50% off Annual VIP Pass first year

The Arkansas men's basketball team is off to Europe for the next 10 days for a four-game exhibition tour that spans Spain, Italy and a quick stop in Switzerland in what will be an invaluable team bonding experience as well as a first look at Eric Musselman's talented 2022-23 Razorback squad in action against outside competition.

Beginning Tuesday, the Hogs will hit the hardwood every other day on their trip and fans can tune into the action via livestream or on demand afterwards with a subscription to FloHoops.com. Here's a look at the opponents, locations and anticipated tipoff times for Arkansas with streaming links for each individual game:

While the games in Europe will not count towards Arkansas' win-loss record, much is to be learned from the experience as the Hogs get a head start on building in-game, on-floor cohesion and the coaching staff gets a mountain of film to evaluate heading into preseason practice.

With that in mind, here are 10 things to watch for as Arkansas heads to Europe for its foreign tour:

The last time Arkansas fans saw five-star trio Nick Smith, Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh in a game setting together was at the McDonald's All-American game in late-March just after Black officially announced his commitment to the Hogs. After a summer's worth of workouts and practices, the highly-touted trio is set to hit the floor for the first time in Razorback red in Europe, hopefully...

After sustaining what Musselman described as a "deep bone bruise" to his left index finger in practice Monday, Smith is listed as day-to-day and how much, or if, he participates in Arkansas' upcoming exhibitions remains to be seen. While the injury is not considered to be serious and is more about reducing swelling and pain tolerance, erring on the side of caution with the nation's top prospect would be understandable with the games that actually count being top priority.

Fingers crossed — no pun intended — this trip affords us all the luxury of getting a sneak preview of what very well could be the most exciting and dynamic trio of first-year players college basketball has to offer.

Arkansas has some massively large shoes to fill at center following Jaylin Williams' departure for the NBA, but the good news is Musselman has no shortage of options after raiding the transfer portal with an emphasis on size and length on the frontline. If competition truly does breed excellence, the Hogs should be just fine in the paint. The question becomes who, if anyone, will emerge from the pack as a frontrunner and these four exhibitions could serve to give someone a leg up.

Kamani Johnson is the only returning forward on the roster. Jalen Graham brings the most experience and high-major production as an All-Pac 12 performer at Arizona State and Rhode Island transfer twins Makhi and Makhel Mitchell have impressed throughout the summer with their toughness, motor and rim protection. 

All four will get opportunities in Europe, as will Trevon Brazile in some small-ball lineups, but will anyone make the most of it and stand out from the crowd?

Speaking of Brazile, he, along with fellow transfer Ricky Council IV, have generated nearly as much buzz as anyone on the roster throughout the summer thanks to social media clips and first-hand practice accounts from media members who have already seen their impressive feats of athleticism up close and in person.

At 6-10 with a 7-4 wingspan, Brazile brings above-the-rim play on both ends of the floor and blossoming perimeter skills that have many becoming increasingly confident he could be in line for a big jump in production after a promising freshman campaign at Missouri. The potential is there for Brazile to be the stretch-four Arkansas has sorely needed.

As for Council, good luck finding a more explosive wing whether it is off the bounce of elevating to the rim. His athleticism combined with crafty playmaking ability and a knack for getting to the charity stripe figure to have him in the mix as one of Arkansas' better scorers for the season ahead.

If the transfer duo can continue to ascend, Arkansas becomes significantly more dangerous, and these four games will offer a glimpse at what they are capable of and how comfortable they are in the system early on.

McDonald's All-Americans, highly-coveted transfers, Arkansas has no shortage of top-end talent at its disposal with this roster, but every year there seems to be someone flying under the radar who emerges to become an impact player. Two years ago it was Davonte Davis. Last season it was Trey Wade.

Musselman has voiced his desire to give everyone opportunities during these exhibition games in Europe. Will a dark horse or someone who has had a relatively low profile summer seize the opportunity and make a strong impression? Keep an eye on freshman trio Barry Dunning, Joseph Pinion and Derrian Ford along with the logjam of talent at the center position.

Part of venturing overseas for Arkansas will be adjusting to the way the game is played in Europe. The Hogs will have to adjust to FIBA rules, which means different balls, 10 minute quarters, 24 second shot clocks with 14 second resets, 8 second backcourt violations, only five players on the free-throw line, a wider lane, basket interference allowed after the ball strikes the rim and two free throws awarded for each non-shooting foul after the fourth of a quarter.

