Arkansas

Preseason Rankings, Top Draft Prospects + Roster Update for Arkansas Baseball

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2023

Preseason Rankings, Top Draft Prospects + Roster Update for Arkansas Baseball

picture credit score: Arkansas Athletics

FAYETTEVILLE — With the season simply six weeks away, preseason rankings are beginning to trickle in and there are as soon as once more excessive expectations for Arkansas baseball.

Within the two polls which have come out up to now, the Razorbacks are No. 4 by Good Sport and No. 7 by Collegiate Baseball coming into 2023. The Baseball America, D1Baseball, NCBWA and USA Immediately Coaches polls have but to be launched.

That places them firmly within the combine for a fourth journey to Omaha in 5 tries. It’d be a return journey after final season’s run ended with a loss to Ole Miss in a winner-take-all semifinal on the School World Collection.

Nonetheless, as common, it gained’t be a straightforward path by way of the SEC. Half of the convention is ranked within the prime 10 of at the least one of many preseason polls.

LSU is No. 1 in each, whereas Collegiate Baseball has Florida at No. 2 (No. 8 on PG) and Good Sport has Tennessee at No. 2 (No. 5 on CB). Different top-10 SEC groups embody Texas A&M (No. 4 CB/No. 10 PG), Ole Miss (No. 6 PG/No. 24 CB) and Vanderbilt (No. 9 CB/No. 11 PG).

Auburn is the eighth-ranked workforce on Good Sport, checking in at No. 17, whereas Collegiate Baseball additionally ranks Mississippi State at No. 22, giving it eight top-25 SEC groups, as nicely.

Collegiate Baseball’s preseason ballot really goes to No. 50, with Auburn (No. 37), Georgia (No. 39), South Carolina (No. 47) and Alabama (No. 49) ranked, however outdoors of the highest 25. The one SEC groups outdoors of the highest 50 are Missouri and Kentucky.

The D1Baseball preseason ballot is scheduled to return out Jan. 17.

Preseason All-America Nod

Regardless of having expanded second- and third-team lists, no Arkansas baseball gamers have been included on Collegiate Baseball’s Preseason All-America groups. The one different time that has occurred up to now six years was 2021, when the Razorbacks spent a majority of the season at No. 1.

Good Sport, however, did acknowledge one Arkansas baseball participant: Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith was a third-team choice as he enters his sophomore season.

Each organizations tabbed LSU middle fielder Dylan Crews as their Preseason Participant of the 12 months, whereas Good Sport additionally named a Preseason Pitcher of the 12 months. That honor stayed throughout the SEC, as nicely, going to Tennessee’s Chase Dollander.

Barring harm, the Razorbacks will get to face each of these gamers. The Tigers will host Arkansas in Baton Rouge, La., the weekend of March 24-26 and the Volunteers go to Baum-Walker Stadium the weekend of April 14-16.

Jaxon Wiggins, Others Amongst High MLB Draft Prospects

They didn’t land on both of the aforementioned All-America groups, however Arkansas did have two different pitchers listed among the many prime 100 prospects within the 2023 MLB Draft launched by MLB Pipeline final month.

Proper-hander Jaxon Wiggins — who appeared very a lot the a part of a employees ace this fall — checked in at No. 55, whereas left-hander Hunter Hollan is No. 83. Wiggins is coming into his third season with this system and Hollan is a first-year man as a junior school switch from San Jacinto J.C.

These could have been the one two present Razorbacks on the listing, however the early rounds of 2023 MLB Draft will nonetheless be essential for Dave Van Horn as a result of his No. 1 signing class is susceptible to being picked aside by the professionals.

As additional proof of that chance, seven Arkansas baseball signees are among the many top-100 prospects on MLB Pipeline, highlighted by the crown jewel of the category — third baseman Aidan Miller — at No. 12.

