Maturity Helps Razorbacks in Non-conference Games

Hogs gelling early, but must keep improving throughout season, which is goal

Author:
Jacob Davis
Updated:
Nov 1, 2023 5:15 PM EDT
Original:
Nov 1, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A huge exhibition victory over No. 3 Purdue on Saturday has likely skyrocketed expectations from a rabid Arkansas fanbase. Razorback head coach Eric Musselman has assembled a veteran group of players with a pair of highly talented freshmen added. That's after falling a little short of last year's hopes.

Not every college basketball player gets to experience what the Razorbacks did Saturday, playing in front of 19,200 screaming fans for a charity event at home. While some student-athletes get to see different atmospheres throughout their careers, not many get to play in them every home game. Senior guard El Ellis isn't taking the opportunity for granted.

“That’s what I wanted from my last stop in college," Ellis said during the weekly Eric Musselman radio show. "Every game sold out, playing in front of a big crowd and having experiences like that.”

Four of the Hogs' veteran transfers, including a healthy Trevon Brazile, scored 67% of the 81 points against the Boilermakers. One of the keys to having an older roster is the ability to implement more of a sophisticated offensive system.

“It’s a little more of a five-out game where we play off the elbows and we run some split games,” Musselman said. “So it’s a little bit of what the (Milwaukee) Bucks ran. It’s got some Princeton offense principles and some read-and-react stuff. We looked a little sloppy early, partially because of the offense, and you try to figure out how the defense is playing you on the fly.”

The Razorbacks will play in plenty of big games before conference play. Potential match-ups with Michigan and Memphis, Oklahoma in Tulsa, and a home game against Duke will have this team of veteran transfers equipped for the SEC and postseason play.

“We have a lot of guys that played a lot of college basketball and played at a lot of different places,” Ellis said. “So I feel like that's what's helped us and I feel like that's why our guys were so confident in that overtime game because we were older, and a lot of guys have been there before. So I feel like that's gonna go a long way.”

The Razorbacks are considered the second oldest team in the country behind Villanova, according to Sportskeeda. Four of Arkansas' six transfer additions will be 23 or older by the start of the season.

Plus, Davonte "Devo" Davis returns for his fourth year in Fayetteville. Another who boosts the Hogs average roster age is Baye Fall. The true freshman originally from Dakar, Senegal will turn 20 in December.

The Hogs open the regular season Monday night in Bud Walton Arena against Alcorn State. Tip-off for that game is a 7 p.m. and you can watch the game on ESPN+ or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs or 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.