Eric Musselman discusses new opportunity for Arkansas in postseason

The Arkansas basketball team had a rough go of it in conference play, finishing with an 8-10 SEC record as it heads into the SEC Tournament this week. But the Razorbacks, perhaps on the outer fringe of the NCAA Tournament bubble, still have plenty to play for in the posteason.

Arkansas needs some big wins in a major way.

“I think as we look at obviously the way that we ended, we were so close at Alabama,” coach Eric Musselman said. “You look at our schedule in league and of the five teams that we played twice, four of them are top-four seeds in the SEC Tournament in ‘Bama being one and A&M two and Kentucky three and Missouri four. It was a difficult end of the season for sure. Four of our last six games were against teams that are top-25 teams.”

But good teams play themselves into the NCAA Tournament and the postseason. That will be Arkansas’ task this weekend as it heads to Nashville.

Arkansas hoping to earn NCAA Tournament berth

For Arkansas’ postseason hopes to produce an NCAA Tournament berth at this point it will likely take multiple wins in Nashville.

First up is an Auburn team that beat Arkansas 72-59 earlier this season in a game played at Arkansas. Musselman is fired up a bout the rematch.

“This is a second season for us,” Musselman said. “We should have excitement going into Nashville. Obviously we leave today and when you look at our first opponent, Auburn, and you only have one opponent right now until you’re able to advance, if you’re fortunate enough to do that.”

Beating Auburn will be no easy task.

The Tigers are on the NCAA Tournament bubble themselves and are coming off an impressive win over No. 12 Tennessee.

“We’re going to need several things from different guys,” Musselman explained.

Musselman putting onus on Davonte Davis

The Arkansas head coach pointed out two players that Arkansas will need to play smart and near their best in the postseason to have a chance to survive and advance.

One is guard Davonte Davis.

“Defensively, Devo picked up two quick fouls in that Auburn game, one of them being a four-point play to start the game,” Musselman said. “So we’re going to need Devo to stay out of foul trouble. That’ll be one thing going into the game, because obviously he’s so important to us from a defensive standpoint.”

Then the experience factor also looms large.

“Devo’s pretty important because he’s the one guy that has experience in this tournament, and then Kamani (Johnson)‘s got a little as well. So both those guys I think are going to have some importance in this postseason play.”