The opposite potential future Razorbacks listed are left-hander Adam Hachman (No. 41), right-hander Barrett Kent (No. 54), shortstop Nazzan Zanetello (No. 58), shortstop Walker Martin (No. 73), left-hander Hunter Dietz (No. 75) and right-hander Dylan Questad (No. 96).

It’s additionally value noting that, very like the preseason rankings and preseason All-America groups, the SEC dominates the MLB Draft prospect rankings, as nicely.

Every of the highest 5 prospects play throughout the convention, as do seven of the highest 10 — with these seven hailing from 5 completely different groups.

High Transfers for Arkansas Baseball

With solely two returning starters within the discipline, Dave Van Horn went heavy on transfers to rebuild his lineup in 2023. Primarily based on some preseason rankings from D1Baseball, it appears as if he did a fairly strong job.

Three Razorbacks landed on the group’s rating of the highest 100 switch portal additions of the offseason, whereas 5 landed on its rating of the highest 50 JUCO transfers.

Jared Wegner (No. 19) and Tavian Josenberger (No. 27) from Creighton and Kansas, respectively, may lock down two of the three beginning spots within the outfield, whereas Hudson Polk (No. 90) from Oklahoma seems to be the frontrunner to start out at catcher.

Polk’s prime competitors behind the plate is Parker Rowland, who checked in at No. 28 on the JUCO listing. He was adopted by Caleb Cali (No. 30) and Harold Coll (No. 48), each of whom are projected as starters.

Arkansas introduced in solely two switch arms — each from the JUCO ranks — and so they’re wanting like contributors in 2023, particularly left-hander Hunter Hollan. Along with being a top-100 draft prospect, as talked about above, he’s No. 7 on D1Baseball’s rating. The opposite is right-hander Cody Adcock (No. 41).

Arkansas Baseball Roster Replace

Now just a few years faraway from the 2020 season that was worn out by the pandemic, school baseball rosters are slowly getting again to regular, however they will nonetheless be considerably enlarged due to relaxed limitations.

The 35-man restrict is again in place, however may be expanded to 40 as a way to account for gamers who have been on the workforce in 2020.

In the course of the fall, the Arkansas baseball roster featured 45 gamers. That has shrunk to 40 after the departures of infielders Jude Putz, Easton Swofford and Ryan Ward, and pitchers Nick Moten and Matthew Magre. (Putz has transferred to Florida State, whereas Swofford is taking the JUCO route at Crowder C.C.)

Solely two present Razorbacks — pitchers Zack Morris and Will McEntire — have been on the workforce in 2020, permitting Arkansas’ lively roster to broaden to 37. Which means three gamers should redshirt this season.

There have been additionally a few quantity modifications between the autumn and spring roster. Infielder John Bolton switched from No. 19 to No. 9, the quantity he wore at Austin Peay, and freshman right-hander Ben Bybee switched from No. 47 to No. 40.

The 2023 roster included up to date weights for all the gamers, as nicely. Not like the soccer workforce, which is extra particular, the Arkansas baseball workforce lists weights in multiples of 5. A number of gamers misplaced or gained 5 kilos, however a handful had double-digit modifications from the autumn.

Most notably, right-hander Will McEntire is now listed at 240 kilos, which is up 15 kilos from the autumn roster and his taking part in weight final season. Outfielder Jared Wegner (220) and right-hander Cody Adcock (210) are up 10 kilos, whereas catcher Cal Kilgore (185) is down 10 kilos.

One different change between the autumn and season roster value mentioning is the title for former Arkansas standout DJ Baxendale. He was listed as a graduate supervisor within the fall, however is now the Director of Analytics.

Curious what the Arkansas baseball lineup will appear to be in 2023? Right here’s our projection:

2023 Arkansas Baseball Roster

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Extra protection of Arkansas baseball from BoAS…

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Arkansas

New address, same issues: Why John Calipari's dismal start at Arkansas mirrors his fall from favor at Kentucky

Published

7 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

New address, same issues: Why John Calipari's dismal start at Arkansas mirrors his fall from favor at Kentucky

Jan 14, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari reacts after being defeated by the LSU Tigers at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Give John Calipari credit for stumbling upon a foolproof way to avoid extending his streak of early-round NCAA tournament flameouts.

