SPORTS: Musselman looks to change lineup for Georgia,
FAYETTEVILLE — After having the same starters for eight consecutive games, the University of Arkansas basketball team could have a third different lineup in three games when the Razorbacks play Georgia on Saturday in Walton Arena.
Senior guard Jalen Tate, senior forward Justin Smith, junior guard Desi Sills, sophomore forward Connor Vanover and freshman guard Moses Moody started games two through nine.
Vanover replaced senior forward Vance Jackson, who started the opener against Mississippi Valley State.
After Smith had surgery last Friday that is expected to sideline him for three to six weeks, freshman guard Davonte Davis started in the Razorbacks’ 81-68 loss to No. 12 Missouri.
Coach Eric Musselman decided to go bigger at No. 9 Tennessee on Wednesday night and started 6-10 freshman Jaylin Williams for the 6-3 Davis.
In Musselman’s Zoom call with the media after the Vols beat the Razorbacks 79-74, he indicated another lineup change is coming without being specific.
Williams had 6 points, two rebounds, one blocked shot and four turnovers in 14 minutes against the Vols.
“Jaylin did a great job,” Musselman said. “He’s worked so hard. We’ve got to work with him on the turnovers … But he gave us great energy.
“There will be another change in the starting lineup when we get ready for Georgia.”
Musselman didn’t say what will change, but one possibility could be Jackson — a graduate transfer from New Mexico — starting for Sills.
Considering the competion, Jackson had his best game as a Razorback against the Vols with
14 points and nine rebounds in
33 minutes.
Jackson scored a season-high
15 points when Arkansas opened with a 142-62 victory over Mississippi Valley State, but the Delta Devils are ranked last in the NCAA’s first NET rankings released this week at No. 340.
Tennessee is No. 3 in the NET rankings.
Jackson, who played one minute in the Missouri game, hit 5 of 10 shots on Wednesday night, including 3 of 6 3-pointers.
In the previous nine games, Jackson averaged 3.2 points and
12.4 minutes.
“I feel like I’m a player, you know what I’m saying?” said Jackson, who has scored 1,048 career points. “I’ve just got to be consistent in (the coaches’) eyes, have a positive mindset.
“I know I haven’t been playing that much, even though I feel like I should’ve been playing. But I just don’t let that get to me.
“I just work harder, keep grinding in the gym, be a positive voice on this team. (Wednesday night) I just felt like it’s a big game and it’s an opportunity that I was given, and I took advantage of it.”
Musselman, who on Monday praised Jackson’s attitude and work habits, said after the Tennessee game he has earned more playing time.
“Vance has been as patient as anybody,” Musselman said.
Jackson and Williams are among 10 scholarship newcomers.
“I’ve said many times we would continue to evolve with so many new faces,” Musselman said. “We would evolve with rotations.
“Some guys have gotten opportunities, and those opportunities will now go to some other guys.”
Sills — a junior guard and one of two scholarship returnees along with junior forward Ethan Henderson — was held scoreless at Tennessee for the first time in
17 games going back to an 0-of-7 shooting performance at Florida last season.
Coming into Wednesday night’s game, Sill was averaging
13.9 points, but he missed his only shot attempt and played 18 minutes. He was 1 of 10 against Missouri and had six points.
It’s the fewest points Sills has scored in back-to-back games since he combined for six against Vanderbilt and Kentucky last season.
The game before Sills was held scoreless at Florida last season, he scored 15 points against Mississippi State. The game after he didn’t score, he had 17 points against Missouri.
“Desi’s had some really hot streaks and some cold streaks in the year and a half I’ve been here,” Musselman said. “He’s struggled the last two games, for sure.”
Sills showed last season he could be a spark off the bench. Playing as a reserve the last six games, he averaged 14.7 points.
Prior to the last two games, Sills scored a career- high 23 points in the Razorbacks’ 97-85 victory at Auburn in the SEC opener. He averaged 18.5 points in a four-game span.
Sills started 2 of 30 on
3-pointers in the first six games last season, then hit 17 of 30 in the last six games to finish at
47 of 143.
Another option for Musselman against Georgia could be starting junior guard JD Notae, who has played off the bench in every game, but is averaging 15.7 points after leading the Razorbacks with 19 at Tennessee.
“JD is a ballplayer,” Jackson said. “He’s been proving that since I’ve been here. It’s nothing new to me. I know what he’s capable of. Happy for him that he’s able to be productive and ball out for us.”
Jackson said he’s confident he can build on his success against the Vols.
“Most definitely,” Jackson said. “All I needed was just the opportunity, and it’s up from here.”