Arkansas Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman knew by the tie he walked out in front of a record crowd at Bud Walton Arena they were going to get a win over Duke Blue Devils.
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00:00 >> Small movement, more assists, you got it tonight.
00:03 Just how pleased were you with kind of the offense's bounce back and
00:06 what kind of key the offense tonight?
00:09 >> Yeah, I thought the ball movement, especially in the first half was excellent.
00:12 I think we had 127 passes in the first half.
00:18 I think 10 assists maybe on 13 baskets in that first half as well.
00:26 When you play games against good competition,
00:32 you hope you can go back and review video and
00:36 find out where your weaknesses are.
00:40 And certainly lack of ball movement was a big weakness on our part
00:46 in the last two games in Nassau.
00:49 But I will say that the way the schedule laid out in
00:54 the Bahamas was difficult, games two and three, the lack of.
00:59 We didn't even have 24 hours.
01:00 I've never experienced, I've never seen a team so tired.
01:04 No excuses, cuz you know that going into a tournament that plays three games in
01:08 three days.
01:08 But Memphis is really good and North Carolina is really good.
01:14 And in a short sample size, I know it was an exhibition game, but
01:18 you play Purdue in an exhibition game.
01:20 You go to the Bahamas, you play those three games.
01:23 You play this game tonight.
01:25 We've really been challenged, and I think we're gonna get better.
01:29 Incredible home crowd tonight.
01:31 I mean, just an insane environment.
01:33 Really cool to experience that even as a kind of an old guy.
01:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:46 >> Really kind of stepped up on defense tonight.
01:49 What did you make of them kind of grinding out on that end of the floor?
01:52 >> Yeah, I thought defensively they were better.
01:54 We still need more from both of them defensively.
01:58 I think they both can improve.
02:00 We don't want battle foul on a three point shooter late.
02:04 I think Al can keep the ball in front of him a little bit better.
02:09 Thought blockers defense was awesome.
02:11 It's tough position to, you're trying to break a press, the team's down and
02:18 they're coming at you with an extra defender.
02:22 And I'm sure Layton's gonna, he's gonna be able to,
02:26 that's a big time learning experience for a freshman to be in a game.
02:31 Down the stretch against Duke in front of the largest crowd in the history of
02:34 Bud Walton and do it early in his freshman year.
02:38 So a lot of really positive things.
02:41 I thought the execution of the game plan tonight was a ten out of ten.
02:48 Especially when 25 Mitchell was in the game and
02:53 we had an extra defender at the rim or a goalie.
02:55 And I thought it might have altered their rotation from what we've seen in the past.
03:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]
03:10 >> A lot in the preseason and leading up, even through the exhibition season about
03:14 all the depth and quality of depth and with Tremont marker leading score out.
03:18 Maybe your most efficient and effective guy throughout the year so far.
03:21 Guys stepped up LLS, got off the slump.
03:24 Davenport had a multiple three point nine in the first half and
03:27 then Chandler Lawson looked like he did against Purdue.
03:30 Tell me what your thoughts are about your depth and the quality of it.
03:34 >> Well tonight, when you look at the bench, the bench points 36 to 9.
03:38 I think Kevin, that was a big part of tonight's win.
03:45 Cuz when you're down your leading score and your bench goes out and
03:50 outscores an opponent like that, that's that talented.
03:53 With a full roster, I think it's pretty clear that we do have some depth.
04:02 And I thought that Davenport's two threes were crucial.
04:07 I thought blockers dribble drives.
04:09 And then I thought Mitchell did a great job with six points in nine minutes on his
04:14 rolls and finishes around the rim.
04:15 >> On that, talking about battle, I think it's his fourth 21 point game and
04:22 then the five rebounds and five assists coming off the bench.
04:24 >> Yeah, I thought his assists were probably the most impressive thing.
04:28 He drew extra defenders.
04:30 We ran a couple isolation plays for him.
04:32 He did a good job of reading the defense and reading the extra help.
04:36 And his rebounds, really important.
04:41 We need, like Davenport, we need JD to rebound a little bit for
04:46 us to be able to extend his minutes.
04:49 Because he can certainly stretch the defense out with his three point shooting.
04:52 So with each of our guys, there's areas that each guy still gotta get a lot better
04:57 at for us to reach our potential.
04:58 >> Didn't have any points in the Bahamas, don't think he had any assists.
05:05 What happened to him in the Bahamas?
05:06 And then what happened tonight where he looked more like his usual self, I guess?
