This is been unlike things that I’ve experienced. All I know is we get in the gym on Monday and we try to get better. That’s the job of any coach in any sport. We’ve got a lot of spots we’ve got to get better at. On both sides of the ball.
Early tip hurt
Seeing how we lost by the margin we did, I’m not going to comment on that. I don’t want to get fired. I alluded to the game because it’s semi-important. If the game is at 3 or 5. That’s not why we lost. We lost because LSU completely outplayed us. Nothing to do with the results. It was a quick turnaround. It was like an NBA situation. Travel, play, travel back home, day-and-a-half back on the plane. Actually it’s not like an NBA game. … I’ve never played at 11 in the morning. It has nothing to do with the loss.
Heated exchange with Makhi Mitchell
I think Ki is trying to do the right thing. Baker was hitting 3s. Its a five-man defense. If Ki helps on the dribble-drive, we need somebody else to stunt for him. We’ve got to get better at that.
