Ahead of their first game in the prestigious Maui Invitational, the Arkansas basketball team was ranked at No. 9 in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll released Monday morning.
Arkansas didn’t see any movement from the No. 9 spot in the AP Top 25, as that’s where they were ranked entering last week as well. In the USA Today Coaches Poll, though, the Hogs jumped one spot from No. 10 to No. 9 after a thoroughly impressive 71-56 win over South Dakota State last Wednesday.
The first true test for Eric Musselman’s squad will be over the next three days in Maui as they are part of one of the most stacked Maui Invitational fields in the tournament’s history. The Hogs are one of five teams in the tournament that are currently ranked in the Top 25. No. 10 Creighton, No. 14 Arizona, No. 17 San Diego State and No. 21 Texas Tech are the other four.
Arkansas will play Louisville later today, and then tomorrow will play either No. 10 Creighton or No. 21 Texas Tech in a battle of Top 25 teams.
The chance for Arkansas basketball to move up in next week’s rankings is right in front of them if they can leave Maui with a couple of wins. More importantly, however, it’s a chance for this young Razorback team to get some valuable early-season experience against elite competition.
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