Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
South Carolina out-muscles UA men
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas and South Carolina twice proved media’s crystal ball denser than San Francisco’s fog.
In the Associated Press preseason basketball poll the Razorbacks nationally ranked 14th and rated among the SEC’s top contenders.
South Carolina’s Gamecocks were not only unranked but predicted to finish last in its league by SEC media.
South Carolina, 13-5 in conference play, finished tied for second in the SEC.
Arkansas’ 6-12 conference finish tied with Georgia above cellar dweller Vanderbilt and winless Missouri.
Second-year Coach Lamont Paris’ Gamecocks led wire-to-wire on Jan. 20 at Arkansas’ allegedly impregnable Walton Arena. South Carolina won 77-64 with far more physicality, plus hitting 9 of 18 threes.
Auburn already had burst Arkansas’ bubble at Walton, opening the SEC season by slaughtering the Hogs 83-51. Arkansas thought itself regrouped off 78-77 thriller over Texas A&M at Walton.
In meeting two, South Carolina’s 80-66 elimination of Arkansas on Thursday at the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Coach Eric Musselman knew his Hogs would be disadvantaged. They required overtime defeating Vanderbilt 90-85 on Wednesday night.
No. 15 South Carolina earned a bye for its four-way tie, runner-up finish at 13-5 behind 14-4 champion Tennessee.
Still, the Hogs were playing better, especially offensively with guard Khalif Battle on a national scoring tear yet doing it within the team’s system.
For a half that worked. Arkansas led early 11-3 and only trailed 38-35 at intermission.
South Carolina’s second-half zone and physicality removed all that for an easy triumph, sending the 26-6 Gamecocks into a quarterfinal matchup Friday against Auburn.
The Hogs salvaged some respect, avenging the 85-82 loss to Vanderbilt on Feb. 27 at Walton, Vandy’s only SEC success away from its Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn.
For Musselman, who had all winning seasons the previous eight years head coaching Nevada and Arkansas, including three Sweet 16s and two Elite Eights the last three Arkansas seasons, a 16-17 finish in 2023-24 marked an anomaly unfathomable.
Particularly since Arkansas lived up to its hype early at Walton, beating then No. 1 Purdue in an exhibition game and for the record beating No. 7 Duke.
Through it all Musselman called his team out for lack of effort when applicable, cajoled when possible and never stopped coaching. He never ceases recruiting. Especially now.
Musselman presumably will at least seek the intentions of eligible to return transfers Battle and team season scoring leader Tramon Mark. Both of course could enter the transfer portal eligible or declare for the NBA Draft.
Given the circumstances, it seemed almost comic relief for Musselman to be asked Thursday about Texas and Oklahoma joining the 2024-25 SEC basketball chase.
“After a loss, I’m not really thinking about Oklahoma or Texas,” Musselman said. “I’m thinking about this game and our season. Right now the season ending stings. This is new territory.”
Territory he intends not revisiting.
“I’m probably more motivated right now at this moment than I have ever been,” Musselman said.