You can’t get Gohlked again if you’re watching from the couch.

Arkansas is in major jeopardy of missing the NCAA tournament in Calipari’s highly anticipated debut season after an unremarkable non-league showing and a nightmare start to SEC play. The preseason No. 16 Razorbacks lost 78-74 at previously struggling LSU on Tuesday night to fall to 11-6 overall and 0-4 in the SEC.

It was concerning when then-No. 1 Tennessee outclassed Arkansas by 24 in Knoxville on the first Saturday of January. The warning signs grew more ominous when the Razorbacks followed that with back-to-back home losses against nationally ranked Ole Miss and Florida last week. Now it’s full-blown panic time in Hog Country after Arkansas went to Baton Rouge for an apparent get-right game against one of the SEC’s only non-NCAA tournament contenders and somehow lost that too.

Despite playing without its third- and fourth-leading scorers due to injury, LSU erased deficits of 12 points late in the first half and eight points a few minutes into the second half. The Tigers (12-5, 1-3) built a nine-point lead of their own with less than five minutes to go, then withstood full-court pressure and a late scoring flurry from standout Arkansas freshman Boogie Fland to close out the victory.

Calipari’s postgame news conference Tuesday night was reminiscent of many that he delivered after losses late in his Kentucky tenure. He shouldered the blame for not preparing his team well enough yet offered few specifics regarding adjustments he intended to make.

Twice, Calipari told reporters in Baton Rouge, “I’ve got to do a better job with my team.” Later, he described himself as disappointed he’s “not getting through to these guys” and claimed he “may have to drag them to the finish line in some of these close games.”

There’s still time for Arkansas to dig its way out of this midseason hole, but the Razorbacks’ road to the NCAA tournament is uphill and obstacle-laden. A neutral-court victory over Michigan is Arkansas’ lone Quadrant 1 or 2 victory this season in seven opportunities. The Razorbacks’ second-best win of the season is … Lipscomb? Troy? Maybe 4-13 ACC doormat Miami?

The historic strength of the SEC could be Arkansas’ salvation or demise. On one hand, plenty of chances for marquee victories remain in a league with nine teams in the current AP Top 25. On the other hand, per Ken Pomeroy, the Razorbacks will only be favored in five of their remaining 14 conference games. At this point, Arkansas is more likely to finish in the bottom third of the SEC than to make the NCAA tournament.

That Calipari’s former program is flourishing in his absence only highlights Arkansas’ struggles. Kentucky coach Mark Pope didn’t inherit a single returning player from Calipari, yet the roster he rebuilt on the fly via the transfer portal is 14-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. Fueled by its sleek, modern offense, Kentucky boasts impressive victories over Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, Florida, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. If the season ended today, the Wildcats would be no worse than a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Deep-pocketed Arkansas boosters envisioned a similar outcome when they plunked down big money to lure Calipari from Kentucky last spring. The fresh start appeared to be a win-win for both parties with Calipari in need of an offramp out of Lexington and Arkansas in search of a jolt of excitement.

Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky was perfect, until it wasn’t. For almost a decade, he fulfilled Big Blue Nation’s wildest dreams. The revolving door of one-and-done talent he recruited won SEC titles, made deep NCAA tournament runs and even captured the 2012 national title. But the program that was two wins away from a historic 40-0 season in 2015 never approached those heights again. The atmosphere in Lexington turned especially toxic after Calipari’s Wildcats lost to 15th-seeded St. Peters in the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament and to 14th-seeded Oakland last year.

What observers have since learned is that a fresh start requires more than a change of address and an influx of red blazers and quarter-zip pullovers. You can’t hire a 65-year-old coach, allow him to bring over an assortment of longtime assistants and then expect different results.

