picture credit score: Arkansas Athletics / St. John’s Athletics
On Sunday night, Eric Musselman grew to become the primary Arkansas coach since Nolan Richardson to take the Razorbacks to 3 straight NCAA Tournaments. He’s solely the third coach at school historical past to have achieved the feat. It’s a wild thought contemplating Arkansas basketball information date again to 1923-24 and it’s one thing about which Musselman and this system ought to really feel completed.
Sadly, it additionally feels considerably hole. In getting a first-round date with Illinois on Thursday, Arkansas has its postseason berth within the Massive Dance through an underachieving season that ended with the whimper of Arkansas dropping 4 of its final 5 video games. An 8-10 SEC document within the common season makes the Razorbacks solely the fifth staff within the final twenty years to make the NCAA Match with a dropping document in Southeastern Convention play.
Expectations for March Insanity are subsequently blended. Arkansas was a High-10 staff at factors this yr. Granted, that was again in December when Trevon Brazile had but to be misplaced for the season. Nonetheless, with Nick Smith Jr.’s knee now wholesome, the expertise remaining on the playable roster suggests a 3rd straight Elite Eight run – unparalleled at school historical past – wouldn’t go down as the most important shock (though nonetheless a average one contemplating the staff’s stretch run).
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However a loss within the first spherical, earlier than the Hogs even get a shot at possible second-round opponent No. 1 Kansas, could be far much less stunning.
In some ways, Arkansas’ 2022-23 season felt awfully acquainted. No, not the three losses through which the Hogs held a double-digit lead. No, not blowing the biggest halftime lead in additional than a decade. However a good-not-great general document alongside a .500ish SEC season was Mike Anderson-esque. The identical Mike Anderson, by the way in which, who was let go by St. John’s over the weekend after 4 mediocre seasons with the Purple Storm.
Mike Anderson and Eric Musselman
Anderson’s points in New York Metropolis weren’t completely the identical as Musselman’s in Fayetteville, although they had been the identical as those the previous had when he was operating the Hogs program from 2011-19. St. John’s was disorganized offensively frequently, the identical criticism leveled on the Razorbacks when Anderson was on the UA. Arkansas really suffered such points at numerous factors all through this season, too. The Razorbacks’ scoring sputtered: generally they seemed unstoppable, generally they had been unscorable.
Mike Anderson’s groups didn’t have almost the expertise of Musselman’s. Actually Bobby Portis, maybe the most effective Arkansas NBA participant since Joe Johnson, was a dynamic participant. However Nick Smith Jr. is a probable lottery decide. Anthony Black could be, too. Trevon Brazile and Jordan Walsh may very well be first-round picks when they’re anticipated to enter the draft after subsequent season. Moses Moody was a first-rounder. Mason Jones was the SEC Participant of the 12 months with Muss, although he was recruited by Anderson. However with a staff extra proficient than any Musselman or Anderson have had in school earlier than, the frustration Arkansas devoted could really feel heading into the Massive Dance is comprehensible.
It’s a drag for Musselman, too, who doesn’t deserve among the criticism levied his method this yr. The person took Arkansas to the Elite Eight the final two seasons, for crying out loud. Even had he not misplaced Brazile for the entire season and Smith for many of it, he’d have earned a cross with a .500 SEC document.
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That being mentioned, Saturday’s telephone incident from the SEC Match was a foul search for this system (admittedly not for Musselman himself; although the adage holds {that a} program is meant to be reflective of the teaching main it). Musselman has been a straightforward goal for followers of Arkansas’ opponents, his irascible nature on the courtroom and occasional prickliness off it, as the person doesn’t like answering questions after losses. It’s all earned him votes for Most Disliked within the SEC after John Calipari at Kentucky.
Anderson was by no means getting these votes. Missouri followers apart, he was popular with opponents and reasonably appreciated by his program’s followers, too. However he additionally by no means took the Razorbacks to Eric Musselman’s highs. With profitable comes jealousy from the surface. Undoubtedly Musselman suffers from that and now that Arkansas is struggling, he’s straightforward pickings for many who maintain grudges.
The Way forward for Arkansas Basketball
No matter occurs with Arkansas within the Massive Dance is probably going moot in relation to Muss’ return to Arkansas. He’s the son of a longtime NBA coach and he’s been there earlier than, too, as a head man. If the skilled ranks had been to return knocking once more, odds are, he’d pay attention. The Razorbacks making one other deep run may very well be NBA groups’ cause for method.
Or maybe, if this season was, in reality, as irritating as he has mentioned in quite a few post-game press conferences that it had been, possibly the soar comes sooner slightly than later. The switch portal and NILs make issues extra difficult, not simpler, in spite of everything, in relation to coaches.