Four days until we head to Europe. Working with our team on the @FIBA rules. #HogsAbroad pic.twitter.com/yeYWz0jFYc

Musselman has certainly made the team aware of the changes as the team has practiced with FIBA balls and shortened clocks, but he hasn't spent too much time harping on them with these games only serving as exhibitions. However, there will be some natural adjustments to keep an eye on early in these games. Naturally, the Hogs will have to play faster, which might be right up their alley, and Musselman warned us all to not be surprised to see an influx of traveling violations early based on how officials call the games.

At some point in some form or fashion during this trip, the Arkansas Razorbacks will be hit with their first dose of adversity as a team. Perhaps it is dealing with a hostile environment or some "home cooking" from officials. Maybe a key player fouls out or the Hogs are tested by the physicality of some of the older, mature teams they will be facing. What if the team finds itself in a dogfight or two in the closing minutes somewhere along the line?

Sure, winning four blowouts and having highlight reels of action to excite everyone is cool, but the more Arkansas is tested and forced to overcome obstacles during this trip, the better it will be for it in the long run. When those moment arise, how will the new-look Razorbacks respond?

Arkansas had a terrific basketball team last season. You don't make the Elite Eight if that isn't the case. However, the Razorbacks were abysmal when it came to perimeter shooting, ranking 316th out of 358 Division 1 teams in three-point percentage. The Hogs proved a team can still win at a high level even if it doesn't shoot particularly well, but wouldn't we all feel a little better if this team knocks down some triples in Europe next week?

The Hogs have an entirely new look with 11 fresh faces on the scholarship roster, and while it doesn't look like a group loaded with sharpshooters, there are several capable marksmen and the high-level passing and playmaking ability of the team suggests there will be an uptick in quality looks this season. FIBA balls aside, many eyes will be on the three-point percentages in Spain and Italy.

The first time we talked to Musselman about this team in June, he was complimentary of its potential on the defensive end of the floor saying they were very, very difficult to score on. As recently as last week, he admitted the defense was still ahead of the offense. For a program that has finished 10th and 11th in adjusted defensive efficiency the last two season, it should be no surprise the Hogs appear stifling once again with unprecedented length and athleticism at all positions.

Arkansas has sticky on-ball potential, arms that stretch for days on the wing that can get in passing lanes and four forwards who stand 6-9 or taller who all have a season under their belts ranked in the top 100 nationally in block percentage. 

The Hogs aren't doing pre-scouts of their opponents in Europe, so there will inevitably be some missed coverages on certain actions or communication breakdowns along the way, but it will be exciting to see what type of chaos this group can cause with its defensive potential.

Musselman has stressed that he plans to give everyone opportunities during the foreign tour, and he has also mentioned that players who have not passed their mile run test or have been subject to discipline at practice are not eligible to start. With that in mind, there probably won't be much to take away in regards to the overall pecking order early in games.

However, if Arkansas finds itself in some tight contests, the group Musselman deploys in crunch time could potentially speak volumes in regards to who has earned his trust the most so far. Outside of Davonte Davis, and to a much lesser extent Kamani Johnson, Musselman hasn't been through battles with any of the other scholarship players.

Who gets the nod if the Hogs lead a close game and need ball-handlers and free throw shooters on the floor? Who is the defensive unit that can come up with key stops? Who gets the rock and green light to create if Arkansas shortens the game and milks the clock with a multi-possession lead? We will see, maybe...

Anyone expecting Arkansas to be full steam ahead as a well-oiled machine in Spain and Italy probably needs to temper expectations to a degree. Are the Razorbacks immensely talented? Absolutely. But if we've learned anything the past couple seasons, it takes time for teams to gel and fully come together.

Those not sold or questioning the Hogs entering the 2022-23 campaign are probably quick to point to the 11 new faces and the challenges that come with establishing roles, chemistry and cohesion on the floor. That's why this foreign tour is so incredibly valuable for Arkansas in advance of this season. It gives them a head start on all of those things in hopes they are closer to firing on all cylinders come November 7.

These four exhibitions games will be sloppy, clunk and uneven at times as the Razorbacks continue to get comfortable and familiar with one another on the floor. Something to keep an eye on is how things progress from the beginning to the end of the trip. Chances are, Arkansas leaves an improved, more efficient product than it arrives.

50% off Annual VIP Pass first year

© 2005-2022 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc.