Carefully Crafted Plan Needed to Minimize Backlash of Davis' Return

Arkansas senior guard not coming back to hero's welcome from Razorbacks fans like last season

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Feb 6, 2024 9:46 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It seems even when it comes to a player who was as universally beloved as Devonte Davis was for the first 3+ seasons of his career, Arkansas fans have a breaking point.

When word came out yesterday Musselman had allowed Davis to return to the team, the reaction from fans was much more negative and definitive than expected. When Davis stepped away last season, the Razorback faithful protected him as their own child and cheered him as a returning hero when he came back.

That's not the case this time. A frustrated Arkansas fan base had seemingly processed Davis had moved on, dealing with whatever grief might be involved, and adjusted to a life of not only moving forward beyond a disappointing 11-11 season, but also beyond a world where Davis is a Razorback.

Even when it was announced on 103.7 "The Buzz" that Davis would make his return to his weekly radio show soon, there wasn't an excitement that he may return. Instead, there was only a thirst for an explanation as to what led him to leave the program a second time in as many years.

Arkansas guard Davonte Davis brings the ball up the court against Auburn.

Fans had grown tired of the rumor mill. They had become borderline angry with those of us who cover the team because we weren't putting Davis' personal news that wasn't ours to share into the public space. They bristled as we refused to acknowledge the outlandish speculation that should have been easily identifiable by most as an obvious attempt by trolls, other fan bases and those who saw an opportunity to hurt a player they felt hurt them as so far-fetched, the odds of it being true were minimal at best.

When Musselman announced Davis had come back to the team, fans still only wanted answers, not playing time. There are a ton of polls floating around social media regarding his return.

One simply asked how Razorbacks fans felt about it and provided three possible options. Over 85% as of 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning had responded either "Indifferent" or "Not Happy." In another poll asking what role he should take on with options such as "Starter" and "Sixth Man," more than half of those who responded chose "Bench."

This is a situation where it might have worked out better had Davis made his return for a road game. It would have given him the opportunity to go out, play hard and show himself to be the leader fans expected him to be all year long with his detractors looking on from afar.

Best case scenario in that situation, he leads Arkansas to a needed win. Worst case scenario, he would have returned home having shown he's all-in while also winning more fans back to his side to soften the blow upon his debut at home.

As it is, there's no telling what the reaction might be. It's fortunate the Hogs have a full week off rather than a Tuesday night game. If Arkansas were playing tonight, the raw emotion would likely show, leading to an awkward moment where fans at the game are either split or mostly against Davis as he takes the floor.

There's PR work to be done. The best course of action would be for Davis to draft a statement at some point today explaining at least a portion of his side of things. That will let it sit for a couple of days while fans process and allow those who advise him to get a feel for where everyone is.

Then, with that information in mind, craft an approach to address it in person on his weekly radio appearance to allow two more days of Arkansas fans soaking in everything they've been told. Then, by Saturday evening, Davis can watch for a while as the Razorbacks face Georgia and quietly enter a good 10 minutes into the game to as muted of a response as he's going to get before going out and leaving everything on the floor.

Pretty much any other approach has a path to disaster. Both Musselman and the Razorbacks fan base have dealt with enough of that this year.

If there's a positive side to the situation, it brings eyeballs back on Razorbacks basketball. With softball starting with six games this week and baseball on deck with four next week, Arkansas fans had mentally moved on, which would have meant extremely low ratings Saturday.

It will be one last chance for both the team and Davis to try to win back the state's love. Anything short of pure heart and exhausting effort, and it ends poorly.

But, then again, the way a lot of fans have handled themselves over the past several weeks, no one in the locker room may care how the people of Arkansas feel once the night is over. Things have been toxic on both ends.
No one will know until Saturday night whether its a relationship that can be healed.