Razorbacks Facing Tough Road Ahead in SEC Play

Hogs travel to Georgia for tougher than usual road games against Georgia, then Florida

Author:
Jacob Davis
Updated:
Jan 10, 2024 1:38 PM EST
Original:
Jan 10, 2024

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas will be making a tougher than normal two-game road trip to Georgia and then Florida over the next few days. Gainesville is obviously has one of the toughest environments to play in considering the Razorbacks hold a losing record of 15-26 all-time against the Gators, including a 3-14 at Florida. However, there's hope for a successful road loop as Arkansas has won the last three meetings, including one at Florida.

As for the opening leg of the trip, winning on the road is never easy in the SEC and traveling to Georgia to face the Bulldogs Wednesday night will be no different. With former Florida coach Mike White directing things in Athens, Stegman Coliseum has become one of the toughest places in the league to win.

"Mike White's done a great job," Musselman said. "I think they're 10-0 at home. I think they're 20-5 since he got to Georgia, at home. It's a confident team. It's a team coming off a huge win because anytime you went on the road is a huge win."

Razorbacks Eric Musselman during game with Auburn

Georgia stunned Missouri, 75-68, Saturday, the Bulldogs' second win on the road this season. On the flip side, the Razorbacks aren't used to traveling out of state for true road games as they join Oklahoma, VCU as teams which haven't played a true road game.

"But that's what the schedule says that's what you go do," Musselman said of the two consecutive road games.

Although Arkansas has a history of being able to pull out wins in Athens, that shouldn't mean they can circle Georgia as a surefire win. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 12 in the SEC preseason, a ranking that may not hold up. At 11-3, Musselman says the Dawgs can't be overlooked.

"The preseason stuff, it should go away," Musselman said. "It's meaningless because with the transfer portal, I recognize all the players and stuff, I don't know how you know who is going to be good. Mike White is a great coach. He's been doing it a long time. His teams do a great job executing on both sides of the ball."

Much like Arkansas, Georgia is nowhere near the same team White put on the floor last season. That alone means the Razorbacks will have to put everything into what Arkansas guard Khalif Battle described earlier this week as a "must-win" game.

"Just like any program, just like any coach, you're gonna have up and down years right now," Musselman said. "I told our team this is a much different team than we played last year. They have good length, they went out and added some guys that are really good pieces. It's a team that looks connected. It's a big time challenge."