Arkansas coaches heated up during, after ‘poor’ loss

NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Arkansas coach Eric Musselman made it really clear he wasn’t pleased with a loss to No. 18 Texas A&M and an early exit at the Southeastern Conference tournament.Razorbacks assistants had to

restrain Musselman a couple times throughout a 67-61 loss Friday night in the quarterfinals in which the Aggies rallied from a 13-point deficit.After the game,

a trainee journalist tweeted that his phone was grabbed and thrown to the ground by an Arkansas staffer who was strolling behind Musselman as he left the court.The Kentucky Kernal, the independent trainee paper at the University of Kentucky, put out a statement after the occurrence that involved its reporter.”The Kentucky Kernal is appalled by the actions of the Arkansas guys’s basketball program. … no journalist, especially a student reporter, ought to go through violence for simply doing their task,”the declaration said.The Kentucky Kernel is appalled by the actions of the Arkansas guys basketball program. @jack_weaver_ always embodies professionalism on the task and no reporter, especially a trainee journalist, must be subjected to violence for merely doing their job. https://t.co/JpKTaP9MaK!.?.!— Kernel Sports(@KYKernelSports )March 11, 2023 Musselman didn’t point out any outbursts when he met press reporters postgame.”If you get down 7-0 in the nasty count at any level, whether it’s CYO, college, the NBA, it impacts your aggressiveness defensively, particularly a team that shoots foul shots percentage-wise as well as Texas A&M has all season long, “Musselman said.Wade Taylor scored 18 points to assist Texas A&M(24-8 )advance for the 2nd straight year to the semifinals, where it will play Vanderbilt, which beat Kentucky.Arkansas( 20-13)now should wait until Sunday’s NCAA tournament bracket announcement to discover its postseason fate.Musselman stated it was going to take a while to overcome this stinging loss.”For much of the game we had a lead.

I indicate, we had a lead for 27 minutes or whatever,”Musselman stated.”Certainly we played a great first

half and a poor second half. I provide Texas A&M credit for their second-half play.

“The Associated Press added to this report.