Weather, Basketball Perfect Mix to Bring Hope to Arkansas Again

After difficult first five weeks of football season, Musselman's program creates immediate reason for mood shift, optimism

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Oct 5, 2023 2:23 AM EDT
Original:
Oct 5, 2023

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Just when Arkansas needed it most, basketball season showed up at the perfect time.

Fan morale in regard to football has reached a low not seen since 2019 and frustration has hit a high where reason can rarely reach. That's when the perfect medicine was administered to cure the gloom and malaise that had set in across the the state.

Outside Barnhill Arena, the tiny basketball castle that served as a sprouting pot for a program Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson grew into a monster, a cold front began to push through that will have temperatures in the 30s Friday and Saturday. The people of Arkansas know that feeling. It's a chill that brings with it deer season, Razorback basketball, the lights and sounds of the upcoming holidays and lots of joy.

It's as if God himself knew Hog fans needed a pick-me-up. While deer season is still a month away and only the likes of Lowes and Wal-Mart prefer to disrupt the Halloween season nearly a full month before it takes place with gaudy Christmas displays, there's a happiness at the sound of a basketball echoing off the wooden floor in a warm gym that carries past the smell of fresh popcorn and out into the cool night.

The Red-White game practically is an early Christmas celebration for Razorback fans. Under Musselman, each year brings a long list of new players and early October is when they get unwrapped and allowed to play for the enjoyment of the state. Instead of sugar plums dancing in their heads when they laid down tonight, Arkansas fans dreamed of another emotional Devo Davis interview following a huge upset, but this time with a national championship in his hand.

It's only one game against each other while fans scramble to match numbers and faces with names on the roster, but one thing that has to have the people of Arkansas giddy was the sight of threes doing down. Not only did Davis look like he was already in mid-season form and swagger, but the Razorbacks shot a perfectly even 50% from three.

Even 6-foot-10 forard Mahki Mitchell went 1-for-1 from beyond the arc. When all was said and done, the teams combined to hit 14-of-28 threes. Considering how bad the team was last season from long range, that has to be as satisfying for Arkansas fans as a pancake block to open SEC play in football might feel next year. A major weakness appears to have been turned into a strength.

The biggest drama was the duel between Cincinnati grad transfer forward Jeremiah Davenport and sophomore guard Joseph Pinion. Davenport, who averaged just over nine points per game last season, hit 5-of-8 threes while posting a surprising 19 points for the White team.

Meanwhile, Pinion knocked down 3-of-4 from three to lead the Red team to an 88-70 win. He also led all scorers with 20 points.

What should make fans even more excited is the sharp shooting from deep allowed both teams to combine for 61-of-101 shooting overall. That's over 62% from the field. The only cause for concern were the 20 combined turnovers and 69% free throw shooting, but, overall, it was the kind of first night that brought a feeling of hope to Arkansas fans when it was needed most.

It's only a day over two weeks before the first exhibition game against UT-Tyler as the tune-up for a charity exhibition against a Purdue team that finished the regular season ranked No. 3 last year. From there a series of regular season appetizers play out for a few weeks before the holiday season kicks in with the Battle 4 Atlantis and a home showdown with Duke to close out November.

The first Wednesday in October was the perfect time for Musselman's men to burst on the scene to inject Razorback fans with a renewed sense of hope and purpose. The cool air was just an added bonus.
Basketball season is here.