That isn’t to say Muss goes anyplace. A contract price greater than $4 million a yr is one massive cause he in all probability is just not. However the risk will all the time be hovering overhead. That’s the value. Arkansas has made itself right into a dominant program with Eric Musselman on the helm, extra dominant than they had been underneath Mike Anderson or John Pelphrey or Stan Heath. Or, going again to pre Eddie Sutton occasions, higher than they had been the eras of Lanny Van Eman, Duddy Waller or anyone earlier than.
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The price of profitable are questions like these. And the second issues go funky, like they’ve this yr, do followers actually wish to kick him to the curb? They higher not as a result of historical past has proven, with two legends in 100 years, and Eric Musselman a transparent No. 3, the chances are that the most effective this system might do is get one other Mike Anderson.
Not half-bad. However not what Arkansas needs.
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Extra protection of Arkansas basketball from BoAS…
Susie Maynard was named Arkansas Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for 2023-24, but the White Hall School District instructor is quick to give credit to her coworkers.
“The only thing that sets me apart is that I have the best team,” Maynard said Tuesday. “That’s what makes me so good is the team. We have the best art team.”
The team puts together a district-wide art show every year at the White Hall Community Center featuring drawings, paintings, sculptures and more.
“We try to include every avenue of art,” Maynard said.
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Maynard was acknowledged for her award at a WHSD board meeting. Arkansas Art Educators presented the honor to Maynard during the fall semester.
Maynard teaches kindergarten through fifth grades at Moody and Hardin elementaries. She has taught in the WHSD for at least 15 years and also spent a year in the Little Rock School District.
She values giving students a chance to problem-solve and think for themselves.
“I don’t feel like they have enough of that, and art is such a great avenue for them to make their own decisions, to make their mistakes and figure out, how do I solve this mistake?” she said. “How do I turn it into something really cool?”
Before approaching those questions, students do learn the basics from Maynard.
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“We teach how to use the paintbrush, how to hold your pencil, how to draw different shapes and how to put it together, and then the student picks it up and carries it from there,” she said.
Other teachers nominated Maynard for the award and the AAE board decided on the winner, she said. Despite such a prestigious honor, she remains humble.
“I don’t think I stand out,” Maynard started, “but I …”
“Yes, she does,” Debbie Jones interjected. Jones is the assistant superintendent for curriculum. “There is creativity that she brings to the table, and it’s also opportunity for students to explore within their art.”
Arkansas’ economic expansion continued in the last months of 2024 and positions the state to continue building momentum as the year opens, according to a regional economic analysis released Wednesday.
Nevertheless, rising prices could hinder growth and business executives are worried about persisting inflation and the potential economic hurdles that tariff increases could create. Christmas holiday sales were uplifting, coming in better than expected and brightening the outlook for 2025.
Sales were helped by a late Thanksgiving that fueled a spending spree and delivered a kickstart to the year, the Federal Reserve Bank reported Wednesday in its Beige Book economic analysis. The report covers 12 regional districts, including Arkansas and surrounding states in the St. Louis district.
“Retailers in our district indicated that December sales were stronger than in previous years,” Charles Gascon, the Fed economist for the Arkansas region, said Wednesday.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn gave a long-awaited update Wednesday on the status of senior outfielder Kendall Diggs, who suffered a torn labrum during the 2024 season.
Diggs, who exited a game against McNeese State in March with the injury, was hitting .357 at the time before finishing the year with a lowly .229 batting average.
It seems, after an offseason of recovery, the SEC veteran is on track for a major return for the Diamond Hogs.
“He’s 100% cleared to do everything now,” Van Horn said Wednesday. “Now, it’s all about timing at the plate. Getting that bat speed back that he’s had in the past. Seeing live pitching and just feeling confident…now it’s not about him being part of the team, because he’s going to be a big part of the team. It’s just a matter of how soon. We know what he can do when he’s full-go.”
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A 6-foot-0, 210-pound lefty hitter from Olathe, Kansas, Diggs was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 2023 after slashing .299/.436/.547 with 12 home runs and a team-high 63 RBIs.
“You look at what (Kendall) has done in the past, he played 50-some games last year with major tears,” Van Horn said. “He’s swinging the bat, he’s going to hit live pitching tomorrow. When I say live pitching, not just batting practice, we’re talking live pitching. So, we’ll see how that goes. He’s a little bit behind, but he’ll get there.”
Even after his 2024 injury, many expected Diggs to be selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, and his return gave Arkansas another competitive piece in a loaded outfield full of transfer portal additions.
“He’s stronger than ever, even with the shoulder injury,” Van Horn said. “He’s had a chance to work on his lower half and he’s a full-grown man now. It’s time to go, and I think he’s excited about being out there.”
The Razorbacks will open their season Friday, Feb. 14, against Washington State at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.
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