The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

Corey Beck was the heart and soul of the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1994 national championship team, and was beloved by fans for his toughness, grit and grind. But he also feels misunderstood. In Part 2 of our two-part story, we talk with him about his post-Arkansas playing days in the CBA (where he would run into Eric Musselman), the struggles he sometimes faced in his life after basketball, and how one terrifying night would lead to him turning his life around.

Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman and his wife, Danyelle, recently sat down for a Q&A session with fans on Instagram Live. In case you missed it, here's your chance to catch up and get to know the Musselmans—from what they love about Arkansas to lifestyle and everything in between.

When you think of the name Corey Beck, what comes to mind? He didn't win a lot of awards, but without him, there probably isn't a national title to celebrate. His toughness and competitive nature made him a fan favorite, but where did that grit and grind come from? It started with him growing up and playing ball in Memphis, and via a trip to the JUCO ranks, would end up with him finding the perfect match for him as a coach in Hall of Famer Nolan Richardson. Hard work would help his game flourish, as he became the unquestioned leader on the best Razorback team in history. In the first episode of a two-part story, it's how Corey Beck's early life helped Arkansas win the 1994 national championship.

In this bonus episode of The Hog Pod, Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman sits down with Razorback soccer coach Colby Hale, two standouts in their profession. Musselman has won at least 20 games in every season as a head coach, and Hale has guided Arkansas to four straight SEC Tournament championship games. The two of them converse on a wide range of topics, from leadership strategies to growing as a coach. What were their first jobs, and what did they learn from them? How are they constantly working to evolve and become better coaches? And what goes into being a good leader?

Being a career assistant coach in major college football gives Razorback head coach Sam Pittman a unique perspective. When you've spent you're career learning from some of the best in the business, you're going to have a great idea of what works and what doesn't. And that extends into recruiting, an area where Pittman has had tremendous success throughout his career. And relationships with current players are just as important. Pittman is going to tell you what's on his mind and how he feels. He's transparent and honest, qualities that resonate in the state. In this conversation, we go inside Pittman's coaching mind to learn what makes him a great recruiter, why honesty is the best policy, and what being a "players' coach" really means.

The first thing you notice about Earl Boykins is that he wasn't your average NBA player. Standing at just 5-foot-5, he still ranks as the second-shortest player in NBA history—and has been fighting perception his entire life. Because of his height, Boykins wasn't on the recruiting radar of major college basketball teams, but still managed to find some NCAA Tournament magic. How'd he do it? And how, despite doubts, did he manage to eventually carve out a role in the NBA? We cover it all in this episode, from getting his shot in the NBA to what he's doing now at Arkansas with Eric Musselman—the coach who gave him his big break in the league.

In high school, Kendal Briles was a QB, living the dream that is the Friday Night Lights of Texas HS football. His dad was a Texas coaching legend. You might think that Kendal would follow his dad's footsteps and get into coaching, but that's not what happened...at least not immediately. But he got a chance when his dad moved to the college ranks, and hasn't looked back. We chat with Kendal about his journey to joining Sam Pittman's staff at Arkansas, his offensive philosophy and what he's learned along the way.

Mason Jones is in the thick of the conversation for SEC Player of the Year. But getting to that point hasn't been easy. In this episode, we talk with him about why he was overshadowed by his brother and sister—who would go on to win a national title at Duke and set assist records at Texas A&M, respectively. Mason tells us about why he struggled with weight as a kid, not getting major college offers and going the JUCO route. Now he's setting records and leading Arkansas in scoring … and he's not living in anyone's shadow.

How do you get a player past the point of being scared to fail? Getting his pitchers to believe they have the stuff to succeed is Matt Hobbs' M.O. We chat with Arkansas' pitching coach and learn how he does just that, becoming known as one of the top coaches in the game when it comes to using analytics and technology. Hobbs takes us through his coaching journey, why he loves to learn and why working at Arkansas is the best baseball job in the country.