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Arkansas coach Eric Musselman was ecstatic following his team's 72-71 win against the defending NCAA champions and No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks. The eighth-seeded Razorbacks punched their ticket to the 2023 NCAA Sweet 16 following their shocking second-round win over Kansas.
Musselman didn't hold back his celebrations on the court as he continued to laud his team in the post-game interviews, saying (via New York Post):
“That’s such an unbelievable win for our program. I keep telling people that we’re getting better. Not many teams can get better this time of year. I’ve never been prouder of a team like tonight.”
After the final possession, Musselman rushed to the announcers' table and took his shirt off to celebrate knocking out a No.1 seed in the second round for the second consecutive season. Here's a clip of the Razorbacks' members' celebrations (via Fox College Hoops on Twitter):
Arkansas trailed by 12 points at halftime, making this win even more special. Davonte Davis had 25 points and eight rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting, while Ricky Council IV added 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Council struggled from the floor (5-of-18) but made 10-of-11 shots from the free-throw line. He connected on five consecutive free throws in the clutch to seal the win for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks saw three players, including leading scorer Davis, foul out of the game. Meanwhile, Kansas lost despite shooting 48.0% compared to Arkansas' 41.4%. The game was decided by fine margins, with the free-throw line coming to Arkansas' aid. They went 21-of-26 from the charity stripe, while the Jayhawks made 18-of-25 FT attempts.
Arkansas marches on to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year under Eric Musselman
The Razorbacks have enjoyed a solid stint under coach Eric Musselman. He has led the team since April 2019. The Razorbacks have defeated two No. 1 seeds under his reign and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for three straight years.
Musselman has led the team to a 95-41 overall record. They will aim to make their third straight Elite 8 appearance by beating either No. 5 St. Mary’s or No. 4 UConn. The Razorbacks were 0-10 against the No. 1 seeds before Musselman arrived.
He has also found success against other higher seeds in the past. The Razorbacks have made a remarkable turnaround midseason, so it will be interesting to see how far they can go in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
They haven't made it past the Elite 8 stage since 1995, so it will be a commendable achievement if they continue to cause a couple more upsets and make it to the Final Four.
Guess the Lakers players!
