In his inaugural season as head coach, John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks have fallen short of the expectations set by fans and analysts alike. Expected to thrive with a combination of experienced transfers and promising young talent, the team currently finds itself positioned in the lower half of the SEC standings as the tournament season approaches.
With a record of 16-11 overall and 5-9 in the SEC, the Razorbacks are hanging on to a “last four in” spot as a No. 11 seed in ESPN’s latest bracketology by Joe Lunardi. They hold a 4-9 record against quad-one teams, a 1-2 record against quad-two teams, while performing well in lower-tier matches with a 4-0 record against quad-three opponents and a 7-0 record against quad-four opponents, landing them at No. 40 in the current NET rankings.
Among their quad-one victories, Arkansas has claimed wins over three ranked teams: No. 14 Michigan in New York, No. 12 Kentucky at Rupp Arena, and No. 15 Missouri at home (the latest bracketology has not reflected the victory over Missouri).
Should Arkansas secure a “last four in” position, they would participate in the “First Four” in Dayton, Ohio, essentially a play-in game, projected to face another No. 11 seed, Virginia Commonwealth (VCU). VCU boasts a strong 22-5 overall record and a 12-2 mark in A10 play, although they have struggled against quad-one opponents, holding a 0-1 record after a loss to New Mexico in December.
If the two teams meet in the “First Four,” it promises to be an exciting matchup, with both averaging similar points per game—Arkansas at 76.1 and VCU at 78.2. However, VCU has the edge defensively, allowing just 62.5 points per game compared to Arkansas’ 69.4.
To maintain their tournament aspirations, the Razorbacks must continue their winning streak. They are set to host the Texas Longhorns, who also find themselves vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament, on Wednesday night. Texas is looking to regain momentum after recently defeating No. 15 Kentucky 82-78 in Austin.
The critical game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
