Razorbacks Will Have to Go It Alone in Quest for No. 1 Seed in NCAA Tournament

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Over the previous three seasons, for the Razorbacks to get onto a path to make it into the NCAA event, or within the case of the final two, carve a solution to the Elite 8, assist was wanted from different groups. 

A key win by a fellow SEC workforce or a key loss by somebody outdoors the convention added worth to Arkansas wins whereas clearing the particles wanted to climb the NCAA ladder.

That is not taking place this yr. Should you want that demonstrated by actuality, take the AP rankings. All people and their brother has misplaced in entrance of Arkansas this yr, but, regardless of persevering with to win, the Razorbacks aren’t shifting. 

Bradley isn’t any killer by any stretch of the creativeness, however the Braves are a projected No. 13 seed, so it ought to have had some constructive impact. 

But, there’s Arkansas caught within the mud at No. 10, the place it fell final week following wins over UNC-Greensboro and Oklahoma. 

In fact, the SEC schedule begins subsequent week, however the assist from the convention schedule goes to be minimal. 

There have been just a few SEC wins in opposition to ranked groups from different conferences, just about all of which got here by way of Alabama and Tennessee, however with folks simply now beginning to concentrate to basketball, most will solely keep in mind the excessive profile blood tub the league took this previous week.

Tennessee misplaced to No. 9 Arizona. 

Alabama misplaced to No. 15 Gonzaga.

Kentucky misplaced to No. 16 UCLA.

Auburn misplaced to an unranked USC workforce.

All ranked bell cow packages. All making it clear to future committee members presumably how a lot better basketball is out West than within the Southeast a part of the nation.

Because of this, the large speak in faculty basketball was how the SEC was the weekend’s greatest loser as an alternative of the Massive Dangerous Wolves the convention desires it to be. 

Alabama’s highway win over Houston, Tennessee’s wins over Gonzaga and Kansas, together with … effectively, apparently Auburn and Kentucky have fallen face first each time a ranked opponent has proven up on the schedule, however these wins by Alabama and Tennessee have been worn out by the complete convention collapse in opposition to ranked opponents this previous week.

To make issues worse, then No. 8 Creighton forgot learn how to play basketball after an epic 90-87 win over Arkansas in Maui. The Blue Jays have not gained a single recreation since. 

As for then No. 17 San Diego St., which was to be the large win for Arkansas popping out of the Maui Basic in a dramatic additional time end – with emphasis on the dramatic – the world dropped out from below the Aztecs, as did their rating.

If Arkansas desires to dig itself out of the mud at No. 10, the Hogs should not solely going to must win, they’ll must win massive. The trail to a No. 1 or excessive No. 2 seed should be affected by the bludgeoned carcasses of actually everybody left on the schedule. 

The one different method issues may tip within the Hogs’ favor is that if the SEC goes in and dominates within the Massive 12-SEC problem, thus changing the picture {that a} convention loss for the Razorbacks is the equal to 2 within the Pac 12. 

Different faculties will get the nod if aren’t dominant in profitable as a result of everybody may have that distant reminiscence of the SEC going up in opposition to different conferences in mid-December and getting blanked if the Massive 12 performs .500 basketball or higher in that problem.

As Arkansas followers know, Musselman’s purpose is all the time to simply get to the event and type it out recreation by recreation. It is led to the Elite 8 every of the previous two seasons.

 Nonetheless, the status of a No. 1 seed and desires of a theoretically simpler path again to the Elite 8 have Arkansas followers hoping for assist. 

Assist that possible is not coming.

HOGS FEED:

HOGS’ SAM PITTMAN ON WHY RELYING ON PLANE TRACKERS CAN GET PRETTY RISKY FOR FANS

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL HAS GOTTEN UGLY AND IT MAY GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER

ROUGH WEEKEND FOR ARKANSAS FOOTBALL ALL AROUND

HOW FANS CAN HELP PUSH THE TRANSFER PORTAL SHOPPING CART

SAMARA SPENCER, SAYLOR POFFENBARGER KEEP HOGS PERFECT WITH BIG ROAD WIN

CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO DECEMBER SCHEDULE BEFORE MORE COACHES LOSE THEIR LIVES

PITTMAN RIGHT ON HOW PLAYERS IN TRANSFER PORTAL ARE LIKE FUTRE EX-WIVES

FINDING MAGIC IN THE MUNDANE AT RAZORBACK FOOTBALL GAMES

PETRINO IN BETTER PLACE WITH ODOM THAN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH JIMBO FISHER

PAIR OF RAZORBACK LINEBACKERS HANDLE RECRUITING

WHO’S PLAYING LINEBACKER FRIDAY SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOGS CHANCES AGAINST KANSAS IN LIBERTY BOWL

NEW STRENGTH COACH SHARES THOUGHTS ON WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS HOGS TEAM

WOULD A COUPLE OF EX-RAZORBACK TIGHT ENDS BE A FIT FOR COACHING SPOT?

SUCCESS OF DREW SANDERS LAYS BARE LIMITATIONS HOGS HAVE HAD IN RECRUITING OVER THE YEARS

HORNSBY’S BEST CHANCE AT THE NFL WAS TO STAY IN FAYETTEVILLE

MIKE LEACH GAVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS PLENTY TO REMEMBER HIM BY

 Return to allHogs dwelling web page.

• Need to take part on the dialogue? Click on right here to grow to be a member of the allHOGS message board group right this moment!

• Comply with allHOGS on Twitter and Fb.

• View and subscribe to the allHogs YouTube Channel