Eric Musselman explains how to get prepared for the NCAA Tournament

Arkansas‘ early exit from the SEC Tournament gives the Razorbacks an opportunity for a few extra days of rest before what they hope will be a deep March Madness run.

Head coach Eric Musselman revealed the message he plans to give his team as they await their fate on Selection Sunday. His hopes are high.

“I know that it’s the first time since 2008, 18 years since Arkansas has made three straight NCAA tournaments,” Musselman said after losing to Tennessee on Thursday. “But we are a young team. Every game has its own theme and style for what happens. So does every team each year.

“Historically we’ve been really good in the second half. This season we have not been very good in the second half of games. We’ll dissect this game tonight and tomorrow. The players will be off tomorrow. We’ll wait and see who we play and where we play. At that point, we’ll start in preparation. Both scheme-wise and then also mentally, some of the things we have to do to get ready to play and win and try to advance in maybe the greatest sporting event there is in the NCAA tournament.”

Under Musselman, Arkansas has earned two-straight Elite Eight bids but hasn’t advanced past that mark since 1995. Based on the Razorbacks’ up-and-down season and early SEC Tournament exit, it might be a stretch to say they will snap that streak this year.

Arkansas has to win its next six games to be crowned national champions. They went on a seven-game win streak before conference play, but hasn’t come close to matching that streak once they hit conference play.

Of course, crazier things have happened in March, and Musselman’s roster has the talent to make a run given the right circumstances. Arkansas will have a better idea in that regard once they know their official seeding, bracket and destination. They’ll have to wait until tomorrow’s Selection Sunday broadcast when the NCAA Tournament field is revealed at 6 p.m. ET live on ESPN.