Digging into Razorbacks' NCAA Resume so Far
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Things appeared to have gotten off to a rough start for the Razorbacks, but if there's such thing as quality losses when it comes to the NCAA selection committee in March, Arkansas has finished the non-conference season with at least three and another that doesn't look nearly as bad.
As it turns out, there are three losses to Top 15 teams that have a strong chance to be losses to Top 10 teams to pair with a win over Duke when resumes become official in March. It also paints a different picture as to how fans should view the first two months of the schedule as SEC play begins.
UNC Greensboro
(9-4)
The Spartans went on a 7-game winning streak after upsetting Arkansas in Bud Walton Arena. However, things have come crashing down as of late. Despite an eye-popping 135-57 win over Virginia University of Lynchberg, UNC Greensboro has lost three of its last four. Losses to Marshall and Holy Cross were damaging, but it's the 72-37 loss to Texas that's going to stand out so far when the committee weighs how much a loss to the Spartans should hurt the Razorbacks in March.
It also doesn't help that through the non-conference portion of the season, the win in Fayetteville was UNCG's only road win. The one glimmer of light is the Spartans will contend with Samford and Western Carolina for the Southern Conference's lone bid to the NCAA Tournament.
#15 Memphis
(11-2)
The addition of former Alabama Crimson Tide leader Jahvon Quinerly to the line-up has made a huge difference to a Memphis team that was one shot away from going on the run that made Florida Atlantic a household name last season.
The Tigers have racked up a ton of high quality wins. In addition to Arkansas, Memphis has knocked off Missouri, Michigan and Texas A&M away from home, and took down No. 11 Clemson and No. 20 Virginia at home before dispatching of in-state foe Vanderbilt. While a win would have been nice, this isn't a loss that is going to hurt Arkansas as FAU and SMU are the only true threats remaining on the Tigers' schedule.
#11 Oklahoma
(12-1)
Outside of Arkansas, the biggest win the Sooners have racked up is a 21-point win over No. 23 Providence in Norman. There are a few teams with recognizable names, like Iowa or USC, but no wins over anyone else who is having a strong season. The only other team of note Oklahoma has played is No. 8 North Carolina and that ended in an 81-69 loss in Charlotte. It's hard to know for sure how good the Sooners are, but Razorback fans will know by Jan. 23 as Oklahoma will have already traveled to Kansas and hosted Texas.
#8 North Carolina
(9-3)
How North Carolina is No. 8 is a slight head scratcher. However, in this case, that's the advantage the Razorbacks need. It's true the Tar Heels have two truly strong wins, the win referenced above against Oklahoma and a win over a No. 5 Tennessee team with the same record.
All the other wins other than Arkansas are against small conference also-rans and a Florida State team that got run out of its own gym by an SMU team that was still trying to find its footing at the time. Despite being the highest ranking ACC team in the Top 25, North Carolina has losses to No. 4 UConn, unranked Villanova and No. 6 Kentucky.
The best case scenario is Duke finds a way to win the ACC while North Carolina finishes a close second. The Blue Devils stumble a little early and are also 9-3, but have hit their stride of late with a win over No. 10 Baylor in Madison Square Garden.
