Arkansas basketball wants what Auburn has.
National rankings mean little in the grand scheme of things, but a little number next to your school name does, fair or not, bring a tinge of social credibility and the Razorbacks could use that.
Arkansas hasn’t been ranked for about a month after falling in three of four in late November but can make it back with a good couple weeks to start SEC play. Their opponent to kick off the conference slate, Auburn, found itself inside the AP Poll at No. 25 when it was released Monday.
The Tigers joined Ole Miss (22), Kentucky (6) and Tennessee (5) as SEC teams with that number next to their name. Two teams that will be in the SEC next year – Texas and Oklahoma – were also ranked at No. 20 and No. 11, respectively.
Joining Tennessee in the top five were Connecticut, Houston, Kansas and Purdue. Arkansas has a connection with all of them over the last year as the Hogs beat Kansas in the Round of 32 last year before falling to UConn in the Sweet 16. Tramon Mark, Arkansas’ most consistent player this year, played for Houston last year. And the Razorbacks beat No. 1 Purdue in the preseason.
Arkansas did not pick up any votes in the AP Poll.