Arkansas
Arkansas basketball must reverse two-year trend to make this season’s NCAA Tournament
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Eric Musselman’s NCAA Tournament resume speaks for itself.
Since taking the helm as the Arkansas basketball head coach in 2019, Musselman has made three appearances in the Sweet 16 and twice reached the Elite 8. Each of those seasons came with momentary doubts, but Arkansas has always found the right recipe for success in March.
However, a troubling trend is emerging for the Razorbacks during this regular season. After Saturday’s 83-51 loss to No. 25 Auburn that marked the worst home defeat in program history, the Hogs are 1-10 in their last 11 games against teams ranked inside the AP Top 25 excluding the NCAA Tournament. Their only win during that stretch was this season’s home victory over Duke.
Before this downslide, Musselman was 7-7 against ranked opponents. His teams were known for playing their best basketball at the most important junctures of the season. While last year’s trip to the Sweet 16 brought forth validation and included a win over Kansas — a No. 1 seed — the Hogs are seemingly starting to lose their edge against the best teams in the country.
And most concerning with regards to this season is Musselman’s lack of confidence in Arkansas being able to turn things around. He might not get the chance to put together another redeeming run.
“How would I know,” Musselman said after Saturday’s loss when asked if this year’s team could solve its problems.
“All I know is I’ve got to try to talk about them and address them.”
More: ‘We quit’: Arkansas basketball reaches season low-point in blowout loss to No. 25 Auburn
More: Arkansas basketball embarrassed in home loss to No. 25 Auburn
Arkansas woke up Sunday morning sitting 104th in the NET Rankings, which is the NCAA’s primary sorting tool for evaluating teams on Selection Sunday. Arkansas ranked 21st in the NET prior to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, resulting in a No. 8 seed.
The Razorbacks will need a significant climb just to make the 2024 tournament. With the strength of the SEC and plenty of potential for Quad 1 victories on the schedule, there’s still hope that Arkansas can reach this year’s edition of March Madness.
But the Hogs will need to buck this trend of losing to top-25 teams. Arkansas currently has four ranked ranked teams remaining on the schedule, with two of those games on the road. The Hogs have not won a road SEC game against a ranked opponent since Jan. 15, 2022. Arkansas beat No. 12 LSU 65-58 that day.
It’s impossible to know just how many wins Arkansas needs to rattle off over the final 17 games, but all focus will shift to the baseball season if Arkansas continues its losing ways against top opponents.
Temperatures will climb to the upper 90s today and heat index values will get close to 105° this afternoon. There are heat advisories today for part of west and southwest Arkansas.
Today will bring a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms late in the day in Central Arkansas.
Friday will also bring a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms with very hot weather.
Rain chances increase and temperatures drop this weekend when a cold front moves through Arkansas.
Arkansas
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A former Arkansas Tech University graduate and commander of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command is being remembered with two posthumous honors recognizing his lasting influence on the nation’s military intelligence operations.
The late Maj. Gen. Gary W. Johnston, a 1987 Arkansas Tech graduate and Russellville native, was honored during a dedication ceremony June 25 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where the Army officially named a newly consolidated military intelligence complex the Major General Gary W. Johnston Consolidated Mission Facility.
Johnston also was posthumously inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame for helping reshape Army intelligence through the integration of emerging technologies, including big data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The new facility serves as a central hub for U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) operations at Fort Huachuca, known as the “Home of Army Intelligence.” It houses some of the Army’s most critical intelligence personnel and brings together units that had previously operated from aging buildings spread across the installation.
Army officials said the previous arrangement created operational challenges, including limited secure workspaces, outdated infrastructure and additional security requirements. Beginning in 2018, INSCOM launched an effort to consolidate those missions by renovating two existing buildings into a 16,300-square-foot intelligence operations center designed to improve collaboration and security.
The facility now houses INSCOM G3’s Detachment 52, elements of the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, representatives from the Ground Intelligence Support Activity, an emerging Foundry program element and other intelligence organizations.
Among those attending the dedication were Johnston’s wife, Brig. Gen. Amy Johnston, daughter Lauren Woodworth and granddaughter Arabella Woodworth.
Maj. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, commanding general of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, said the building represents more than a new workplace.
“As we dedicate the U.S. Army INSCOM Major General Gary W. Johnston Consolidated Mission Facility, we do more than just open a new facility… we consecrate a tribute to his indelible legacy,” Cox said. “This facility will stand as a constant reminder of his service, his vision and his unwavering commitment to our nation and to the soldiers he led. It will inspire future generations of intelligence professionals to emulate his example of leadership and selfless service.”
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kevin Boughton, former INSCOM command chief warrant officer, said Johnston envisioned closer collaboration between the Army’s intelligence training and operational communities.
Boughton said Johnston believed the distance between the Intelligence Center of Excellence and INSCOM’s operational units “shouldn’t be measured in miles,” but instead by “a seamless flow of data, doctrine, and talent” where operational experience and institutional knowledge move freely between soldiers in the field and those training the next generation.
Johnston graduated from Russellville High School in 1983 before earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Arkansas Tech in 1987. Through the university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, he received his commission as a U.S. Army officer.
During a military career spanning more than 34 years, Johnston served in command and staff assignments ranging from platoon level to senior leadership within the Army and Department of Defense. He deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
In 2015, Johnston became the seventh graduate of Arkansas Tech’s Army ROTC program to attain the rank of general officer. He was promoted to major general in 2017.
He concluded his military career as commanding general of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, overseeing approximately 17,500 personnel operating in more than 40 countries.
Army leaders credited Johnston with helping modernize military intelligence by laying the groundwork for the establishment of the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, which was formally created in 2022 after his retirement. He also led development of what became the Army Intelligence Data Platform, designed to incorporate advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning into intelligence operations while supporting future large-scale combat operations.
Johnston also promoted data science education within the military intelligence community by partnering with George Mason University to provide specialized training for Army warrant officers.
Colleagues remembered Johnston not only for his strategic vision but also for his leadership style. Despite working in one of the Army’s most demanding operational environments, they described him as a source of humor, kindness and encouragement whose focus remained on the soldiers, civilians and contractors carrying out the intelligence mission.
Johnston retired from active duty in 2021 and died in January 2022.
His latest recognitions add to previous honors from his alma mater. Johnston was a member of the inaugural Arkansas Tech Army ROTC Hall of Honor in 2017 and was inducted into the university’s Hall of Distinction in 2019.
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