05:12 >> Well, he didn't get a lot of, he was over 10 over there.
05:15 And I didn't think that we were doing the things that I wanted to do from
05:20 a ball movement standpoint.
05:22 So you hope that players can learn and sit back and evaluate.
05:31 I thought he was great.
05:32 I mean, I don't know if he turned the ball over at all the whole game.
05:35 I mean, and I think tonight he started the game off over for four.
05:41 Cuz I remember whispering to my son, he's over 14, his last 14 attempts.
05:47 And I gotta make a decision, but I do think it's clear
05:53 that when L plays good, we're a much better team.
06:00 So whether I have to stick with him if he's struggling in a game,
06:05 that might be the case, and try to let him play through it a little bit.
06:10 More maybe than I did in the Bahamas.
06:12 >> Mark out, you needed L, other guys, but
06:16 how big was it that L responded with you guys down your leading score?
06:21 >> Well, that was part, yeah, I mean, a big part of the reason that we changed
06:27 the starting lineup like we did is because of T Mark being out.
06:31 So Layden did a great job in Nassau, but
06:35 there's no way we're gonna win tonight's game without L
06:40 picking up some of T Mark's points.
06:43 There's no way that we were gonna win tonight without Davin making one or
06:47 two threes.
06:48 So that's why we started those two players and
06:51 obviously we made a change at center too.
06:53 So a lot of changing of the starting lineup from
06:58 what we saw our last game against North Carolina.
07:02 >> Coach, it seems like Chandler Lawson's two best games maybe have been against
07:05 Purdue and now Duke facing a couple of All-American.
07:08 Just what have you made of his performances in those games and
07:11 what's enabled him to elevate his game in these matchups?
07:15 >> Well, I think it's against a seven foot or a 6'11 plus player.
07:22 He does a great job of walling up.
07:24 I think he's a really deceptive shot blocker.
07:26 He's done a good job for us going vertical.
07:32 And sometimes you play some of these other teams and they're smaller.
07:38 And the great thing is, I mean, we're gonna run into a lot of real
07:43 big guys in our league that can score with their basket,
07:48 back to the basket and can score around the rim.
07:51 So we're gonna need, I mean, the shots blocked to play
07:54 Duke and have ten blocks is impressive.
08:02 >> Remembering about Brazil before his injury last year,
08:05 I don't feel like he was rebounding the ball quite like what he's done this year.
08:08 Is that an accurate assessment?
08:09 Like, is he a better rebounder for you this year?
08:11 >> I think so.
08:12 I mean, and look, I mean, I told him the other day,
08:16 like I think he's capable of having like 20 every night.
08:22 I mean, he had 11 tonight, that's really good.
08:24 But I think he should have more because of his leaping ability,
08:29 his hands, his timing.
08:32 So yeah, I mean, his stat line's awesome, but
08:35 I think he's got potential in his body to get more.
08:42 >> Bounce back from TB after going scoreless Friday.
08:49 And then with Califf and the five assists, do y'all see that vision from him?
08:53 He finds like maybe the weak side corner off the dribble.
08:55 Do y'all see that behind closed doors a lot?
08:58 >> Not really, cuz we never go live.
09:00 [LAUGH] No, I mean, I just thought that when he gets cooking team,
09:06 that occupies extra defenders and I thought some of our guys
09:11 had really good spacing like that.
09:14 We were running to the ball all the time in the Bahamas.
09:18 Like, I mean, it was like some guy dribbles and
09:21 then two guys are running towards him.
09:23 It's like, no, you gotta do the opposite,
09:25 freaking run away from the ball to get open.
09:29 We weren't getting open on dribble handoffs.
09:32 We weren't setting our man up and
09:34 I thought we did a way better job tonight of little things like that.
09:38 >> But you've touched on it a little bit already, but towards the end of the game,
09:43 you had a lot of trust in late in ball.
09:45 Parker, what did you learn about the freshman tonight?
09:46 >> Well, I mean, I think that he earned that based on the way that he played in
09:51 the Bahamas.
09:52 But we also learned that when he goes to the offensive glass,
09:58 RJ Davis just annihilated us on their sideline break when Leighton was doing that.
10:03 And that's what you want.
10:04 You want your players and your teams to learn from wins and
10:09 losses, like there's a lot we're gonna be able to learn from tonight as well.
10:13 But the thing with Leighton is toughness, competitiveness, and no fear.
10:21 I mean, those three categories, he's an A plus.
