Insanity is often defined as doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.
As far as Arkansas basketball is concerned, insanity is defined as doubting Head Coach Eric Musselman’s team after a few early-season losses.
The funny thing is that it has happened for the past four seasons, now, and yet, some folks will never learn. Musselman is an old-school coach who focuses on getting his team ready for the post-season run. Granted, he is competitive and wants to win every game, but not at the expense of taking his eyes off the big prize.
Many can’t comprehend that Muss is from a different breed than most of today’s college coaches. His father, Bill, was one of the sport’s most passionate and innovative coaches over the last 50 years, utilizing unique disciplinary tactics to motivate his players, while finding new ways to market his program for the fan experience.
Now, his son is taking that knowledge passed down to him, and lifting it to new heights. Find some clips of Bill ranting on the sideline during a game, and you will see, like father, like son. Uncanny. Although, I don’t think Bill ever stripped off his shirt in celebration.
The Musselmans are both known for shuffling lineups and “experimenting” with various offensive and defensive sets to fit their current personnel. It’s a lot of trial and error in the early going, in order to find the most optimal game plan for the stretch run.
Bill and Eric are the only father-son duo to ever be head coaches in the NBA. Bill coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1980-82, then he was the first-ever coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1989-91. He also coach at the University of Minnesota from 1971-75, giving Eric his first exposure to college basketball.
Eric was an assistant for his father with the Timberwolves during the 1990-91 season, and also spent time as an assistant with the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies. He then became the head coach of the Golden State Warriors from 2002-04, before coaching the Sacramento Kings in 2006-07.
His pedigree was built in the profession basketball ranks, but his detailed coaching style and ability to communicate with players has made him a perfect fit for the college game.
Muss landed his first college jobs as an assistant at Arizona State and LSU, before being named head coach at Nevada in 2016. He was named Mountain West Coach of the Year his first season with the Wolf Pack, after winning nine more games than the previous season. They also won the post-season College Basketball Invitation that season, followed by three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Most casual fans in Arkansas had never heard Musselman’s name before he was tabbed to take over the struggling Razorback program in 2019. All he has done since then, is turn in four straight 20-win seasons, including the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season.
Musselman has also taken the Hogs to all three NCAA Tournament since his arrival, making it to the Sweet 16 each year, with a pair of Elite Eight appearances, to boot.
In the 16-year span between Nolan Richardson’s departure and the Muss era beginning, the Hogs were invited to just six Big Dances. Musselman will likely equal that mark in six years.
But boy, how he can make fans jump off and on the bandwagon. They love him or they want him run out of town. No in-between, and no comprehension of the big picture.
After losing four of five SEC games in early 2021, Muss and the program were crucified on social media. Many saying he should just go back to the NBA. Yet, that team went on to rip off three straight wins in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1995 runner-up season.
The Hogs then lost five of six midway through the following season, including a defeat to Hofstra in Little Rock. There were rumors of him “losing the locker room,” and not even qualifying for the lowly NIT Tournament. Yet, when the Razorbacks won 14 of their next 15 games, fans began showering their love, once again.
That was followed by another Elite Eight run that included knocking out top-seed Gonzaga.
The doubt started early last season, when the Hogs dropped a preseason exhibition game to Texas, which didn’t even count. Then after losing five of six to begin the SEC slate, fans were sure that the wheels had finally fallen off and Muss wouldn’t be able to recover this time.
Not only did Arkansas end up qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, but the Hogs took down another top-seed, Kansas, to secure a third straight trip to the Sweet 16.
And most recently, to no one’s surprise, the bandwagon had gotten bare, once again, after the Razorbacks dropped three of their last four games heading into Wednesday night’s showdown with No. 7 Duke. Only the “homers” with “rose-colored glasses” gave the Hogs any shot against the mighty Blue Devils.
But the Muss Bus rolled to another victory, without leading scorer Tramon Mark, and the bandwagon was back in business – again.
I always get a chuckle from all of the Mike Anderson-era fans who have been feverishly awaiting Musselman’s demise, so they can finally say “I told you so.”
They may have a long wait.
