NCAA Basketball: Top 1st-year head coaching performances so far in 2019-20
By Erik Mauro
5. Eric Musselman – Arkansas
The pedigree that comes with Eric Musselman is well documented. He has coached all around the globe and has been a head coach in the NBA twice for the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. Before becoming a Hog, Musselman spent four years at Nevada, winning the conference three times and making three NCAA Tournaments.
One of those teams went to the Sweet 16 and was a point away from going to the Elite 8 in 2018, so by all accounts this was a home run hire, or a slam dunk hire, given it’s basketball.
Arkansas was only two games above .500 last season and two games under .500 in conference play. Musselman is already 14-4 and looks to blow past last year’s win total of just 18. None of the wins so far this year really jump off the page, maybe the win at Indiana in Assembly Hall.
One thing that does jump off the page however is how competitive the Razorbacks are. Every loss has been within ten points. The Hogs still have to play LSU and Auburn, at Alabama, as well as Tennessee twice. That schedule looks favorable for the Hogs moving forward, and if they can win a few of the tougher games they may have an at-large case for the Tournament, which has to give Musselman strong consideration for Coach of the Year.
This team is led by Mason Jones, Isaiah Joe, and Jimmy Whitt, all averaging over 15 PPG. Arkansas is a +5 in turnover margin, which is a big reason for the turnaround this season. They were +3 last year, and they are allowing 10 less PPG than last season. That’s usually a good recipe for lots of wins.
Musselman has won at every stop he’s been at, and this one should be no different. Give Arkansas time and they will be at the top of the league again.