10:24 And then he's got areas that he's gotta continue to get better on,
10:27 which he will through experience and through work.
10:29 >> Team markup moving around, even though he wasn't able to play, I guess.
10:36 How is he doing?
10:37 Is there any idea what the next several days might look like for him?
10:40 >> Yeah, I mean, the injury is, the back is feeling better.
10:45 Now we have some hip and groin stuff just from the aftershock of
10:50 what the body absorbed.
10:55 Really impressive cuz we took off for two days, which we never do,
11:00 Saturday and Sunday, and we show up Monday and he's in full uniform.
11:08 I mean, there was no chance he was gonna be able to do anything but
11:14 gingerly walk around, but he put his uniform on.
11:17 I've never seen it ever.
11:18 He did it again today, he did it, yes.
11:22 And I think that helped our chemistry, believe it or not.
11:26 That's a player being all in too.
11:28 I mean, he could have easily been in street clothes.
11:30 He could have easily gone and laid off on the side and
11:33 gotten treatment, didn't get treatment at all Monday,
11:40 Tuesday, or today in shoot around.
11:43 He was in full uniform standing, going from station to station.
11:46 He asked questions about the game plan.
11:49 But when he's available, have no idea cuz we're not gonna play him if that groin
11:55 has a, that's an injury that can linger.
11:58 And there's no way we're putting him out there until he's got full clearance.
12:03 >> Coach, KB really led the way in the second half with 15 points.
12:06 Can you talk about just what he was able to do to really take over and
12:09 get momentum going into the late minutes of the game?
12:12 >> Well, I think anytime you have an explosive score,
12:17 he's a really confident player and he saw a couple go through.
12:21 And if you look at the nation's best free throw attempt players and
12:26 free throw make players, he's in the top 10 or top 12 in the country.
12:31 And then he's got great range on his three ball.
12:34 We wanted the ball in his hands, obviously,
12:38 with what you look at KB's point total as well as his assists.
12:46 I mean, pretty impressive numbers.
12:49 >> Eric, that was your 100th victory.
12:50 I don't know if you even realize it with all the craziness.
12:53 >> 100th where?
12:54 >> Here.
12:55 >> Okay.
12:56 >> [LAUGH] 100th at Arkansas.
12:58 I mean, you did- >> I got 100th at G League.
13:00 I got 100 here.
13:01 I mean, I've been a lot of places.
13:02 I don't know what 100.
13:04 >> Yeah, I'll try to add up all your wins.
13:06 Maybe I can help you with that.
13:07 But just do it in such a memorable way.
13:10 What would that mean to you?
13:11 >> You know what, 100 never gave me a ball now that I'm thinking about it.
13:15 I think at Nevada, Doug Newth gave me a ball with 100 wins.
13:19 I gotta check with Hunter on that.
13:22 I guess he's been occupied of late.
13:24 >> [LAUGH]
13:25 >> To do it in that,
13:30 you didn't beat, I don't know, nowhere state, you beat Duke.
13:34 >> Honestly, I had no idea until someone told me.
13:38 I don't know if Kay would tell, someone told me.
13:39 I had no idea, honestly, going into the game.
13:43 >> He only had four last year, and tonight was his 50th, and he's from Durham.
13:48 What do you think this game meant to him?
13:50 >> Probably a lot.
13:52 I think that anytime you play a team or
14:00 a program that's even in proximity of where you're from, I think it means
14:06 something, and obviously, playing at Louisville, same conference,
14:10 it probably meant a lot to him, but I'm not gonna lie to you, Bob, and
14:14 tell you that I talked to him about it, cuz I really don't care.
14:17 Just wanted to figure out a way to win, so I never ask him about Durham or.
14:24 >> Kind of the tough schedule that y'all played so far, probably feels weird to
14:32 y'all, but y'all have a week off, or close to a week off before y'all's next game.
14:36 Just what will y'all do?
14:37 >> Blame that on Ruda.
14:38 I mean, why we're not playing on the weekend, I really don't know.
14:42 >> Yeah, yeah.
14:44 But yeah, just what does the next couple days look like for the team?
14:51 >> I mean, I know a lot of film, a lot of areas to get better.
14:58 I mean, we'll probably send our guys stuff tomorrow, and
15:02 we had some guys play some heavy minutes in a physical game.
15:05 So probably get back at it.
15:07 Friday, I guess.
15:11 >> Coach, I remember talking to you after the Auburn game a few years ago, and
15:15 just talking about how the thrill and
15:18 the joy of a great victory, especially at home, never goes away.
