Arkansas Slides to No. 20 in AP Top 25 as SEC Race Heats Up
After a week that saw both a dominant win and a disappointing loss, Arkansas men's basketball dropped three spots to No. 20 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, released Monday.
The Razorbacks were riding high after dismantling South Carolina 108-74 last Wednesday, but Saturday’s 90-76 road loss to Georgia exposed some cracks. That inconsistency cost Arkansas in the rankings, and now they find themselves with a critical stretch ahead.
Big Week Ahead at Bud Walton
Arkansas has two big opportunities this week to steady the ship and climb back up the rankings. First up: a marquee showdown against No.
15 Vanderbilt on Tuesday night. That’s followed by a Saturday evening tilt against LSU.
Both games are at Bud Walton Arena, where the Hogs have been tough to beat.
Vanderbilt presents a particularly intriguing matchup. The Commodores are coming off a rocky week themselves but remain one of the SEC’s most dangerous teams. If Arkansas wants to prove it's still a top-tier contender, this is the kind of game it needs to win - especially at home.
SEC Well Represented in the Top 25
The Razorbacks are one of five SEC teams in this week’s poll, joining Vanderbilt (No. 15), Florida (No.
16), Alabama (No. 17), and Georgia (No. 21).
Kentucky and Texas A&M didn’t crack the top 25 but did receive votes, showing just how deep and competitive the conference is shaping up to be.
Georgia’s rise is particularly notable. The Bulldogs' win over Arkansas was arguably their most complete performance of the season, and it was enough to vault them into the rankings. That game may have said as much about Georgia’s potential as it did about Arkansas’ vulnerabilities.
National Landscape: Arizona Stays on Top
At the top of the poll, Arizona remains the unanimous No. 1 after handling business against Arizona State and UCF. The Wildcats are one of just three unbeaten teams left in the country and continue to look every bit the part of a national title contender.
The Big 12 leads all conferences with six teams in the top 25. The SEC, Big Ten, and ACC each have five, while the Big East, West Coast Conference, Atlantic 10, and Mid-American Conference each placed one team in the rankings.
Arkansas’ Season-Long Ranking Journey
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for Arkansas in the rankings this season. The Razorbacks opened the year at No. 14 in the preseason poll, dipped into the 20s early on, climbed back up to No. 14 in Week 6, and now find themselves back at No.
- The inconsistency has been a theme, but the talent is there - it’s just a matter of putting it all together down the stretch.
Inside the Ballot: A Voter’s Take on Arkansas and the Rest of the Field
Arkansas dropped one spot to No. 21 on the ballot of Anthony Kristensen, the state’s AP voter. He pointed to the Georgia loss as a red flag but also noted the Hogs have a big chance to bounce back against Vanderbilt. In Kristensen’s view, Georgia’s performance was their strongest of the season - a statement win that justified their reentry into the rankings at No. 19 on his ballot.
Elsewhere in Kristensen’s rankings, Iowa State took a noticeable tumble after back-to-back road losses - one of which came against a struggling Cincinnati team. That opened the door for teams like UConn, Michigan, Purdue, Gonzaga, and Duke to climb, thanks to both their own wins and Iowa State’s misstep.
Nebraska continues to fly under the radar despite an unblemished record. Kristensen hinted they might be underrated nationally, but they’re sitting comfortably at No. 7 on his ballot.
Florida Rising, Alabama Slipping
Florida is trending in the right direction. The Gators have found their rhythm and currently sit alone atop the SEC standings. Kristensen moved them up to No. 14 on his ballot, crediting the team’s improved backcourt play and overall cohesion.
Alabama, meanwhile, slipped a spot despite winning. A shaky performance against a struggling Oklahoma team raised some concerns, and with Kansas surging, the Crimson Tide were nudged down to No. 18.
Wisconsin, Saint Louis, and Miami (Ohio) Making Noise
Wisconsin is quietly putting together a strong case. The Badgers have won six of their last seven, including a statement win over Michigan. While their early-season struggles keep them from climbing too high, they’re now No. 20 on Kristensen’s ballot and gaining momentum.
Saint Louis is on fire. The Billikens have rattled off 11 straight wins and are helping make the Atlantic 10 look like a multi-bid league.
Miami (Ohio) is another under-the-radar story - still unbeaten and still getting little love from the metrics, but Kristensen continues to reward the RedHawks’ resume by keeping them at No. 25.
Falling Out and Just Missing the Cut
North Carolina, Utah State, and Auburn all fell out of Kristensen’s rankings this week. UNC’s 0-2 West Coast swing was especially damaging, and the Tar Heels have now lost three of their last four. Auburn’s loss to a wildly inconsistent Missouri squad didn’t help their case either.
George Mason was the first team left off Kristensen’s ballot. The Patriots are the only one-loss team not ranked and are making a strong case to be included soon. He also mentioned VCU and Dayton as teams to watch from the A-10, though they didn’t receive top-25 consideration this week.
What’s Next for Arkansas?
The Razorbacks are at a crossroads. A win over Vanderbilt would be a major statement and could reverse the narrative after the Georgia loss. A stumble, though, and the downward slide could continue - especially with a feisty LSU squad waiting later in the week.
This team has the pieces to contend, but January is where contenders start separating from pretenders. Arkansas’ next two games could go a long way toward determining which category they fall into.