As I sit down to analyze the upcoming Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball season, I can't help but draw parallels from that stunning PBA game where the Hotshots were held to just seven points in the opening quarter. That kind of offensive drought is exactly what coach Eric Musselman wants to avoid as he reshapes this roster. Having followed Razorbacks basketball for over a decade, I've seen how quickly momentum can shift in college basketball, and this season presents both tremendous opportunities and significant challenges. The Razorbacks are coming off another NCAA Tournament appearance, but the pressure is mounting for that elusive deep March run that has teased fans for years.
The first critical factor that will define their season is undoubtedly the backcourt chemistry between returning guard Devo Davis and new transfer addition Khalif Battle. Davis brings that gritty defensive mentality we've come to love, but his offensive consistency has been questionable at times. Last season, he averaged just 10.8 points while shooting 44% from the field - numbers that need improvement for Arkansas to compete in the tough SEC. Battle, coming from Temple, brings scoring punch with his 17.9 points per game average, but I'm concerned about how these two ball-dominant guards will mesh. Watching them during the Red-White scrimmage, there were moments of brilliance but also stretches where they seemed to step on each other's toes. If they can't figure out their roles by conference play, we might see those offensive droughts reminiscent of the Hotshots' first-quarter collapse.
Frontcourt depth is another area that keeps me up at night. With the departure of both Mitchell brothers to the NBA, the Razorbacks are relying heavily on Trevon Brazile's recovery from that ACL injury and the development of Makhi Mitchell. Brazile showed flashes of brilliance before getting hurt, averaging 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in the first nine games, but ACL recoveries are tricky. I've seen too many players take a full season to regain their explosiveness. The addition of Chandler Lawson from Memphis helps, but at 215 pounds, he might struggle against the physical big men in the SEC. What worries me most is that Musselman's system demands relentless rebounding and interior defense, and if these pieces don't fit, we could see the Razorbacks getting dominated in the paint against teams like Kentucky and Tennessee.
The third factor that could make or break this season is three-point shooting consistency. Last year's team shot just 31.2% from beyond the arc, ranking them 326th nationally - an embarrassing statistic for a program with NCAA Tournament aspirations. Transfer El Ellis brings hope after shooting 38.6% from three at Louisville, but I'm skeptical about whether one player can transform an entire team's shooting culture. During my conversations with former players, they've emphasized how Musselman's offensive system creates quality looks, but players still need to knock them down. If the shooting struggles continue, defenses will pack the paint and dare Arkansas to beat them from outside, creating those scoring droughts that plagued the Hotshots in their disappointing loss.
Defensive identity has always been Musselman's calling card, and this brings me to the fourth crucial factor. The Razorbacks finished 15th in defensive efficiency last season, but they lost their best perimeter defender in Anthony Black. Devo Davis can harass opposing guards, but he can't do it alone. The newcomers must buy into Musselman's defensive philosophy from day one. What I've noticed watching practices is that the coaching staff is implementing more full-court pressure this season, trying to create easy baskets in transition. This aggressive approach could pay dividends, but it also risks foul trouble against disciplined opponents. Having covered SEC basketball for years, I can tell you that conference referees tend to call games tighter in February and March, which could neutralize Arkansas' preferred defensive style when it matters most.
Finally, the mental toughness of this team will be tested throughout what promises to be a grueling schedule. The non-conference slate includes games against Duke, Oklahoma, and potentially North Carolina in the Battle 4 Atlantis - that's brutal for any team. How this relatively new group handles adversity will determine whether they're playing in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament or making an early exit. I remember talking to former Razorback Jaylin Williams about the 2022 Elite Eight run, and he emphasized how that team developed a "next play" mentality that served them well in close games. This year's squad needs to find that same resilience, because in college basketball, every season brings moments where things could go either way - much like the Hotshots finding themselves down early and never recovering mentally from that disastrous first quarter.
What gives me hope is Musselman's track record of maximizing talent and getting teams to peak at the right time. His March success speaks for itself, but this might be his most challenging coaching job yet with so many new pieces. The SEC is deeper than ever with Alabama, Texas A&M, and others making significant investments in their programs. Arkansas can't afford slow starts or prolonged scoring slumps if they want to finish in the top four of the conference. From what I've observed in preseason workouts, the energy and commitment are there, but translating that into consistent performance is another matter entirely. The Razorbacks have the talent to make noise nationally, but these five factors will ultimately determine whether this season ends in disappointment or becomes something special that Razorback fans remember for years to come.
