Haven't We Seen This Movie So Many Times No Guessing Now?

Razorbacks' stumbling and bumbling in November, December not really unusual

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Dec 11, 2023 6:49 AM EST
Original:
Dec 11, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas fans either don't get it, or have selective amnesia. Despite all the wailing and flopping around on social media after a loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, this probably shouldn't even be unexpected. We've seen this before.

Even Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman is playing his role. I can pull three years of him looking like it was going to be a disastrous year at this point of the season. Here we go again. Listening to him, things sound so bad it's surprising the players can even find the practice facility or Bud Walton Arena.

"I’m glad we don’t play tomorrow because we’re not going to keep doing the same thing over and over," Musselman said Saturday after that loss to the Sooners that wasn't really as close as the 79-70 final score looks. "We’re not going to keep putting the same line-up out there. We’ve got to continue to tinker and try to figure this thing out to the best of our ability."

There's a simple translation for that and it's not yelling, screaming. There won't be punishment runs up the hill on Cleveland Street or running laps in the concourse at Bud Walton. Playing time is probably on the line now for the players.

"We’re not going to prepare for an opponent for a while," he said. "We’re going to try to get better as a team. We don’t need to talk about Lipscomb. We need to talk about how we can get better."

The result will be what's put on the floor and we've been here before. Musselman is in his fifth year with the Hogs and we've seen this every single year previously. People have had their doubts in November and December every year. The perception is completely different form the result in March when it really matters.

The track record is what it is. That doesn't necessarily mean Razorback fans should start making plans for an extended run in the NCAA Tournament. However, it would be unwise to drop money betting against it, though. Look at the track record.