FAYETTEVILLE — In a word, Eric Musselman, entering his second season at Arkansas, is proud of his basketball team.
The Razorbacks, who began preseason practices July 20, have taken care of business in and away from the program’s practice facility. Musselman has implemented a new transition offense as well as a third pick-and-roll coverage to this point.
But he is happiest with the manner in which his players have taken personal responsibility in regards to the covid-19 pandemic.
“Keep your fingers crossed, but our guys with the covid situation, we have not had one (positive),” Musselman said. “It’s been absolutely incredible. We’ve had great discipline. Again, keeping our fingers crossed, because things change by the minute.
“But until this moment, we’ve been so proud of how they’ve conducted that aspect of everything.”
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Given the unique circumstances brought on by the pandemic, players have essentially created their own bubble and been able to bond in a positive way off the floor. Musselman sees a group that genuinely likes and respects one another.
The team has also built camaraderie through multiple trips to TopGolf in Rogers and visits to Musselman’s home in Fayetteville.
“I think our chemistry, right now, is as good as it’s been since I’ve been here,” Musselman said. “They really go at each other and compete, but the minute practice is over you see different pods of guys shooting together and hanging out together and buddy coaching each other during practice.
“I think we have really, really good team chemistry right now.”
Connor Vanover, the 7-3 forward who sat out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules, was out of practice for a five-day span with a mild sickness, Musselman said, and Desi Sills, Arkansas’ most experienced returning player, is day-to-day right now with a foot injury.
Otherwise, the Razorbacks have largely been at full strength in workouts. JD Notae, a guard who transferred from Jacksonville who also redshirted last season, could return to live practice in two or three weeks.
In late July, Arkansas announced Notae injured his left wrist prior to the start of team activities. He had been wearing a cast, but has since transitioned to a brace.
“He can’t do anything live,” Musselman said. “Right now all of his stuff is kind of 5-on-0, skill development stuff.”
Musselman has been pleased with players attempting to buy in and said they are asking all of the right questions before and after practice. The coaching staff is slowing down the teaching aspect of things so players can better grasp small details and nuances from a schematics standpoint.
“We’re having a challenging situation as far as covid and missing a lot of the early summer,” he said. “Then you add in the four freshmen, let alone all the newcomers. If you just had no freshmen or a small number of freshman it would be challenging, but then you add in a large number, meaning four freshmen, then all the new guys.”
Each player has contributed to practices in his own way. Sills has been a vocal leader in workouts, and Justin Smith, the graduate transfer from Indiana, was characterized as a “stabilizer” in terms of effort and someone who can play three positions.
Transfer guard Jalen Tate from Northern Kentucky, standing 6-6, also provides a unique look with his wingspan.
“He’s long, he’s unselfish. The offense runs smooth when he’s out there because he’s not a score-first player,” Musselman said. “There’s times our roster needs a pass-first mentality. He’s a proven defender at the college level. Guys really like playing with him.
“He brings an energy, a positivity, and kind of lights up the room with his positive vibe.”
Freshman forward Jaylin Williams, listed at 6-10, 245 pounds on Arkansas’ roster, has dropped 10 pounds and played his way into shape since arriving on campus. He has been effective as a passer and perimeter shotmaker so far.
“The offense flows well with him,” Musselman said. “He and Connor are both really good passing 5 men, and both can shoot the ball. So from a spacing aspect, with those two guys on the floor at the 5 spot, it really helps us.”
Moses Moody, the highest-rated player to arrive at Arkansas since Bobby Portis seven years ago, has made a splash in the early going and is a regular in practice videos posted to the team’s social media accounts. Fans are familiar with Moody’s prowess as a shooter, but Musselman said they are now getting a glimpse at some lesser-known aspects of his game.
“What I think is underrated is the ability to get loose balls, some ability around the rim and ability to get offensive tip dunks,” Musselman said.
Following the abrupt end to his first season at Arkansas, Musselman and his staff set out to study the most effective ways to combat pick-and-rolls defensively with a 7-footer on the floor. He understands opponents will target Vanover when in the lineup to pull him away from the rim and force him to move laterally.
Musselman believes the tracker/drop coverage — the Milwaukee Bucks’ course of action with 7-footers Brook and Robin Lopez — will benefit Vanover. Essentially, the defensive big in the coverage typically sags into the lane, and his primary objective is to dissuade the ball handler from getting a clean look at the rim.
“Last year, we only got to two. We never did a track last year,” Musselman said. “We’re going to have to spend an enormous amount of time on our pick-and-roll coverage with our 5 man defending.”