Starting? Musselman Will Get Players for Success on Floor

Being on a roll, guys that have looked good will get time somewhere against Missouri

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Even without having to say it, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman probably doesn't need your input on who should be playing. With the improved effort against Mississippi State and winning over Texas A&M, those guys will be on the floor against Missouri, just don't wonder when.

"Our defensive concepts he’s been much better of late," Musselman said Thursday afternoon. "When you’re not playing as well as you hope, you’ve got two things to do. You stick to what you’re doing or you try to continue to search and see what can work. You guys aren’t privy to practices and some of the statistical analysis so there’s a whole bunch of stuff that factors into it. Of late the group that’s been out there has done a good job for us."

The bottom line to all that is he's not telling anybody. But he's not going to tell us, but don't expect Makhi Mitchell to be on the floor when they throw the ball up to start things. It probably won't be long, though.

"He’s settled into being super, super comfortable off the bench," Musselman said."Every player probably wants to start whether they’re playing CYO, AAU, high school, college, pros, FIBA, but right now there’s a great comfort zone on when he’s coming into the game and the way he’s produced, I don’t know why anybody would want to start him. He’s playing the whole game minus seven minutes. He’s effective the way he’s been used of late. But if it wasn’t him, someone would be asking why I’m not starting this guy, why I’m not playing him and then you end up playing 11 guys like I’ve had too much."

Like I said, he's not worried about our opinion. That's probably for the best. Considering Mitchell has been having career highs lately, don't rock the boat by putting him on the court to start the game. It truly doesn't matter. Most of them simply look at the minutes because nobody's going to play 40 minutes many games.

That includes the rotation, too. He's had a lot of volunteer help from fans and media every year about how deep the bench should be and it never seems to be enough.

"When we were making Elite 8’s and playing seven guys, it was why didn’t we play 12 guys, the rotation was too short," Musselman said. Mitchell will be on the floor and pretty quickly. Don't over-think it because he doesn't need your advice. Just talk among yourselves.

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