Armed with a war chest of NIL money that few other programs could match, Calipari assembled a roster that doesn’t mesh well with one-another or fit the modern game. Fland and fellow perimeter players DJ Wagner, Johnell Davis and Karter Knox can all hit a 3-pointer but are best with the ball in their hands attacking downhill. The spacing gets worse with forward Adou Thiero and center Jonas Aidoo in the frontcourt together, as neither are a threat from 3-point range.

Arkansas is shooting 33.7% from behind the arc as a team and is 248th nationally in percentage of points scored from 3-point range. Opposing defenses can afford to clog driving lanes, pack the paint and dare the Razorbacks to hoist contested jumpers early in the shot clock.

The hallmark of Calipari’s best Kentucky teams were long, athletic defenses that aggressively hounded 3-point shooters yet surrendered nothing easy at the rim. This Arkansas team is better defensively than some of Calipari’s most recent Kentucky teams, but it commits too many fouls and surrenders too many second-chance points to make up for the Razorbacks’ offensive woes.

Against LSU, it also didn’t help that a tough call went against Arkansas at a key juncture of the second half. LSU led 53-52 when referees called this a flagrant foul on Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile. The Razorbacks trailed 58-52 by the time they got the ball back.

How will Arkansas respond to a dismal SEC start made worse by the LSU loss? With effort and energy, Calipari says, despite a difficult upcoming schedule. Arkansas visits Missouri on Saturday, then hosts Georgia and Oklahoma. Matchups with Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Texas and Texas A&M await in February.

“I told them after the game, ‘I’m not cracking so let’s just keep going,’” Calipari said Tuesday.

The Razorbacks have no choice.

Either they turn their disappointing season around now, or Calipari’s debut campaign in Fayetteville will end shy of the NCAA tournament.

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Arkansas

UL prepares to face Troy, Arkansas State twice in 11-day stretch

Published

16 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

UL prepares to face Troy, Arkansas State twice in 11-day stretch

LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana women’s basketball team is off to its best Sun Belt Conference start since 2020, holding a 4-1 record as they aim to replicate the success that led them to a regular-season title just three years ago.

However, the Cajuns face a critical 11-day stretch as the team will take on Arkansas State and Troy twice, both teams boasting potent offenses ranked second and fourth in the conference, respectively.

Head coach Garry Brodhead emphasizes that defense will be the key to weathering this challenging stretch.

“Anytime that you have any type of system, if the kids believe in it, it seems like it works a little bit better or a lot better,” Brodhead said. “On the road, that’s one of the things that we really, really preach. You know, we may not be making shots like we’re capable of… but you can always defend.”

The coach acknowledged the difficulties posed by Arkansas State and Troy, pointing out changes in the Red Wolves’ system, which now prioritizes a faster pace, three-point shooting, and relentless pressing.

“Troy is a tough team to play,” Brodhead added. “Both games will be tough. Can we withstand that, especially from the first game to the second game?”

The Cajuns’ pivotal run begins Wednesday in Jonesboro, where they’ll face Arkansas State at 7 p.m. A strong showing could position Louisiana for second place in the standings, trailing only James Madison.
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Arkansas

Arkansas High School Boys Basketball Scores (1/14/2025)

Published

24 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Press Room

Arkansas High School Boys Basketball Scores (1/14/2025)

The Arkansas high school boys basketball season is in full swing, and High School On SI has scores for every team and classification.

Keep track of Arkansas high school boys basketball scores below.

Arkansas high school boys basketball scores

ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL STATEWIDE SCORES

CLASS 6A

CLASS 5A

CLASS 4A

CLASS 3A

CLASS 2A

CLASS 1A

2024-25 ARKANSAS BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULES: FIND YOUR TEAM

Follow High School On SI throughout the 2024 high school boys basketball season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!

Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school boys basketball news.

High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before. For more information, visit si.com/high-school.

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To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App

— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi

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