Arkansas coach Eric Musselman knows he’s in a tight spot.
But Arkansas was also better than usual against the sixth-ranked Wildcats. Musselman, who has regularly bemoaned his players’ lack of effort since December, found no ill words in that regard after the game. His team played hard. They just didn’t play well enough.
News came minutes before tip that heart-and-soul leader of the team Devo Davis was stepping away from the club. No other words were given in the press release or by Musselman after the game, but Davis’ teammates appeared galvanized by his absence.
Arkansas outrebounded Kentucky, the Hogs scored more points in the paint and they had more blocked shots. They also had nearly 200 passes, a statistic Musselman points out after most games and a number that was a marked improvement over the last few weeks, as well.
But offensively, the Razorbacks can’t get anything going. Kentucky may have struggled offensively, too, but the Wildcats have weapons that the Hogs simply do not right now.
Here’s what Musselman had to say after the game.