Last Year Was Over-hyped in Preseason with JUST Sweet 16

Expectations were higher thing, but now we know what we should have seen then

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Oct 30, 2023 5:51 AM EDT
Original:
Oct 29, 2023

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Okay, now it's pretty clear. I'll admit basketball isn't something that crowds by brain with infinite knowledge about all the technical terms that get talked about. It is without guilt I freely admit I'm in the 95% who only have a loose idea what all those terms some in the media and coaches use, which is really just coach-speak babble.

Football is a different story. All that dribble I do know, understand and also know where most of it originated and not who claims they invented it. Basketball is a different, but now I can see why we were so off last year at this time predicting big things for a team counting on a bunch of kids dealing with business things none were prepared to deal with. Winning games didn't figure into that until it was too late.

Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman on sidelines against UT-Tyler

This year's bunch just gets "it." Even us casual fans understand the difference in what we've seen on the floor in the practice and two preseason games this year. Part of that is because this team has vastly more experience. They look way ahead of the same point last year.

Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman knows it. Everyone who has seen both games and last year's games can see the difference. Last year's Texas team wasn't as good as this Purdue team and the Longhorns kicked the Razorbacks all over Austin.

The Boilermakers didn't kick anybody around Saturday. It was clear for the entire game both teams were taking what was essentially a practice for real. Oh there was probably a flash of panic when Purdue's Zach Edey and the Hogs' Davonte Davis collided. The last thing anybody wants is lose a pair of stars in a game that won't be anything but a mention for both of teams in March. Both were fine. Trevon Brazile acted like he wanted a fistfight every few minutes, but that was just being competitive, which is good to see even if it was a practice in the basketball facility.

Musselman has talked all preseason about how far along this team is. That showed up Saturday night taking the No. 3 or 2 team in the country to overtime.

"I didn’t know what to expect coming into the game," Musselman admitted.

The results probably exceeded anything he could have hoped for all along. That means they've bought into what Musselman is selling. That usually means playing a lot in March and landing in the NBA. That is the ultimate goals for all of them.