Hogs hoops team gives fans reason to smile

The Arkansas men’s basketball team’s 81-77 overtime win against No. 3 Purdue couldn’t have come at a better time, even if it was just an exhibition game and doesn’t count.

It took some focus off the football team’s six-game losing streak while giving Razorback fans something to woo pig sooie about.

With just two of last year’s starters in the starting lineup there were a lot of new names and faces wearing the Razorback uniform, but that’s the nature of the game anymore with the transfer portal, which has probably weakened both football and basketball.

These days a freshman who thinks he should be playing more finds a different home rather than work harder to develop his game.

Of the 16 players, including walk-ons, half are seniors. There are two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.

Of that total only five contributed last year, led by senior graduate Davonte “Devo” Davis who logged more than 21 minutes but in what can be his typical fashion he attempted only three shots, but had four assists and three steals.

Davis was key to Arkansas’ 72-71 win over No. 1 seeded Kansas last March when he set personal records for scoring with 25 points, field goals with nine and free throws with six.

So he can score, and he’s also probably the best on-ball defender on the team.

Trevon Brazile, who missed most of last season after needing knee surgery, played 30 minutes which was encouraging because it showed how far he’s recovered. He and Tramon Mark tied for scoring honors with 15 each.

This team appears to be a better shooting team than last year’s and against a very good Boilermaker team made 30 of 59 field goal attempts, including 8 of 23 three-pointers, and made 13 of 17 free throws.

They were outrebounded 42-28, but there is only one team who has a 7-4 Naismith College Player of the Year like Zach Edey, who had nine rebounds and 15 points.

Arkansas will get better on defense and protect the ball better.

The Razorbacks committed 15 turnovers, 14 of which were steals by Purdue.

A few things that had Eric Musselman in a pretty good mood after the game were the Razorbacks forced 20 turnovers and cashed them in for 18 points, five players scored more than 10 points and they had 13 assists.

Those last two stats point to a team that understands wins come through unselfish play.

Once again it looks like Musselman will be front and center at the next NBA Draft. All four of the Razorbacks who were taken by the NBA are under contract.

Under his direction players learn about NBA offense and then get an advantage by learning how to play defense.

His four seasons at Arkansas have reinvigorated the fans, proven last Saturday with a sellout for a game not included in the season ticket package.

The Razorbacks Nation endured some pretty lean years after Nolan Richardson left.

Eddie Sutton built a strong foundation in his 11 seasons going 260-75, and Richardson built a national championship team and was 389-169 in his 17 seasons.

Over the next 18 seasons the Razorbacks would go a combined 317-233 under Stan Heath, John Pelphrey and Mike Anderson, who were all good guys and well-liked, but there was too much March Sadness.

Musselman is 95-42 in his four seasons and he’s been to two NCAA Elite Eights and a Sweet 16.

Last Saturday’s game against Purdue was to raise money for United Way to help victims of the tornado that swept through Central Arkansas earlier this year.

When it ended with the No. 14 Razorbacks the winner, it gave the fans something to smile about.