Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Muss concerned about Sooners now
FAYETTEVILLE — Monday’s game vs. Furman concerns Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman more than Oklahoma’s SEC future when Musselman’s Razorbacks and Coach Porter Moser’s Sooners clash today.
At the neutral site BOK Center in Tulsa, Arkansas, 6-3, and the Sooners, 8-0, meet in a 3 p.m. tipoff televised by ESPN2. Barring a 2024 NCAA Tournament matchup, today marks the final Arkansas vs. Oklahoma nonconference clash before the Sooners and Texas Longhorns in 2024-2025 forsake the Big 12 and join Arkansas in the SEC.
To Musselman, what the Razorbacks did right and did wrong in their 97-83 victory last Monday at Walton Arena following last week’s, 80-75 triumph over No. 7 Duke at Walton dwarfs any alleged historical impact of today’s UA vs. OU nonconference finale.
“Not really, no,” Musselman replied when asked if today seems a SEC precursor. “I’m not looking at Saturday’s game saying, ‘Oh, wow, they’re coming into the SEC next year!’ [It’s] how are we going to play this game?”
It had better be better than some aspects of the Furman game, Musselman declared while hoping other Arkansas vs. Furman aspects repeat.
Pluses vs. Furman, the defending Southern Conference champion, the same conference from which North Carolina-Greensboro upset Arkansas on Nov. 17 at Walton Arena, include shooting, 37 of 61 for 60.7% and 8 of 19 threes, with 21 assists, and shot-blocking, 10.
Musselman’s post Furman concerns, especially if repeated against undefeated Oklahoma, are rebounding and three-point defense.
Furman’s Alex Williams and JP Pegues combined to make 8 of 18 three-pointers.
Arkansas slightly outboarded Furman, 38-35, but similar boards work just won’t do against OU in Musselman’s view.
“For whatever reason we should have outrebounded Furman by much more than what the final rebounding battle was,” Musselman told the Razorback Sports Network radio postgame. “We are getting ready to play an Oklahoma team that’s one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. We gave up 15 O-boards tonight. We have to do a way, way better job rebounding the basketball defensively. Guarding the three was a major, major issue. And we have to do a better job defending without fouling.”
Though the AP preseason poll indicated otherwise, the Sooners could make Arkansas pay dearly if the Hogs repeat last Monday’s mistakes.
Preseason by coaches picked 12th in the Big 12 and opening nationally unranked, Oklahoma off its 8-0 start now AP ranks 19th and beat big-timers Iowa, Southern California and Providence.
Arkansas opened the season AP ranked 14th. Three losses booted Arkansas from the Top 25, but the Hogs at least receive votes again post defeating Duke.
“I would say that all preseason polls are so meaningless,” Musselman said. “Because you just don’t know about chemistry. You don’t know how pieces are going to fit together. I love what Coach Moser’s done. I think he’s done an incredible job. An undefeated team and a ranked team — you have to bring your A-game to compete with Oklahoma.”