House Cleaning Needed at Arkansas

Razorback basketball's only path back to prominence requires Musselman's mental toughness

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Many years ago, there was a film program in North Texas that had all the ingredients to be a national award-winning program. 

There was a ton of energy, people were falling over themselves to get in and the group finally had its hands on decent equipment. Among the hopefuls in the beginning class was a young man who was incredibly talented.

He was a great story teller, brilliant actor, one of the best artistic eyes through the camera lens and people naturally followed him. Yet, the only way that program was ever going to reach its potential is if he was gone. 

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman had a room full of guys like this young man this year and it forced him to learn a hard lesson. You see, the young man was highly disrespectful and difficult to work with. 

If the spotlight wasn't on him, he acted out in negative ways that brought it back to him even in times it shouldn't have been. When it was time for him to help others shine by contributing to their success, the one thing that could be counted on was that his attitude would turn to garbage and he would sabotage what should have easily been greatness one way or another. 

He gleefully ran down all those around him to make himself feel better, including the staff's adviser. It was a cancer that took what should have been the most productive group of students in the beginning class and seriously stunted their growth and potential.

In the end, a call had to be made. When it came time to hand out applications to join the varsity film team, he not only wasn't accepted, he wasn't allowed to apply, instead being encouraged to take his skills to another program. 

Arkansas had the talent to compete for a national championship this year. Unfortunately, it was selfish talent with unwarranted snotty, know-it-all attitudes. 

The players themselves said as much, and throughout the course of the year, reports of players running their mouths in practice and away from formal team areas painted a picture of Razorback athletes, many of whom had no skins on the wall, deciding they know better than the staff, so no need in getting on board with the plan put forth by Musselman.

It should be noted that Musselman isn't completely innocent. Several portal players, when reviewed by our staff as people Arkansas had contacted last season, were labeled as candidates who weren't to be taken seriously as possible future Razorbacks because they were selfish, turnover prone, and wouldn't play defense. 

None of those traits were a fit for the Musselman way. Yet, for whatever reason, his prime targets fell by the wayside and those odd fits were brought in. 

Everyone knows the rest of the story. Complete implosion of a team torn apart by internal strife. 

Now it's time to review the receipts. Anyone who was super talented whose attitude kept the rest from coming together and reaching their potential must be refused the chance to consider coming back next year. 

However, every effort needs to be made to keep those hard workers, solid foot soldiers who did what was needed to help whenever asked. Good players with great attitudes can achieve much under a good coach, but great players with bad attitudes can't reach greatness no matter how good the coach. Unfortunately for Arkansas, bad apples usually do so much damage that good men are soured on coming back.

Getting rid of the film kid who had superstar written all over him from a talent perspective was the best thing that could happen to that program. A staff full of worker bees with great attitudes highlighted by several good talents who evolved to really good with coaching created a truly great staff.

The result was numerous national championships the following year while the young man watched from afar. The same can be the case for Arkansas if Musselman takes the right approach. 

If players don't want to be coachable, get out of their comfort zone, and do everything to push forward with their teammates as one for the greater good, then they need to go somewhere else. 

These cuts need to happen quickly. A strong message needs to be sent. It's not like Musselman doesn't know who has had a trash attitude throughout the season. 

There's no need to drag it out falling in love with a players' talent. Great talent is useless if it doesn't show up every day to be utilized for the job its asked.

The best chef in the world has no value if he shows up to work late, makes everyone around him miserable with his whining and complaining and refuses to make half the menu because he thinks its beneath him. The faster that chef is removed from the building the faster production can get back to the previously established level to grow from there.

The good news is with those who are out of eligibility and others who are already in the portal, there's not a lot left for Musselman to consider. Things have pretty much been stripped down to the studs. 

If he chooses to invest significant time into evaluating who players are as human beings both on and off the court in addition all the time spent breaking down traditional basketball skills, Arkansas will be fine next year. 

Musselman didn't forget how to coach this year. He just needs young men who are willing to soak up what he has to offer. 

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