Hogs picked to finish 4th in the SEC; Two Razorbacks named All-SEC

The Arkansas men’s basketball team has been projected to finish fourth in the SEC for the upcoming season, while center Jonas Aidoo and guard Johnell Davis have been named to the preseason Second Team All-SEC by a panel of SEC and national media members.

Arkansas is ranked 16th in the preseason AP poll, following a 16-17 (6-12 SEC) season under former head coach Eric Musselman, during which the team missed the NCAA Tournament.

First-year head coach John Calipari’s roster includes 13 newcomers, consisting of six freshmen and seven transfers. The team’s preseason No. 4 selection is one spot lower than last year, when they were picked to finish third in the SEC. Aidoo, who transferred from Tennessee, was voted to the second team after averaging 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game last season. He was also named AP First Team All-SEC and was on the SEC All-Defensive Team after ranking third in the league for blocks.

Davis earned Second-Team preseason honors after transferring from Florida Atlantic, where he averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game last season. The 6-foot-4 graduate senior started all 34 games and scored in double digits 31 times, including a 35-point game against Arizona. Davis was crucial in FAU’s Final Four run during the 2022-23 season, achieving a historic performance with 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals in an NCAA Tournament game.

Aidoo and Davis are the 14th and 15th Razorbacks to be named preseason All-SEC, joining notable players such as Todd Day, Scotty Thurman, and Corliss Williamson.

The Razorbacks will face No. 1 Kansas in a home charity exhibition on October 25 at Bud Walton Arena. Their next exhibition will be a charity game against TCU on November 1 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Arkansas’ season officially starts on November 6, with a game against Lipscomb at Bud Walton Arena, which will be aired on SEC Network+.

First Team All-SEC