Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman is a grasp recruiter. The fourth-year Head Hog is a continuing presence on social media, his 57 years on Earth belied by his tendency to have interaction in youthful slang and ways.
No cap.
That attraction is useful in profitable the hearts and minds of his gamers on the recruiting path and off the courtroom. On it, although, the method modifications. Teaching a crew full of 18- and 19-year-olds could be and is a problem. Musselman says as a lot nearly each time he has a press convention.
Arkansas’ expertise is nearly as excessive as any crew within the nation. Few groups can boast of three potential first-round NBD draft picks. Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh have as a lot potential as any participant the Razorbacks have rostered in historical past. The distinction, in fact, being they virtually actually gained’t faucet that potential whereas in Fayetteville.
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The game shouldn’t be actually one for the outdated heads. Groups want elder statesmen to compete and lead, however they’re hardly ever the superstars, although that isn’t at all times true. Regardless, Arkansas has these guys, too.
5 gamers from the switch portal have landed in Fayetteville and can make their Razorbacks debut alongside the six freshman within the No. 2 recruiting class within the nation. They don’t have Smith/Black/Walsh expertise, however count on them to win a recreation or two, particularly early in SEC play, due to their expertise and guile.
Within the meantime, count on the dearth of expertise to indicate itself. Arkansas has simply two gamers coming back from final 12 months’s Elite Eight roster. Final 12 months’s crew had Devo Davis, JD Notae and Jaylin Williams all again from the beginning lineup, nevermind the entire roster. And final 12 months’s crew had its struggles, too. Even hidden throughout the nine-game profitable streak to start out the season had been the troubles.
These will likely be again. They might be completely different troubles, however troubles nonethless.
Arkansas isn’t going to be a great 3-point capturing crew. Arkansas goes to depend on mid-range jumpers greater than most. Arkansas will accordingly be streaky. Arkansas won’t be constant defensively. Arkansas will flip the ball over with regularity.
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This stuff would be the case by many of the 12 months, however they’ll be particularly prevalent throughout first semester.
Arkansas goes to be explosive. Arkansas goes to be well-coached. Arkansas goes to rebound. Arkansas goes to out-athlete virtually each crew it performs. Arkansas goes to go on loopy runs.
This stuff would be the case by many of the 12 months if not all of it, and on the finish of the season, come March, the Razorbacks needs to be trying to find one other Elite Eight season.
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Arkansas basketball: Selecting each recreation on the Razorbacks’ schedule
While the Arkansas Razorbacks have been hitting the transfer portal hard, it is partially as a result of having more than 20 scholarship players decide to enter the portal after a 6-6 regular season that was capped off with a Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech on Dec. 27.
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The transfer portal officially opened Dec. 9 and it was open for a 30 day window through Dec. 28. There is also an additional five-day window for players to enter once their season is over, plus there will be an additional 10-day portal window from April 16-25.
ALSO READ: Arkansas Football 2025 Roster Tracker
HawgBeat provides a look at where former Razorbacks have transferred so far…
Note: “GP” denotes games played. Even if a player appears on special teams, that counts as a game played.
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OL Patrick Kutas – Ole Miss
From: Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, TN)
MEMPHIS –While Beale Street is famous for being the Home of the Blues, red was the color of the day Dec. 26 at the Beale Street Parade, where many watchers were clad in red — a team color for both teams playing in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl the following day.
Marching bands, vintage vehicles, cheer squads and floats marched, strutted and cruised down the historic street in downtown Memphis as fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders lined the streets, cheering as bands and cheer squads from their schools passed by.
The University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band, cheerleaders and pep squad brought up the rear of the parade, creating a grand finale as they marched to meet Texas Tech’s Goin’ Band from Raiderland at Beale Street’s Handy Park for a festive Bash on Beale Pep Rally. Both the parade and the pep rally were sponsored by the Beale Street Merchants Association.
— Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
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Maddie Hayley, Kim Hayley, Spphie Haley, Layne Haley, Toomy Haley, orey Hale and Abbie Hayley on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Caden, Colton, Amber and Drew Cates, all of Little Rock, on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
D.J. Stutts, Shante Stutts and DAnte Stutts of Batesville, mother and siblings of the late Razorback football team member Dion Stutts on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Aspen Coad, Mattie Grace Fortenberry, Aylin Coad, Milli Fortenberry and Mac Fortenberry on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Aspen Coad, Mattie Grace Fortenberry, Aylin Coad, Milli Fortenberry and Mac Fortenberry on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Rhett, Dana Asher and Cooper Daniel of Rogers on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Jeff Box of Memphis on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Elivs Moya, Jennifer and Hunter Yurachek on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Sue E. Pig on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Sue E. Pig on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Jonathan and Brittany Hays with Paxton and Brooke Kellett, all of Jonesboro. on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Watch the postgame press conference from Arkansas head coach John Calipari and center Jonas Aidoo after the 71-63 loss to Florida on Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Visit our homepage for complete coverage of Arkansas basketball, including everything you need to know from the Hoop Hogs’ game.