Hogs' Main Issue is One Not Even Musselman Can Solve

No amount of coaching can account for Arkansas Razorbacks' missing ingredient in SEC play

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jan 11, 2024 11:14 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – As Arkansas heads into its third SEC game of the year, the Razorbacks are still looking for their first second of leading a game in conference play.

After a few months of watching this team trying to figure out what's missing, it became obvious as yet another team tossed the Hogs around like a second grader trying to pick a fight with his high school brother. When Eric Musselman put the team together, he forgot to add a couple of thick-bodied guys with a strong mid-range game and a gritty style of play around the basket.

The closest the Razorbacks have is Memphis transfer Chandler Lawson at 6-foot-8, 210 pounds and he logged a single minute more than Arkansas led Wednesday night. This team is missing an Au'Diese Toney in the mix.

Toney was tough, physical and aggressive. He stalked the baseline looking to blow past or through anyone who got in the way. When the ball went up, he forced his way into position for the rebound. Defenders never know if he was going to bull his way to the rim or pull up for a mid-range jumper.

He drew fouls and wore guys down as he beat them up. On defense, he was hard to move around and didn't mind getting his hands dirty. These are skills Arkansas is sorely lacking.

The Hogs aren't even getting a portion of this physicality from its big men. Mahki Mitchell should bring at least a little of this, but he looks physically smaller than last season and whatever mean streak and aggressive scoring prowess he had appears to have left with his brother Mahkel for some reason.

Trevon Brazile has the height and does his best to compete with more physical players down low when the situation calls for it, but always looks a half a second away from being snapped into when he does. As for Jalen Graham, he certainly has the fight and the right mentality needed, but lacks the lower body thickness to generate the strength he needs to bang around and gain an advantage. He also can't seem to convince Musselman to keep him in for long enough stretches to build any momentum.

While Toney was the protype for this specific need, there have been others who have been able to fill the role. Stanley Umude, for all his skills in shooting the three, had the mind and skills to do it, and to an extent, so did Ricky Council.

Had forward Jordan Walsh been convinced to come back for another season, there's a good chance he may have grown into his body more and plugged the hole. He certainly had the raw skills necessary and it would have contributed greatly to a higher draft pick had he been able to put it on display while he ironed out his three-point shooting ability.

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, the roster isn't going to change. No one is suddenly going to add a lot of lower body muscle either. The only adjustment that can be made is from a mental standpoint.

Players have to become OK with mid-range jumpers. They have to find the willingness to fight for rebounds on both ends of the floor and go hard at guys determined to power the ball to the basket while pushing through hard contact fouls along the way.

No one is going to suddenly grow into an immovable object on defense inside the arc, so there's just gonna have to become a dogged determination and a strong emphasis on footwork and angles.

If not, Auburn and Georgia won't be the only conference games in which Arkansas never leads.