NWADG Basketball

8 2022 NWA COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW | 11.6.2022 In addition to the McDonald's All- Americans, the Razorbacks' freshman class includes forward Barry Dunning and guards Joseph Pinion and Derrian Ford. Forwards Makhel Mitchell and Makhi Mitchell, twins who transferred from Rhode Island, also are newcomers. "[Musselman] has taken that program and made it his own and done it his way," Jans said. "He did it at Nevada. Had a lot of success with recruiting and transfers specifically. "He has taken that blueprint over to Arkansas, and he has been one of the better college basketball teams since they've been there each and every year. "I think it speaks volumes for him and his staff to their ability to track players that want to play for him and their style and that university. So he has obviously got that program in great shape." After Musselman led Arkansas to a 20-12 record in his first season, the Razorbacks lost four starters, including co-SEC player of the year Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe, a second-round draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ers who is now with Oklahoma City. In Musselman's second season, the Razorbacks reloaded with freshman guard Moses Moody — who became a first-round pick by the Golden State Warriors — and impact transfers in Notae, Justin Smith and Jalen Tate. Arkansas also got major contributions from Williams and Davis to advance to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the first time since 1995. Musselman, an NBA coach with Golden State and Sacramento, said his experience coaching in the CBA and G-League has helped in roster management at the college level where the transfer portal has greatly increased player movement. "When you coach in the minor leagues, you wake up one day, and your top three players might be gone," Musselman said. "It changes the way that you teach. It changes the way that you implement a system. "So just looking at our own team with only two returners, a lot of the format that we've used this summer in implementing things both offensively and defensively is much the same that we used while coaching in the minor leagues "And certainly a changing, fluctuating roster, I don't flinch with that at all. Probably healthy that they hear a different voice every couple of years or whatever. "So maybe the way that college basketball is right now with the freedom of movement with players is kind of equivalent to free agency at the pro level. And with my background, I'm more equipped to coach today than maybe I would have been 20 years ago in college." In constructing this season's roster the Razorbacks had the advantage of playing four exhibition games in Europe in August. "The tour was really good for us, because so many new players were able to see areas of weakness, areas of strength," Musselman said. "Then maybe most importantly for September and October, we saw areas we've got to try to improve on going into the season." The Razorbacks used four different starting lineups in their victories over Valencia Seleccion (107-59), Catalan Select (98-86), Orange I Basket Bassano (75-54) and the Bakken Bears (70-59). All 13 scholarship players got at least one start. "A lot of guys got opportunities," Musselman said. "We got to see some things, some different combinations." Musselman will narrow the rotation, likely to eight players and possibly nine, by the time SEC play begins. But a challenging non-conference schedule will allow Musselman to make roster adjustments against high-level competition. The Razorbacks play Louisville in their opener at the Maui Invitational and their second opponent will be either No. 9 Creighton or No. 25 Texas Tech. Other ranked teams Arkansas could play in Maui are No. 17 Arizona and No. 19 San Diego State. Arkansas takes on Oklahoma in Tulsa before SEC play and has a road trip to Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge in the middle of its conference schedule. "I think it's one of the hardest Preview n Continued from Page 6 Anthony Black File Photo

• Cover