The USC coaching search should start with Eric Musselman of Arkansas or Brian Dutcher of San Diego State. At least, that’s what many college basketball insiders believe. If you accept that claim, Musselman’s status at Arkansas is highly relevant to this conversation after Andy Enfield left for SMU and created a job opening in Los Angeles.
Razorbacks Wire is following Musselman’s every move in Fayetteville. Several days ago, Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek released a tweet and video which seemed to indicate Musselman was staying put in Fayetteville and had been firmly retained by the school.
Monday afternoon, Razorbacks Wire published a story which basically said, “Not so fast, my friend.”
Here’s more on the story from Razorbacks Wire:
“As soon as the post hit X (Twitter), more rumors spread that Yurachek posted the video without the head Hog’s knowledge. But that’s all they were at the time, rumors. However, when no one on Eric Musselman’s staff, or Musselman himself, retweeted the post, it gave weight to the message board gossip.
“Yesterday, Kevin McPherson of Hogville.net joined Pig Trail Nation and revealed that his unnamed sources confirmed the rumors.
“’I have… multiple sources telling me that Eric Musselman was not expecting that and was not aware it was coming out,’ McPherson told KNWA sports reporter Evan Kamikow, ‘and there might have been some choice words related to the fact that it came out; when it did and how it did.’”
So, it seems that the situation at Arkansas is very fluid. Crucially, Yurachek and the Arkansas athletic department did not beef up, extend, or otherwise alter Musselman’s contract and his level of compensation. Some people speculated, reasonably enough, that Yuracheck’s tweet and video meant a contract extension and/or financial sweetener had been given to Musselman. Yurachek has said that is not the case.
Musselman can reasonably be viewed as being back in play for USC. Let’s see what happens. Follow Razorbacks Wire for continuing coverage.
Also read our USC basketball coaching search primer, which includes an update on Musselman’s status.
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