Razorbacks

I am not really understanding how the Hogs got zero votes this week.  They have 3 quality wins, 2 against ranked opponents.  Granted, they haven't won a road game, but still....  no votes at all?

If they keep playing good basketball the ranking will come... they should definitely be showing up on the radar now though.  I think one decent road win and that will help them a lot.

Granted, they haven't won a road game,

I see things haven't changed for Anderson. Look like world beaters at home and can't beat anyone on the road. That style of play doesn't work against athletic teams on the road without the intensity of a raunches crowd.

Oh yeah it does.  Saw it work for years here.  Our biggest problem is we only have 9 scholarship players.  Once we get a few more guys to give breathers here and there.......WATCH!!!

Nolan was the master with it... Arkansas was tough at any place under him.  It will be interesting to see how Anderson does at Arkansas and I do wish him well because he helped Mizzou after the ugly Quinn Snyder years and did get us to an Elite Eight.  I just will not root for Anderson when we start playing him in conference play next year and I hope we get him at our place.  Good luck this year Razorbacks and I hope you guys make the tournament this year.

I hate it when some Missouri fans (not all) try to lecture Arkansas fans on the downfalls of Anderson's style. Uh... Nolan invented that style AT ARKANSAS!

Either way, Arkansas will shoot up in most people's brackets (and polls) when they get a decent road win. Until then, they'll probably continue to either be squarely on the bubble or just on the wrong side of it. 

I'm a Hog fan and I don't see the Hogs as a top 25 team, there are at least 30 teams that have better resumes than Arkansas'. Now if the Hogs can Beat Alabama on the road this Saturday and then beat Vandy at home, then they would probably be a top 25 team.

These next two games will be most telling.Win at Alabama and secure a victory against the Commodores at home and I would like to think that those two victories would put us on the leeward side of the bubble. Lose both and it will be tough to crack into the N.C.A.A.'s, they wold probably almost have to win the Southeastern Conference tournament to get in.

Jagalltheway... I agree with you about Nolan and as a fan of college basketball and its history I enjoy the fact that the Anderson hire at Arkansas has seemed to heal some of the wounds that Arkansas caused Nolan.  Seeing him at the games rooting for the Hogs again is great for college basketball... the man was an icon and innovator during his time at Arkansas.

My point is that I find it hard to believe that there was not even one single vote for them.  I think they may get that first road victory tomorrow

Oh yeah it does.  Saw it work for years here.

So then you must remember Richardson was under .500 on the road his last 7 years? I watched Mike Anderson for 5 years go 16-35 with one winning road record in 2009 at 5-4. That system needs so much depth that your best players don't get to see the court enough. I wish Anderson luck, just can't see him winning consistantly away from home.

I pay for some plays over at 505sports.com and they like Arkansas tongight plus the points.  Seems that Vandy has been playing pretty well of late, but Arkansas seems poised at home to pull this one off.  Any thoughts?  They have been pretty good to me so far this year, so no reason to jump ship now

I pay for some plays over at 505sports.com and they like Arkansas tongight plus the points.  Seems that Vandy has been playing pretty well of late, but Arkansas seems poised at home to pull this one off.  Any thoughts?  They have been pretty good to me so far this year, so no reason to jump ship now

I'd take Arkansas straight up... They're very, very good at home. When (if) they translate that play to the road, they'll be a Top 25 team.

The Hogs need this win over Vandy badly if they are to improve their 'bubble' chances. 

I agree jagalltheway--we have been pretty good at home, but tonight will be a big test and is a "must win" for the Razorbacks.

GO HAWGS!

Good game last night by the Razorbacks... Vandy has been playing well

That was a hugely important game for our NCAA Tourney chances. Now if we can go steal at least 1 of our next 2 (@LSU and @UGA) and continue to take care of business at home we SHOULD (Knock on wood) gain an at-large bid. One win in the SEC Tournament wouldn't hurt either.

I am not really understanding how the Hogs got zero votes this week.  They have 3 quality wins, 2 against ranked opponents.  Granted, they haven't won a road game, but still....  no votes at all?

Never fear.  Arkansas is definitely on the national radar.  For how long, nobody knows.  The big problem is that they were destroyed by Kentucky and most wrote them off then and there.  Then they shocked many by beating Michigan- then the follow-up win against Auburn sent a message, but losing at Alabama seemed solidify that this is not a tourney team.  Then the bouncing Razorbacks go and beat Vandy, people stopped to consider but didn't give that second look because of the lack of road wins and the loss to Houston.  Is there any other team who is over .500 who hasn't won a game on the road?  16-1 at home.  Weird.  I can't think of ever seeing that.  I think with 5 more away games, there are few voters willing to bet on the Razorbacks.  The next game at LSU will be telling.  It's very winnable, but not easy.  Same with Georgia.  They win even one of those games and they'll get votes.  Win them both and they'll be ranked.  The big game will be against Florida on Feb 18.  I think Arkansas must win both their next away games to be considered as a tournament team.  They have their good wins- just gotta have some road victories too.  

