Eric Musselman on new transfer rules: It's a game-changer

Ever since Eric Musselman moved to Arkansas in 2019, he’s taken advantage of the NCAA transfer portal. Over the last three seasons, he brought in more new players via transfer than through the high school ranks. When the NCAA granted all student-athletes a one-time, penalty-free transfer, Musselman was already one of the best coaches in the country at finding pieces from other schools to bring in – and ways to fit them all together. He believes the new rules are a “game-changer.”

“I think that it’s kind of been a game-changer,” Musselman said of the NCAA’s new rules. “There’s been a lot of coaching changes, and as my wife and I were talking, it’s much like the NBA now. As a coach, because of the ability to change your roster quickly, obviously, in the NBA, it’s free agency, and then you might have a draft pick or two.

“Well, college basketball has turned into a little bit where a lot of programs are only taking one or two freshmen, much like a first-rounder and a second-rounder. And then they’re filling in with free agents, whether it be a transfer who is a second-year player or maybe a grad transfer. I think it’s leveled the playing field.”

Musselman and staff begin offseason roster turnover

The head hog and his staff work extensively with analytics to find players who could fit in at Arkansas. They contact players from the top-25 level teams to the Big Sky conference. With stars and unknowns, the Hogs came up with teams that have made it to back-to-back Elite Eights.

Arkansas guard JD Notae joined the Razorbacks in the 2020-21 season from Jacksonville University. He turned into the team’s leading scorer and a first-team All-SEC selection.

Not every transfer story is a success like Notae, but enough have been for Musselman and the Hogs. With the departures of three seniors, three more NBA hopefuls and three transfers, the Razorbacks have room for five top-200 additions in the 2022 class and at least three new transfer additions.

Former Missouri forward Trevon Brazile announced his transfer to Arkansas last week. He averaged 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game as a freshman in 2021-22. Brazile arrived at Mizzou as an unranked prospect, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He’s 6-foot-9, 215 pounds, and gives Arkansas a much-needed big following Jaylin Williams‘ departure for the NBA Draft.