Razorbacks Fans Have Reached Point Never Seen with Basketball Team

Musselman says team not picking up concepts, but heart, effort seem to be biggest issue for Arkansas

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jan 15, 2024 10:15 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – According to Eric Musselman, one of the biggest issues with the Razorback basketball team is players aren't capable of catching onto the defensive concepts he is trying to teach.

"We need to play like our past teams have," Musselman said after a blow-out loss to Florida. "This group just does not grasp concepts whether you play man or you put in the zone."

Now, if there's one thing that can be said about Musselman during his tenure, it's that he's always been honest with the fans and local media. However, this one doesn't add up.

See, when Davonte Davis, Makhi Mitchell, Trevon Brazile, Jalen Graham and Joseph Pinion played last season, no one seemed to have trouble picking up the defensive concepts. Davis literally built his name on defense and Mitchell wasn't far behind.

It seems odd that these five returners can't figure out defensive concepts they grasped so firmly the year before. At worst, Musselman should have been able to start the returning five and sub in other players one by one throughout the non-conference to help the new guys learn how to execute with four others who already know and understand the system inside and out.

No. Common sense says this isn't a case of can't. It appears to be a distinct case of won't.

For whatever reason, Musselman appears to have lost a good portion of the team. This is a group of Razorbacks who appear to have no leader on the floor and in the locker room, but it's very likely the correct assessment is there is leadership, just not in a positive way.

"We’ve been here four years and we’ve been a team that’s been super tough minded, a team that competes, a team that battles," Musselman said. "We’ve been a team that has grit."

Losing isn't a breaking point for Arkansas fans. The Razorbacks have lost before, yet fans stood by the players' sides through thick and thin. Yes, they voiced frustration, but they always had the players' backs.

That doesn't appear to be the case this year. Fans have turned on most of this roster. That's because, while Arkansas teams have put up rough final records over the years, not even the players under Stan Heath and John Pelphrey went out and didn't give it their all.

Arkansas is a basketball state. Razorback fans are quite knowledgeable when it comes to the sport. They easily recognize when a team is poorly coached or the talent in various areas of the roster isn't there.

However, while things may sometimes lack in areas the Hogs' players can't control, a signature of Arkansas basketball has always been the fight and effort because that's one thing they can. The reason the tone with fans has taken such a negative turn is they don't see the effort, and that's a character issue they aren't willing to accept.

The list of Razorbacks making an acceptable effort is getting short to the point Musselman may not be able to put together a full starting five whose efforts fans believe worthy of being on the court to represent them at the beginning of the game.

There's Jeremiah Davenport, Joseph Pinion, Layden Blocker and perhaps Tramon Mark. Beyond that, there doesn't appear to be a consensus among Razorback supporters.

And, it should be noted that no one is blaming Musselman. He's got too many skins on the wall and has proven he knows how to get this done at too high of a level for the people of Arkansas to accept this is a problem with him. This one is being laid squarely at the feet of the players.

In the past, when the offseason rolls around and the transfer portal opens up, the fan base has traditionally fought for players to remain on the roster and lamented when favorites have been pushed out the door to be replaced.

However, if the portal were open today and Musselman helped a few along the path to their future endeavors, there would be little pushback from fans. They are fed up. They don't like being represented this way.

This spring is going to be a bloodbath when it comes to roster turnover and, for once, it will be welcomed with open arms in all four corners of the state. Other than a tiny handful of players, fans won't care who goes.

Just so long as they don't get in front of the TV on the way out. Can't have them blocking the Razorback baseball game while making their way to the door.