FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas' basketball season is mercifully finished and few are sad since it was anything but what was expected.
Arkansas was ranked in the the Top 15 in preseason polls, but finished 16-17. They lost at home by 32 points to Auburn to open SEC play which is the most one-sided loss in the history of the Razorbacks in Bud Walton Arena. The 83-51 loss was a sign of things to come.
Maybe a 78-72 loss to UNC Greensboro on Nov. 17 should have been an even bigger warning sign. That loss along with dropping games against Oklahoma, Memphis and North Carolina had the Hogs at 9-4 entering SEC play. But the magic Eric Musselman had worked in previous seasons of turning the season around allowed fans to cling to hope for the coming weeks. That and wins over Duke, Purdue and Stanford provided hope for fans. Yes, the Purdue game was a preseason game, but no one attending it didn't feel it felt more like an NCAA Tournament contest than exhibition. Both coaches played to win it.
But as it turned out the UNC Greensboro and Auburn losses were much more the indicator of things to come. The Razorbacks finished 6-12 in the SEC. Many losses were one-sided ones.
Gone are guard El Ellis, forward Denijay Harris, forward Chandler Lawson, forward Jalen Graham, forward Makhi MItchell and guard Jeremiah Davenport. None of the six have eligibility remaining. That hasn't stopped Harris from entering the transfer portal with intentions to appeal to the NCAA for another season.
Two other Razorbacks, guards Joseph Pinion from Morrilton and Keyon Menifield Jr. have entered the transfer portal. Pinion had impressive showings against Florida and Ole Miss when he got extended playing time. The problem was Musselman, right or wrong, never trusted him consistently with big minutes. When asked about Pinion it was usually deficiencies on defense that came up though no one on the team was a lock down defender yet played big minutes.
The players remaining with eligibility are guards Khalif Battle and Davonte "Devo" Davis with one season, forward Trevon Brazile and guard Tramon Mark two years and then guard Layden Blocker and forward Baye Fall with three years each. Battle was asked about his intentions following the loss to South Carolina that ended the season and had this reply.
"I don't know," Battle said. "We just lost. I'm not even... I don't know. Right now, like, my mind is getting ready for next year. I don't know. That's it."
Battle had given Razorback fans some hope when he said after a win or two he was, ' A Razorback until the end.'
Musselman was asked if he has any indication on what Battle is going to do?
"I think with all players, you play the season out and you see how it unwinds, so it would be unfair for me to speculate either way," Musselman said. "I do think he’s really happy playing at Arkansas. We’re happy with the way that he’s progressed. The way that he’s evolved as the season’s gone on. He’s done a great job of buying in, and I think that’s why you see the productivity continue to improve. Like I said, I know that he enjoys playing here and playing in that system, but it’s whenever he makes a decision or whatever’s on him."