Where Razorbacks Go for Rest of Season Could be Interesting
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — You always know after a loss Arkansas Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman isn't going to hang around long. Some coaches stay longer than others, especially when the season has gone this bad but every one is different. Muss doesn't stay long when they get beat.
That's exactly what happened Tuesday night in an 85-82 loss at Bud Walton Arena. Blame the defense ... again. They gave up over 80 points for the seventh time this year. You aren't going to win many games in the SEC allowing another team to score that many, especially with an offense as hit-and-miss as the Hogs have been this year.
"In both halves the game got away from us, kind of in the middle section," he said after the loss. "We did play hard down 15 or 16, whatever it was, and gave ourselves an opportunity to try to put the game into overtime. But 50 points given up, even though we scored 51, is too much."
Arkansas Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman reacts to an officials call during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bud Walton Arena.
Nelson Chenault / USA TODAY Sports
Musselman said the effort was there. But that seemed to come and go like the offense. That may be in direct relationship to the defense being so sporadic. You knew in the first half when Devo Davis tried to pick a fight things probably weren't going to be smooth. For whatever reasons, the resulting double technical didn't mean much on the scoreboard, but these Razorbacks don't seem to take those things personally.
The press conference later as Khalif Battle went first and at times appeared bewildered in his four minutes and Musselman was wrapped up in about 15 minutes total. That only happens after a loss.
Fans are clearly apathetic about the whole thing at this point. Whatever they announced there was a dismal percentage of the arena filled up. Midweek games at 8 p.m. don't usually get a big crowd unless it's one of the top teams and the Commodores aren't that, plodding along worse than the Hogs at 3-12 in the league and 8-20 overall.
Arkansas Razorbacks guard Tramon Mark drives into the lane in an 85-82 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark.
Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images
The fact they were able to come into the Razorbacks' house and beat them silly may have been the biggest indicator of all the problems Musselman will be addressing when a merciful end to the season arrives. There will be a housecleaning and a lot of new faces next year.
For now, though, everybody is trying to convince folks they still have their focus on the last three games, then whatever they play in the SEC Tournament. It will be surprising if everybody isn't back here by the time the baseball weekend series starts against Missouri on Friday night.
At least everybody still has hope around that.
HOG FEED:
• Emergence of Colin Fisher gives Van Horn some easier decisions with staff
• Van Horn offered opportunity to get head start on Texas scouting
• Defensive mistakes set table for suprising loss to 7-20 Vandy
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