Arkansas was picked 16th in the 2021-22 AP preseason poll and 10th last preseason after back-to-back NCAA Elite 8 finishes. The Razorbacks are one of four teams in the NCAA that have played in each of the last three Sweet 16’s along with Houston (preseason #7), Gonzaga (preseason #11) and UCLA (preseason #28).

Kansas, which lost to Arkansas as the top seed in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, is preseason #1 followed by #2 Duke, who Arkansas will host on Nov. 29, and #3 Purdue, who Arkansas will host in a charity exhibition game on Oct. 28.

Other Razorback opponents in the AP preseason poll include #9 Tennessee, #15 Texas A&M. #16 Kentucky and #24 Alabama while Auburn, Mississippi State, Missouri and Florida received votes. Potential opponents at this year’s Battle 4 Atlantis in the poll include #19 North Carolina and #22 Villanova with Memphis receiving votes.

This is the first time since the mid 90’s (1993-94 to 1996-97) that Arkansas has landed inside the AP preseason top 25 for at least three consecutive years and just the fourth time in program history (along with 19898-90 to 1991-92 and 1980-81 to 1984-85).

Arkansas will host UT Tyler in an exhibition game this Friday (Oct. 20) in Bud Walton Arena. Tip-off is set for 6:30 pm and the game is part of the 2023-24 men’s basketball season ticket package.