Eric Musselman provides Nick Smith injury update, discusses other bumps and bruises

The Arkansas basketball team took its season opener on Monday with a 76-58 win over North Dakota State, but the Razorbacks did so without talented freshman guard Nick Smith (injury) and have entered the 2022-23 season relatively banged-up.

The Razorbacks saw guard Anthony Black helped off the floor in the win, though he would later return. Still, a number of ailments currently plague Arkansas.

“We’re banged-up right now,” coach Eric Musselman said. “Ricky (Council) hurt his elbow. (Trevon Brazile) has an ankle that he rolled pretty good. Then obviously Anthony.

“How it looks over the next 48 hours before Friday’s game I don’t really know. I know that we’re down three to four guys today in practice. Till I get off with the media I won’t know who’s suiting up for practice, but certainly know because I got an e-mail this morning and have had some conversations with our trainer, that there are four guys that will not being going full-court today and will be limited, at best, to some halfcourt situations.”

Nick Smith’s injury is probably the most relevant, as he was expected by some to be Arkansas’ leading scorer this season.

Nick Smith injury day-to-day for Razorbacks

A five-star prospect and the No. 3 overall player in the On3 Consensus Recruiting Rankings in the 2022 class, Smith was expected to be a significant contributor for the Hogs this season.

So far he hasn’t suited up. He did not play in the season opener.

For now, it’s unclear when he’ll make his debut at Arkansas, dealing with a recovery process for a knee injury.

“I think just the same as it has been, just that it’s day-to-day and he’s not going to practice today, he’s not going to practice tomorrow,” Musselman said. “I would anticipate that he’s not going to play. But again, I think that kind of leave that up to the trainer and Nick. But the anticipation is right now that we’ve got to try to worry about getting these other guys that did play, get them close to being as healthy as possible.”

Arkansas is set to host Fordham on Friday at 8 p.m. ET with a broadcast on the SEC Network.