Eric Musselman explains emotions of upset over Kansas

This season turned out to be a much longer one than anyone expected in Fayetteville. After entering with a lot of preseason expectations, Arkansas stumbled all throughout the middle and end of their year. However, they’re now seeing the fruits of their labor and a reward for pushing through their struggles after advancing to the Sweet 16 with a win over the reigning national champions in No. 1 Kansas.

After the victory, Eric Musselman and his ‘Hogs were obviously incredibly emotional considering how things played out in their favor. He said it was the ultimate metaphor for his team because, regardless of how long they led, they kept fighting to pull that feat off and ended up where they wanted to be in the end

“Well, I would love to lie and say that I felt composed, but this…We only led for 1:43,” Musselman said. “This has been as challenging and as up-and-down a season as I’ve ever been a part of. For these guys to be rewarded for sticking with it and being able to go to Las Vegas? And participate with only 16 teams still standing?”

“It’s really hard to make this tournament. It’s really hard to win a game in this tournament. (And) it’s really hard to beat the defending champions, a No. 1 seed,” said Musselman. “We did it. (I’m) proud of us.”

The Razorbacks knew from the start that it was going to be a challenge to defeat the Jayhawks. Digging themselves into an early nine-point hole and a 12-point deficit in the second half only compounded that problem.

Still, they gave everything they had to get back within a possession of the region’s top seed. From there, it was a back-and-forth battle that featured blows from both sides. Still, it was Musselman’s team who threw enough punches in the final stretch to eke out the one-point win.

Arkansas spent all season long trying to put the pieces together. Whether it was due to injuries, inexperience, or just overall bad play, things just hadn’t yet come together. Now, as the program finds itself playing in its third straight Sweet 16, Musselman is happy to count their blessings. They’re now playing with house money and are as confident as ever as they head to Las Vegas to see what can happen for them next against UConn on Thursday.

“We will get on this plane tonight and start prepping tomorrow,” Musselman said. “We will start prepping for that tomorrow night as a staff and see what happens.”