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Arkansas Basketball: Preview of Razorbacks 2019-20 rotation

By Curtis Wilkerson

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Members of the Arkansas Razorbacks bands cheer in the game against the Vanderbilt during the semifinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Members of the Arkansas Razorbacks bands cheer in the game against the Vanderbilt during the semifinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Jimmy Whitt #24 of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives the ball against Stanford Cardinal at Barclays Center on November 27, 2015 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Jimmy Whitt #24 of the Arkansas Razorbacks drives the ball against Stanford Cardinal at Barclays Center on November 27, 2015 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman has a deep and talented back-court to work with in his first season, but the Razorbacks will be one of the more undersized Power 5 teams in the country.

Arkansas Basketball fans are cautiously optimistic about their team’s potential in the 2019-20 season under newly appointed head coach Eric Musselman. He replaced long time coach Mike Anderson in April following a somewhat disappointing season in which the Razorbacks finished 18-16 (9th SEC) and had to settle for a trip to the NIT.

With coaching change usually comes roster turnover. However, Musselman was able to keep every contributor that he inherited, which accounts for over 75% of the teams scoring from last season.

The two key returnees for Arkansas are a pair of dynamic scoring wings in sophomore Isaiah Joe and junior Mason Jones.  The tandem both averaged nearly 14 points per game and combined for almost 200 made three-pointers for the Razorbacks on the season.  Joe, in particular, set the school record for three-pointers made in a season and tied the SEC record for made three-pointers per game.

Arkansas also returns veteran contributors in point guard Jalen Harris and forwards Adrio Bailey and Gabe Osabuohein, and expect increased production from promising youngsters such as sharpshooting combo guard Desi Sills, and athletic forwards Reggie Chaney and Ethan Henderson.

Musselman, known for his ability to clean up on the transfer market has supplemented his roster with an influx of experienced talent.  For the upcoming season, Arkansas welcomes a pair of immediately eligible grad-transfers in SMU’s athletic combo guard Jimmy Whitt Jr and UNC Wilmington’s 6’7″ stretch forward Jeantal Cylla.

All of these are good things and reasons for excitement in Fayetteville.  However, there is one “big” glaring hole on the roster.  Prior to the departure of Mike Anderson, star center Daniel Gafford declared for the NBA Draft and was ultimately selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2nd round.

This left Arkansas with a significant need in their front-court and despite luring in talented transfers, like Kerry Blackshear Jr, for on-campus visits Musselman was unable to secure a big man for the upcoming season.  This leaves the Razorbacks, although talented, without a single player on their active roster that stands over 6’8″ tall.  The only potential caveat is if Cal transfer 7’3″ Connor Vanover, an Arkansas native, is granted immediate eligibility via his pending hardship request.

As it stands, Arkansas will look to the 6’8″ trio of Chaney, Henderson, and Osabuohein to shoulder the load in the paint.  All three have seen time at the center position in the past, but asking them to do it for 40 minutes per game against a gauntlet of big, physical SEC teams is a tall order defensively.

If anyone can pull it off, it is Musselman.  His Nevada teams thrived playing small-ball in his “pace and space” system that allowed them to do a lot of switching defensively and spread the floor and attack mismatches on the offensive end.

However, this is the SEC, not the Mountain West.  Time will tell if this strategy pays off for Arkansas.  In the least, the Razorbacks will play an exciting, up-tempo brand of basketball that should make for a good show in Bud Walton Arena

Here is a look at how the depth chart is likely to shake out for the Razorbacks as they enter year one of the Eric Musselman era.

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