Hogs' Problem Clearly Wasn't Talent Issue This Year

Performances in NCAA so far paint picture of what could have been for Arkansas

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman tries to get his team back on track during a loss to South Carolina in the second round of the SEC Tournament. / Andy Lyons/GettyImages

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Looking back on how things unfolded at the end of season for Arkansas, it’s easy to understand why Razorbacks fans think coach Eric Musselman misidentified talent this season. 

However, that take is wrong. This past weekend showed Musselman identified the talent well. What he overestimated was desire to be a winner. 

Duke and Purdue treated their second round opponents like 16 seed 1990s SWAC teams, each winning by just shy of 40 points. There are good teams in this tournament that have struggled to score in the 40s during an entire game, much less win by that much. 

It will surprise no one of either wins the national title, yet, this past fall the Razorbacks beat both. Musselman gathered the talent needed to win a national championship. 

The problem he faced all season is his own personal drive and past experiences in college basketball made it impossible for him to fathom the idea there is something out there more important for some players than winning. Musselman’s just not wired in a way to see anything other than a burning desire to do whatever it takes to get the next victory. 

It’s why he’s connected so well with the Arkansas fans. They too have a tunnel vision focus on winning. 

It drove them nuts all season to watch the Razorbacks individually have great games, but never get it together enough for all that talent to play great together. It was especially frustrating to see players quit defensively over and over.

However, if it bothered Arkansas fans, it was even worse for Musselman. He got to see on a daily basis the potential his players possessed and knew what they had been taught.

Plus, while Razorbacks fans could turn off the television early in the second half or avoid a game all together by choosing to go work in the yard or take the family to a movie, Musselman had to stand feet away and see it all play out in its entirety. 

He’s had all season to think about what he missed in the recruiting process. With as much depth in reflection and research as Musselman puts into game preparation, it’s probably a fair assumption similar effort goes into recruiting the transfer portal before it opens. 

One day the story of what adjustments went into how players are evaluated when putting together this upcoming team will make for an intriguing tale. It’s one that will shed more light on what really happened this season than anything else could.

Don’t be surprised if there are clear indicators Musselman is looking for unselfish players who can fill more than one area of the box score. Based on how much he fell in love with length in the 2022-23 season, especially with the guards, that’s probably going to be a requirement also. 

The biggest thing is Arkansas has a coach driven to prove last season is an aberration. He will be obsessive in trying to find a way gain every edge possible to get wins. 

That’s bad for his wife who is probably going to have to ship him out to the pool house more often than usual. However, for Arkansas fans, it couldn’t be better news.

HOGS FEED:

• Three good, three bad after two SEC weekends for Arkansas

• Razorbacks will receive visit to possibly fill hole in inside game

• Deion Sanders doesn't have to follow expectations, but Sam Pittman still does

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