FAYETTEVILLE -- Regardless the outcome, Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman expects his Razorbacks to play older, bigger and tougher against nationally No. 10 Missouri today in Columbia, Mo. than they did Jan. 2 in Fayetteville.
Despite forcing 21 Missouri turnovers and only committing nine, the Razorbacks were defensed so physically they shot so poorly, 19 of 71 including 7 of 28 threes, and were outrebounded so badly, 51-36, in the 81-68 loss they only outscored Mizzou, 15-9 on miscues.
Justin Smith missed that game, the first of four the 6-7 graduate transfer forward would miss via an injured ankle requiring surgery. Seems more than a bit much to say Smith alone would have made the winning difference.
The respective difference how the Razorbacks and Tigers played in Arkansas' lone Walton Arena loss this season seems too vast for that.
But it seems that Arkansas vs. Mizzou meeting would have finished far closer toward the end of those four games Smith missed. The Razorbacks did some growing up without him routing Georgia between closely contested losses to favored Tennessee and LSU.
After their worst game on Smith's tentative return, Tidal waved, 90-59 by Alabama in Tuscaloosa, these Hogs have thrived. They've won five of six, five consecutively in the SEC. The loss came down to the wire of the SEC vs. Big 12 Challenge at Oklahoma State.
Smith adjusted to his ongoing pain while Arkansas' array of transfers better adjusted to their roles. Freshmen Davonte "Devo" Davis and Jaylin Williams grow up as all-round players before our eyes while precocious freshman guard Moses Moody starred and stars from the get-go.
They play like a team shooting threes at their choosing rather than intimidated from going inside like that first time against Mizzou.
"I think we've gotten a lot tougher as the season has gone along," Musselman said. "We've become more comfortable with our roles, I think. I don't think you cannot be tough and win five in a row or whatever in the league. I don't think you can do that."
What's made the difference in these Hogs now 15-5 team in a SEC 3-way 7-4 tie for second with Tennessee and LSU?
"I think we've done a good job rebounding the basketball," Musselman said. "I think we've done a good job of attacking the rim. I think we've done a good job of not settling for three-balls. I think we've improved, certainly, throughout the course of the season."
So has Mizzou. Or at least until the 13-4, 6-4 Tigers' recent aberration.
After becoming the SEC's only team defeating Alabama's 11-1 in the league Crimson Tide, Coach Cuonzo Martin's Tigers inexplicably fell, 80-59 flat losing last Wednesday at Ole Miss.
Musselman doesn't bank on Mizzou's misery extending through Saturday.
"Last time we played them they were coming off a loss and this time it's the same thing," Musselman said. "So we have to understand what you're walking into."