Eric Musselman gives thoughts on current road stretch challenge for Arkansas

Arkansas is experiencing back-to-back games on the road for the third and final time this season. Saturday was a loss to Mississippi State in Starkville, while Texas A&M is next on the schedule. If you include a previous game against Tennessee, it’s been a tough stretch for Eric Musselman in what has been a brutal schedule.

Even if Arkansas was playing to the level everyone thought they could, Musselman knew this three-game period would be tough. Three games in six days is tough for anyone, especially with two on the road. Musselman says the tip-off times play a factor in everything as well.

“When the schedule came out, we knew we’d play the last game on a Wednesday and play a fairly early game on a Saturday,” Musselman said. “And then we’re not playing on Wednesday again, we’re playing on Tuesday. Three games in that amount of time with two travels — the scheduling didn’t do us any favors.”

Tip-off from Bud Walton Arena against Tennessee on Wednesday was at 8 p.m. local time before the Mississippi State game began at 1 p.m. Now, an early Tuesday game against Texas A&M is next up at 6 p.m. and it’s one Musselman is already beginning to prepare for.

Texas A&M is in a rough stretch of their own, losing consecutive road games to Vanderbilt and Alabama. Returning to College Station is something the Aggies desperately need, currently sporting a 9-3 record (4-2 vs. SEC opponents) inside Reed Arena.

“We got to get ready for a very good team with a lot of experience who plays really well at home,” Musselman said. “I think Buzz Williams does a great job and I have incredible respect for their backcourt. (Boots) Radford and (Wade) Taylor, both of those guys really talented. Anderson Garcia as good of a rebounder as any there is in the country. So, it’s more than a challenging game for sure.”

Arkansans came out winner in the first matchup of the year but Taylor had quite the night. He went off for 41 points on 13-32 shooting and added 10 points from the free-throw line. Garcia was the game’s leading rebounder as well, snagging 12 off the glass.

While Musselman will be hoping for the same result, he will likely want to do a better job of containing Taylor and keeping Garcia off the glass. Ending the tough stretch with a win would be a nice feeling for the Hogs.