Arkansas basketball slid three spots in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, checking in at No. 20 in Monday’s updated rankings after splitting its two games for the second consecutive week. The Razorbacks also landed at No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, reflecting a stagnant stretch as conference play continues to test the depth of the SEC.
A Tale of Two Games: Razorbacks’ Split Week Recap
The week began on a high note for the Hogs, who played their second home game of the conference slate on Wednesday and handled South Carolina with ease, rolling to a dominant 108-74 victory inside Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas put together one of its most complete offensive performances of the season, finishing with six players in double figures.
Meleek Thomas led the charge, pouring in 21 points on an ultra-efficient 8-of-9 shooting from the floor, including a perfect 5-for-5 performance from beyond the arc. The Razorbacks shared the ball well, played with pace, and never allowed the Gamecocks to threaten after building an early cushion.
That confidence, however, did not carry over to the weekend.
Arkansas hit the road on Saturday looking to bounce back from the previous weekend’s blowout loss to Auburn, but Georgia was ready from the opening tip. The Bulldogs stormed out to a 19-3 lead and eventually stretched the margin to as many as 19 points in the second half. While the Razorbacks made multiple attempts to claw their way back into the game, they clearly ran out of gas trying to erase the early deficit losing 90-76 when it was all said and done.
Turnovers, points off those turnovers, and a subpar offensive showing ultimately doomed Arkansas’ comeback hopes. Just sloppy play from the team that has been seeking consistency over the last few weeks.
"“Just disappointing that the start of the game, the stuff that we talked about … we went over it, we can’t do that, and then you start down 7, 8, 9-0,” head coach John Calipari said. “I got to call a timeout. On us. On me. Obviously, if they’re not responding, then I’m not communicating as well as I need to in that situation.”"Coach Cal
Coach Cal Keeps Razorbacks Competitive in Crowded SEC Standings
Despite the slip in the polls, Arkansas remains one of the higher-rated teams in a crowded SEC landscape. The Razorbacks are currently the fourth-highest ranked team in the conference, trailing No. 15 Vanderbilt, which continues to serve as the league’s banner-carrier. Florida and Alabama both jumped ahead of Arkansas this week, with the Gators coming in at No. 16 and the Crimson Tide at No. 17.
Georgia, meanwhile, checked in at No. 21 after losing to Ole Miss midweek before knocking off the Razorbacks on Saturday. Three additional SEC teams received votes this week: Kentucky (27), Tennessee (20), and Texas A&M (2).
The SEC’s depth has been on full display this season. While there may not be a clear elite team separating itself at the very top, the conference is packed with quality squads in the No. 12-to-30 range nationally. That reality presents both good news and bad news for Arkansas.
On one hand, the Razorbacks remain firmly among the league’s better teams and within striking distance of the conference’s upper tier. On the other, their inability to build momentum and string together wins has kept them from separating themselves from the pack. Until Arkansas finds consistency away from home and cleans up early-game lapses, the Hogs may continue to hover rather than climb in a brutally competitive SEC race.