Eric Musselman’s no stranger to the wild trip of Massive Dance online games

HawgBeat’s coverage of Arkansas’s journey in the 2021 NCAA match is current by Wright’s Barbecue. By now serving up the finest meats in Arkansas, you can now also discover Wright’s meat rub and sauces at Walmart.

The No. 10-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks only have one particular participant who’s been in the NCAA tournament, Jalen Tate, but Eric Musselman has by now had loads of encounter in the Major Dance in spite of just six seasons in the collegiate ranks as a head coach.

With a 2-3 file in NCAA tournament video games, Musselman is presently warning friends and spouse and children that tournament online games are a wild trip.

“I advised my spouse and daughter and son Matthew that are traveling in, like, set your seatbelt on simply because this thing’s insane, and it’s likely to be like a rollercoaster through the training course of a 40-moment activity,” Musselman mentioned.

Right after having Nevada from 9-22 to 24-14 in his initially year and profitable the CBI Match title, the previous NBA coach helped the Wolfpack achieve the NCAA tournament the upcoming three seasons.

None of Musselman’s groups arrived in ranked as superior as a 3-seed, even so. Right after successful the Mountain West tournament to secure a bid, Nevada was a 12-seed in 2017. Two standard year titles in 2018 and 2019 helped them elevate to a 7-seed.

NevadaSportsNet reporter Chris Murray explained to HawgBeat forward of round 1: “1 issue I would note is Musselman’s teams did drop into some significant holes in most of his match games at Nevada in advance of rallying. Hardly ever rely out his teams even if issues seem meager.”

Nevada’s physical appearance in 2017 was the Wolfpack’s initial in a ten years and they were using high on an 8-activity acquire streak. Dealing with 5-seed Iowa Point out who’d concluded 2nd in the Large12, Nevada shed by 11 in a reasonably one-sided video game.

Musselman and the No. 24 Wolfpack made the deepest operate in the 2018 NCAA tournament. Going into spherical 1 compared to a 10-seed Texas group that includes Mo Bamba, Nevada received down by 14 in the 2nd 50 percent but fought their way back to acquire the video game to extra time. Charlotte Hornet Caleb Martin went 3 for 3 from deep in OT right after lacking a opportunity buzzer-beater in regulation and Nevada gained by 4.

The Wolfpack experienced a quick turnaround the get ready for 2-seed Cincinnati and possibly that factored into why Muss’s squad at the time yet again discovered by itself in a hole early. Trailing by 22 points halfway through the 2nd fifty percent, the Wolfpack flipped a swap. Cincinnati’s protection, which rated 2nd in the NCAA that calendar year, gave up 32 points in the very last 11 minutes when failing to make a basket in the closing 5 minutes, 45 seconds–leading to a 75-73 victory. It was the next major comeback in match history.

Nevada’s 2018 magic ran out in their initially Sweet 16 visual appeal vs . Loyola-Chicago. Musselman’s fellas held a limited direct for most of the to start with 50 percent but went to the halftime locker place down by 4. A 10-issue run by the Ramblers carried them through the 4-moment mark when the Wolfpack tied the recreation up. Caleb Martin scored a 3 with two seconds remaining but Nevada essential a 4-stage perform to go to OT and lost 69-68.

Musselman’s 2019 Nevada group started out the period off 24-1 but they completed at No. 20 in the final AP Poll just after dropping three of their past 8 heading into the tournament.

Nevada was paired with 10-seed Florida who’d completed 8th in the SEC in the normal time. The Gators owned the major-ranked SEC protection and their sluggish tempo of play staved off the Wolfpack who’d introduced the activity back in two immediately after getting down by 18 with 14 minutes still left to perform.

Musselman is on the lookout for a speedy commence from his Hogs on Friday as they idea off at 11:45 a.m.

“You have received to wake up with some strength and enthusiasm,” Musselman claimed. “I hope we really do not do what we did at the 12 o’clock tip from Missouri since I’ll be again there signing up for you men in Fayetteville true rapid if we really do not wake up.

“You’ve received to perform calm. You’ve bought to participate in composed, you have obtained to recognize it is a 40-moment video game. If 1 group receives up 8-to-2, you cannot stress.”

Examine Following: Arkansas’s opportunity to advance to every single phase in the Major Dance