Arkansas Returns To Associated Press Top 25

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Riding a five-game win streak into the start of SEC play at Georgia on Tuesday, the Arkansas men’s basketball found itself back in the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 23 when the poll was released on Monday. The ranking marks the third time this year the Razorbacks have been in the AP Top 25.

When Arkansas takes the floor at Stegeman Coliseum on Tuesday night against the Bulldogs, it will mark the first time since 1999 that it has started SEC play nationally ranked. Arkansas and Georgia are the opening game of the first ESPN Super Tuesday of the season starting at 6 p.m. CT.

Arkansas also moved into the USA Today Coaches poll at No. 25 on Monday. The Razorbacks have at least received votes in both polls every week since the preseason.

Tuesday will mark the third straight year the Razorbacks have opened SEC play on the road, as they finished non-conference action 11-2 for the second straight year under head coach Mike Anderson. Led by the SEC’s second-highest scoring duo (32.2 ppg) of sophomore Bobby Portis and junior Michael Qualls, Arkansas leads the league and ranks ninth nationally in scoring (84.5) while leading the country in assists (19.2).

Arkansas will be looking for its second win over a team currently in top 20 of the ESPN RPI when it takes on Georgia (No. 19). Earlier in the year, the Razorbacks defeated A-10 member Dayton (No. 18) at Bud Walton Arena. Georgia is Arkansas’ third true road game against a top 50 RPI team, as it won at SMU (No. 38) and lost at Iowa State (No. 44).