Hogs Open Exhibition Season With UT-Tyler, Was Hog Starting Five Leaked?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorback Men’s Basketball team takes the floor of Bud Walton Arena on Friday night to begin the unofficial start of the 2023-24 season. The Hogs bring in a roster full of veterans and likely a better shooting team given who they brought in through the transfer portal.

While there has been no definitive answer if Trevon Brazile or Khalif Battle will play in tonight’s exhibition matchup, Eric Musselman published a tweet on Friday morning giving fans a sneak peak into the potential starting five.

Game day essentials

📍Bud Walton Arena
⏰ 6:30
🎟️ https://t.co/Oc2oVrceLQ pic.twitter.com/tdaCoK38NJ

— Eric Musselman (@EricPMusselman) October 20, 2023

This lineup is certainly an interesting one with only one player on the roster from last season actually starting tonight. Joseph Pinion will get the start at the 2-guard with the opportunity to put his growth on display as he goes into his sophomore season in Fayetteville. Although he didn’t start a game last season, the Morrilton, (Ark.) native is looking to carve out more of a role in 2023-24. While the Hogs struggled to shoot the ball from three last season, Pinion at least excelled in that portion of the game allowing the Arkansas offense to spread the floor with his shooting threat, knocking down 38% of his attempts from deep. Pinion led all scorers in the Red-White Showcase with 20 points. However, his defense is still in need of improvement according to coach Eric Musselman.

“He’s got to improve defensively,” Musselman said. “We’re a no-middle team and it should help him. I think that if a quicker player has got the ball and you know where you have to shade it, it should help him.”

The other four players that are possible starters tonight are newcomers in point guard El Ellis (Louisville), guard Tramon Mark (Houston), forward Chandler Lawson (Memphis) and forward-center Baye Fall (Freshman).

During SEC Media Days, Musselman said that this team is full of new faces and will have to work hard to figure out a proper rotation.

“Roster management in college athletics is a big key in how you’re putting together our team. We don’t know who our end of game sets,” Musselman said. “Who we are in November will be much different in March for sure. If we are not shame on us because we are a team that should get better especially with all our new pieces.”