Arkansas baseball, by most normal measures, had a good season in 2022. The Razorbacks finished third in the SEC, narrowly missing a fourth straight SEC West crown. They played almost the entire season ranked inside the Top 10 in the country.
Teams across the country would kill for such a season.
But this is Arkansas baseball. Coach Dave Van Horn and former Patrick Wicklander both made mention that a certain segment of the fan base was being too hard on the Razorbacks. That segment suggested, suggests, the year was a disappointment.
A fresh season, of sorts, begins Wednesday. Arkansas will play the winner of Alabama and Georgia, the No. 11 and No. 6 seeds, in the second round during the double-elimination portion of the league tourney. Alabama took two of three from the Diamond Hogs in the final series of the regular season.
The Razorbacks will make the NCAA Tournament. That much isn’t up for debate, even if the team inexplicably goes 0-2 in Hoover, Alabama, during the week. Measures of success in Fayetteville, however, are, fair or not, measured by what happens after Hoover in this week’s SEC Tournament.
Arkansas is still seeking to host a Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium. Right now, they are on the bubble for such a designation. Hoover could make or break the decision.
Here are three reasons why the Diamond Hogs will play postseason baseball Fayetteville and two reasons why they won’t.