FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It could possibly’t be that straightforward. 

Arkansas was presupposed to have a lot expertise on its roster that Eric Musselman may pull his total beginning 5 and run in one other set of 5 gamers and nonetheless have a greater line-up on the ground than 90 p.c of America.

The in-game dialogue of how deep the NBA expertise on the crew runs was projected to be so frequent that Arkansas followers can be as sick of listening to about it as they have been about Dave Van Horn’s jersey swap by mid-January. 

From the second the ink dried on the letters of intent, Razorback followers pictured a world the place exterior of Alabama, Gonzaga and maybe Tennessee, it wasn’t going to be a query of whether or not the Hogs would win, however as an alternative, it could be a matter of by how a lot.

That is why it merely is not sensible. How is it {that a} fundamental zone protection is all it takes to knock off such a loaded crew?

It is just like the Avengers realizing Thanos had a peanut allergy and simply wanted Tony Stark to whip up a number of peanut butter sandwiches to avoid wasting the universe.

The hole within the armor was found by Missouri and exploited by Bruce Pearl on Saturday.

The second Auburn got here out in a zone protection the sport was over.

Missouri proved the Razorbacks haven’t got the shooters to fight the zone and Pearl mentioned as soon as he noticed that, despite the fact that Auburn hadn’t performed zone all yr, he knew that sustaining the Tigers’ house profitable streak can be a lot simpler in the event that they did.

Auburn dominated a lot of the manner, clogging the paint and chopping on lanes as Arkansas struggled from behind the arc and on the free throw line. Arkansas was a depressing 2-for-16 from three and 19-of-32 from the free throw line.

By sport’s finish, a crew that oozed with bravado and swag early within the season hesitated to tug the set off on large open threes down the stretch. Gamers Musselman wanted to depend on out of the blue had all the boldness of a seventh grade boy attempting to ask a woman to a center faculty dance.

A lot has been made about the way it’s custom now for Arkansas to be horrible in late December and early January solely to warmth up and dominate all over the NCAA Event. 

Nevertheless, that is completely different. By this level within the season, these groups have been starting to return collectively. 

This crew is coming aside. The chemistry has labored in reverse.

Proper out the gate this was a crew throwing up lobs earlier than most individuals realized anybody had made a transfer for the rim. There was barely eye contact at occasions.

Now it is a chore to easily throw a move to a teammate whereas staring him within the eye.

Additionally, that is across the time roles began to solidify on earlier groups. Musselman simply needed to make his remaining changes round his core group earlier than lettings his canines off the leash.

You knew who was most likely going to take the shot in case you wanted a 3. You knew who was going to slash to the basket in case you wanted a troublesome drive that may need to be transformed to a working floater.

You knew that both Justin Smith or Jaylin Williams might be counted on down low to get a cease defensively, a key rebound or a bodily bucket within the paint.

Proper now, Kamani Johnson will be counted on to do the soiled work so far as rebounds go, however he is not a constant offensive menace. Relying on what evening it’s, Anthony Black will be counted on to discover a strategy to the basket.

However then what? The place’s the stone chilly shooter? The place’s your JD Notae or Isaiah Joe?

Possibly at the least a Jalen Tate?

There’s supposedly an excessive amount of expertise on this crew to not be capable of break a zone. If the bench is as deep as persons are led to imagine, there must be somebody who can constantly hit a 3.

It might be irresponsible to rebuild a complete roster and solely embrace perhaps two guys who can hit from behind the arc frequently.

It is time to cease resting on the excuse that Trevon Brazile and Nick Smith, Jr. are gone. Brazile’s been gone for a month and Smith barely performed the equal of two video games.

If these younger males are who the commentators hold telling us they’re, then it needs to be an all out warfare to fill the void left by the absence of the injured. The electrical invoice on the basketball services ought to require a particular fundraiser from guys continually on the lookout for methods to up their sport after they’re not engaged on lessons.

In line with Musselman Saturday evening, that tradition might have light a bit and must return before later.

There’s received to at the least one or two gamers who perceive that the enemy of greatness is being actually good. Somebody salivating on the thought of being the sniper who relishes in breaking the zone every evening.

Someplace on this line-up there’s certain to be multiple Razorback devoted to creating groups remorse enjoying such bodily protection out of concern of placing him on the road at no cost factors.

There’s want and alternative. However is there somebody on this roster prepared to do what it takes to seize that brass ring?

Is there somebody aside from Eric Musselman on that bench who’s received the ruthless aggression and “you may’t cease me” killer perspective and work ethic it will take to assist this crew stay as much as its promise?

Or is that this going to be the crew dripping with hype that allowed itself to get taken down by one of the coaching wheels of basketball rules?

If there’s true greatness in that locker room, not simply somebody skating by on being actually good at a handful of abilities, then it had higher reveal itself by the point Alabama steps on the ground this Saturday.

In any other case, that is about to get Rocky vs. Clubber Lang within the first battle ugly.

HOGS FEED:

ARKANSAS COULDN’T EXECUTE BASICS AGAINST AUBURN

COULD TEXAS, OKLAHOMA BE HEADED OVER JOIN THE SEC FAMILY A LITTLE SOONER THAN PLANNED?

EQUIPMENT DEBACLE AT A&M LEADS TO DISCOVER OF HOGS’ SOCIAL MEDIA GEM

DON’T LET FACTS GET IN WAY OF IRRATIONAL HATE WITH KENDAL BRILES, HOGS’ OFFENSE

TEXAS, OKLAHOMA COMING SOON, BUT THEN WHO’S NEXT FOR THE SEC?

PEYTON HILLIS SHOWED POTENTIAL FOR BIGGEST PLAY IN HIS LIFE AT YOUNG AGE

HOGS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR KENDAL BRILES, QUARTERBACK KJ JEFFERSON STAYING WITH HOGS

BRILES, JEFFERSON REVEAL WHETHER THEY WILL REMAIN WITH RAZORBACK PROGRAM

TEXAS EXPECTED TO TARGET PROMINENT SEC COACHES, BUT MUSSELMAN NOT BEST FIT AMONG THE GROUP

ARKANSAS CAN’T LOSE WHAT IT NEVER REALLY HAD WITH NICK SMITH’S EXTENDED ABSENCE

ARKANSAS DECIDES TO HIRE SECOND DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TO ASSIST

HOGS THOUGHT THEY HAD AVOIDED POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE, BUT PETRINO ENDS UP AT A&M ANYWAY

RAZORBACKS’ ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HUNTER YURACHEK ON PROCEDURES AFTER DAMAR HAMLIN INJURY

BILLS’ DAMAR HAMLIN LEAVING FIELD ALIVE DUE IN PART TO A COUPLE OF OTHER TRAGEDIES IN SPORTS WITH ARKANSAS TIES

RED FLAGS WITH JORDAN DOMINECK DEPARTURE DESPITE RECENT PLEDGE TO STAY

OHIO ST. LEARNED WHAT ARKANSAS ALREADY KNOWS, TEXAS/OU NEED TO LEARN ALSO

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