AP Rankings Confirm Difficulty of Razorback Basketball Schedule

Arkansas in Top 25 for third consecutive year, but how high are they ranked?

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Oct 16, 2023 1:40 PM EDT
Original:
Oct 16, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas fans are still four days out from getting a chance to watch Eric Musselman's Razorbacks play their first exhibition game against UT-Tyler Friday night in Bud Walton Arena, but basketball season is close enough to know where the Hogs stand in the AP poll.

For the third consecutive season, the Razorbacks will open the season as a top 20 team with a start at No. 14. The poll confirms what was already expected to be a salty non-conference schedule for Arkansas. Purdue, the Hogs' second exhibition opponent, will come into Bud Walton ranked No. 3 and Duke rolls into Fayetteville in late November currently ranked No. 2. The Battle 4 Atlantis also features possible showdowns with No. 19 North Carolina, No. 22 Villanova or a Memphis team that is in position to be in the Top 25 by then. Kansas, which lost to Arkansas as the top seed in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, comes in at No. 1.

One thing the poll demonstrates that will work heavily in the Razorbacks' favor is how much respect the SEC has gained in basketball recently. Five SEC teams show up in the Top 25 and four more received votes. Tennessee ranks highest at No. 9 while Texas A&M breathes down Arkansas' neck at No. 15 with Kentucky right behind at No. 16. Alabama appears to lose a lot of respect with the departure of controversial guard Brandon Miller, but still manages to squeak into the Top 25 at No. 24. Auburn, Mississippi State, Missouri and Florida also received votes.

This is the first time since the mid 90’s (1993-94 to 1996-97) that Arkansas has landed inside the AP preseason top 25 for at least three consecutive years and just the fourth time in program history along with 1989-90 to 1991-92, and 1980-81 to 1984-85).

Tip-off for the UT-Tyler exhibition game is 6:30 p.m. There will be no television coverage.

(Razorback Communications contributed to this story)