The data, the metrics, the computers, they all say Arkansas basketball is one of the 20 or 25 best teams in the country. Arkansas’ record on the court, though, suggests that isn’t the case.
The discrepancy has made it difficult for bracketologists and pundits to project the NCAA Tournament bracket and Arkansas’ placing in it over the last couple weeks.
The Razorbacks could have all-but-clinched a invitiation to the Big Dance with a win against Kentucky on Saturday. That didn’t happen, leaving coach Eric Musselman to answer questions about his team’s NCAA Tournament resume.
Arkansas’ NET ranking was 16 before the Kentucky game. And given the way that ranking works, it isn’t likely to drop when it refreshes Sunday morning, either.
But Arkansas went 8-10 in SEC play, its worst record in-conference since Musselman’s first season in Fayetteville four years ago.
Only a handful of teams who went below .500 in the SEC have even made the NCAA Tournament in the last 20 years. None of them have gone farther than the second round.
Let’s look at back at the teams are Arkansas is hoping to match with a berth.