15:21 I know there's stuff to clean up after today, but I mean,
15:24 do you still get the same rush that you did, like you said, in the G League, and
15:28 here and there, early Arkansas, after a night like tonight?
15:31 >> Well, there's no environments like that in the G League.
15:34 I can promise you that.
15:34 Anybody that's been to a G League game, there's about 100 people there.
15:38 But yeah, I mean, really, Aaron, like tonight, the locker room,
15:43 one of the coolest things ever is to see student athletes celebrate.
15:49 I mean, they put so much work into it.
15:52 I mean, look, we don't have the record that we were hopeful to have.
15:57 You lose tonight's game, now all of a sudden you're 500, and
16:04 then you're wondering you gotta get some signature wins.
16:06 And so there was a lot of pressure on tonight's game, a lot.
16:10 And I thought our guys responded.
16:13 I mean, we let them know where we were.
16:15 I mean, we didn't act like, hey, it's early in the season, we got time.
16:20 I mean, it was discussed that it was a must win for us.
16:24 And then for them to have internal pressure, external pressure,
16:29 crowd pressure, and then to be able to get a win is huge.
16:34 And it's like for all the coaches, their families and the players' families.
16:40 I mean, I had a lot of people fly in from a lot of different
16:46 parts of the country tonight.
16:49 And it meant something nationally as well.
16:57 >> Coach, all that pressure and the guys still, I mean, in the second half there,
17:00 I think KB and Maki are dancing after some made buckets.
17:04 They played with a swagger tonight.
17:05 Could you feel that type of performance maybe coming?
17:09 Or did you need to really see it and
17:11 the players needed to feel it to maybe build some confidence moving forward?
17:14 >> I think everybody wants to see it, feel it.
17:16 But no, I mean, I walked in the building thinking we were gonna win tonight.
17:26 No one feels sorry for you.
17:28 I mean, I started laughing.
17:29 I go, after the game, no one's even gonna know that our leading score didn't play.
17:34 Like if you don't win the game, nobody's saying, well,
17:38 team Ark didn't play cuz nobody cares.
17:40 It was a great lesson Chuck Daly, I heard him say it 100 times.
17:44 Nobody gives whatever word you wanna use when you got a guy out,
17:49 they just say you won or lost.
17:51 And so I thought our guys, they responded.
17:56 I mean, we talked the last two days like we were gonna win the game.
18:00 Like we weren't coming in here hopeful.
18:03 We felt that we were gonna win if we did X, Y, and Z and we did that.
18:09 We won the battle of the boards.
18:11 We went to our depth a little bit earlier than normal.
18:15 We had a couple guys make threes that maybe hadn't.
18:18 We told our four men they were gonna be wide open based on the fact that
18:23 if we put our five men in pick and rolls, their four man's gonna help win our five
18:28 rolls and sure enough, some of those things started happening.
18:32 And our guys had great belief and
18:36 knocked down some shots that maybe we hadn't in Nassau.
18:40 >> When you're starting to create some separation,
18:43 Caleb hits a three, puts you up eight.
18:45 He hits another one later, puts you up 14.
18:47 How much do you think he loves those momentum type shots?
18:52 >> I mean, I think one of them he missed too.
18:55 I mean, I think he and JD might be related.
19:00 No tech, cuz they both just kind of out there balling, you know what I mean?
19:05 Like some of his shots are like, no, and then they go in and
19:09 you're like, great shot.
19:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
19:15 >> Defense, this team was an elite offensive team,
19:17 top 10 in the country according to Kim Palm.
19:19 You took everything away they did well, their assisted turnover was two to one as
19:23 a team, ten to eight, they barely did it, barely broke even there.
19:27 And then 35% from the field, 27% from three, you took it all away.
19:31 Did it start on that end really, cuz the ball movement was better on offense, but
19:34 was the defense really the catalyst?
19:36 >> Yeah, I mean, I think offensively it was, I mean,
19:40 we added two pick and roll plays.
19:43 One of them we just, I mean, we called it Duke fist.
19:47 And that we got a lot of open shots with our foreman and
19:52 going from the right wing and looping underneath to the left corner.
19:57 TB got two wide open looks and
20:01 I know Davenport got one when he played that same spot.
20:05 But yeah, defensively, I think the one area, Kevin,
20:09 that we were really disappointed in was the defense in Nassau.
20:15 Cuz shots come and go and I thought defensively we have enough quickness,
20:20 enough length to play better on that side of the ball.