'World has a funny way of working itself out': Colorful Arkansas coach Eric Musselman relishing return to Bay Area for Sweet 16

SAN FRANCISCO — A trolley ride and a city tour for the fourth-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks took precedence over extra basketball activities a day before their Sweet 16 matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the top seed in the men's NCAA Tournament. 

So disclosed Arkansas coach Eric Musselman during a news conference at the West Regional on Wednesday. 

“If we're touring the city, it's one less film session, one less putting pressure on the guys,’’ he said, “and so I think it's healthy for us to be able to do stuff like that.’’ 

If the pregame plan sounds unique, well, so is the 57-year-old Musselman, who has ridden these streetcars before. 

He was head coach of the Golden State Warriors from 2002 to 2004 — and, as he noted, head coach of the Sacramento Kings from 2006 to 2007. Now his Razorbacks will be playing in the Chase Center, home of the Warriors. 

“The day that I was either fired from the Kings or the Warriors, to think that I would be coaching in a Sweet 16 in the Bay Area, if anybody would have asked me that at that particular time, I would have told them there was zero chance,’’ he said. “Not 5%. Not 10%. Literally zero chance of that happening.  

“I guess the world has a funny way of working itself out.’’ 

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Funny is an apt description for other things in the life of Musselman, who has coached not only in the NBA and college ranks, but also in the NBA G League, now-defunct Continental Basketball Association and AAU. 

In fact, it was after his two NBA coaching gigs that Musselman was coaching the AAU team, then a bunch of middle schoolers.

“My wife said, ‘I thought I married an NBA coach,’ and she's retrieving basketballs ... for sixth-graders,’’ he said. “I don't think when we got married she thought that would be in the cards for her.’’ 

Of course, that’s not where the journey ended.  

The odyssey eventually led to his becoming head coach at Nevada, which is the part of the reason he wanted to make sure his current players rode the cable cars and toured the city on Wednesday. 

At Nevada, Musselman went 110-34 and his teams reached the NCAA Tournament three times, including an appearance in the Sweet 16. But Musselman drove those teams hard, and then came last season — his second as head coach at Arkansas. 

“I thought I put way too much pressure on our team the last year,’’ he said. “I look back at it. I regret it.’’ 

That team went 27-8 and reached the Elite Eight before losing to Baylor, which went on to win the national title. 

“We didn't celebrate wins,’’ Musselman said. “... I wish we would have had more fun. I wish we would have embraced being in the tournament. My wife reminds me all the time because I would come home after wins and be miserable because we only won by 10 points, and our fans thought we should have won by 15. 

“This team has had an incredible year, so we are going to celebrate. We are going to make it a business trip as well, but while we're doing it, we're going to make it enjoyable as well.’’ 

Full enjoyment must include reading letters that Musselman said he received from his mother before posting copies online. 

Excerpts include:

► “I thought the team made lots of baskets, but the transition defense needs improvement. Frankly, I think I could run back faster than some of those guys.’’ 

► “For as fast and athletic as your players are, you guys should get more rebounds on offense. You may have good shooters, but not every shot is going in.’’ 

► “The team has been unselfish and shared the ball very well. Keep that up! (You and your sister never shared anything, so I’m not sure where the players are learning that from!) 

It’s unclear whether Musselman will post online the letter he receives from his mother after she hears about the trolley ride and the city tour.