Never fear.  Arkansas is definitely on the national radar.  For how long, nobody knows.  The big problem is that they were destroyed by Kentucky and most wrote them off then and there.  Then they shocked many by beating Michigan- then the follow-up win against Auburn sent a message, but losing at Alabama seemed solidify that this is not a tourney team.  Then the bouncing Razorbacks go and beat Vandy, people stopped to consider but didn't give that second look because of the lack of road wins and the loss to Houston.  Is there any other team who is over .500 who hasn't won a game on the road?  16-1 at home.  Weird.  I can't think of ever seeing that.  I think with 5 more away games, there are few voters willing to bet on the Razorbacks.  The next game at LSU will be telling.  It's very winnable, but not easy.  Same with Georgia.  They win even one of those games and they'll get votes.  Win them both and they'll be ranked.  The big game will be against Florida on Feb 18.  I think Arkansas must win both their next away games to be considered as a tournament team.  They have their good wins- just gotta have some road victories too.  

You have to put the Houston loss into context. That was the game after their star, Marshawn Powell, went down with a season-ending injury. Powell was really their only consistent half-court offense at the time. They're fine now, but then, they looked completely discombobulated. 

As for the games @Kentucky and @Alabama: why would one expect even a bubble team to win those games? There is nothing wrong about losing those games; both of those teams are very good at home. Kentucky obviously, but Alabama, although they have struggled a bit lately, is still a solid NCAA Tournament team. 

Of course Arkansas has to win at least a couple on the road. The LSU game will be tough; LSU's not a bad team by any stretch of the imagination. They've had a brutal conference schedule so far, and it will only get easier for LSU. They'll finish around .500 in the SEC most likely. I'm not sure if Arkansas wins that game. The game @Georgia should be a slam dunk. Georgia is pretty damn awful this year. Most of Arkansas' defficiency are in the frontcourt, where they are inexperienced (well, they're inexperienced everywhere) and are lacking in depth (mostly because of the Powell and Waithe injuries). However, Georgia has even less of a frontcourt. The game @Auburn won't be easy, but I think it's one they need to make the dance. The game @Tennessee will be another tough one. Tennessee's not a bad team at home. They're god awful on the road, but Tennessee has talent with Stokes and Maymon down low, and that could be one where Arkansas gets blown off the court because they can't handle Tennessee's physicality. I doubt Arkansas will win @Mississippi State, but you never know. 

At home, Arkansas needs to win every game, other than possibly the Florida game. The games against Alabama and Ole Miss would be nice quality wins for the committee to look at.

So, if all of this happens, Arkansas will be 9-7 in SEC play, and 21-10 overall. They'll probably be around 6th in the SEC. They'd probably need a win to solidify their tournament bid.

Do I think it'll happen? Possibly. I think the SEC gets six bids; I'm not sure whether it'll be Ole Miss or Arkansas. 

So, if all of this happens, Arkansas will be 9-7 in SEC play, and 21-10 overall. They'll probably be around 6th in the SEC. They'd probably need a win to solidify their tournament bid. 

Agreed jagalltheway.  I believe Arky will end up 9-7 in the SEC, and 21-10, but without a decent road win, I just don't know because there will be several 5-7- loss mid-majors out there who have comparable OOC schedules but probably weaker conference schedules- It would be mighy close- but agree that all those impressive home wins would likely put them over the top.  I agree that the Razorback's magic number is no more than 10 losses total.  You're right that beating Florida would put them over the top.  (...in which case 11 losses would keep them in the running).  I would just like to figure out the last time a team made the tourney without having won at least one away game.  Arkansas could do it...

Wish I had seen your posts - unolobo and jagalltheway - before laboring for several hours in coming up with most of your conclusions.  Nice job.

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  Picking up on what you guys mentioned -

Not that it really matters, but Arkansas is still perfect at BWA, 16-0 - which tied for their 2nd longest streak ever.  The Vandy win was impressive enough to give the impression that even Florida is winnable at home, even though I do project a loss there.  I did come up with the exact 9-7, 21-10 record though - by the Hogs going 3-1 @ home and 2-3 on the road, these wins coming against Georgia or LSU and Auburn.  (Currently tied for 4th in the conference, I also predicted a 5th place finish in the regular season.)

With this record going into postseason, and my belief the SEC gets five invites to the NCAA Tournament (like last year), I'm thinking Arkansas may need a win in the SEC tourney.  Really up in the air on this one though... opinion?

I would just like to figure out the last time a team made the tourney without having won at least one away game.  Arkansas could do it...

Very interesting thought, for sure.  That would mean a 20-11, 8-8 regular finish, requiring a couple SEC tourney wins.  Could happen I guess, but a tall order for a team that had never won an away game!  haha.