John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks were ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP Men’s Basketball Top 25 Poll. This is the fourth consecutive season the team has appeared in the initial AP poll, having been ranked No. 16 for the 2021-22 season, No. 10 in 2022-23, and No. 14 last year.
Among SEC teams, the Razorbacks are the fifth-highest ranked, following No. 2 Alabama, No. 11 Auburn, No. 12 Tennessee, and No. 13 Texas A&M. Other SEC teams in the rankings include Texas at 19, Florida at 21, Kentucky at 23, and Ole Miss at 24.
Calipari spoke about preseason rankings Sunday night in Pine Bluff.
Arkansas’ official schedule, released last Thursday, includes games against nine teams ranked in the preseason Top 25. These teams are No. 2 Alabama, No. 8 Baylor, No. 11 Auburn, No. 12 Tennessee, No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 19 Texas, No. 21 Florida, No. 23 Kentucky, and No. 24 Ole Miss. Additionally, Arkansas will face the top-ranked team, No. 1 Kansas, in a preseason charity exhibition on October 25.
In the previous season, under former head coach Eric Musselman, the Razorbacks ended with a 16-17 record, including a 6-12 record in the SEC. However, new head coach Calipari has revitalized the team with several high-profile freshman recruits and multiple transfers, including three from his former program at Kentucky.
Fans will have their first opportunity to see the new Razorbacks lineup on October 25 in a game against No. 1 Kansas at Bud Walton Arena. The exhibition game is set to start at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Full Preseason Top 25
1. Kansas
2. Alabama
3. UConn
4. Houston
5. Iowa State
6. Gonzaga
7. Duke
8. Baylor
9. North Carolina
10. Arizona
11. Auburn
12. Tennessee
13. Texas A&M
14. Purdue
15. Creighton
16. Arkansas
17. Indiana
18. Marquette
19. Texas
20. Cincinnati
21. Florida
22. UCLA
23. Kentucky
24. Ole Miss
25. Rutgers
