The Arkansas Razorbacks have been placed at No. 12 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25, marking the program’s sixth straight appearance in the poll. This ranking is one spot higher than the No. 13 finish in last season’s final AP poll, where the team posted a 28‑9 overall record and a 13‑5 mark in SEC play.
Recent Success Sets High Expectations
Under Coach John Calipari, Arkansas tied for second in the SEC regular season and captured the conference tournament title. The Razorbacks earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row before falling to Arizona.
Challenging Schedule Ahead
Arkansas will meet ten regular‑season opponents that are already ranked in the preseason AP Top 25. Non‑conference matchups include No. 9 Virginia in Washington on Nov. 8, No. 6 Michigan State in Detroit on Nov. 26, and No. 5 Arizona in Phoenix on Dec. 19. Within the SEC, the Razorbacks will play No. 20 Alabama twice and travel to face No. 8 Tennessee, No. 7 Texas, No. 24 Vanderbilt, No. 23 Kentucky, and preseason No. 1 Florida.
The team also hosts an exhibition against No. 15 Gonzaga on Oct. 24, though that game does not count toward the ten ranked regular‑season contests.
Top Recruiting Class Arrives
Arkansas enters the season with the nation’s consensus No. 1 recruiting class, highlighted by four five‑star freshmen. Guard Jordan Smith Jr., the reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year, leads the group, joined by Little Rock native JJ Andrews, versatile wing Abdou Toure, and 6‑foot‑11 Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen. Additional newcomers include Davion Thompson, Caleb Ourigou, Maper Maker, Ilia Frolov and Paulo Semedo. Transfers Jeremiah Wilkinson from Georgia and Cooper Bowser from Furman add experience to a roster that returns only four letter‑winners.
Senior Billy Richmond III provides veteran leadership as the most experienced returning player.
Season Opener
The Razorbacks kick off the regular season at home against Arkansas‑Pine Bluff on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
