BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Arkansas' men’s basketball team was predicted to finish second in the SEC in 2022-23 by media members who cover the league, it was announced Wednesday.
It is the highest the Razorbacks have been slotted in the preseason media poll in Eric Musselman's four seasons leading the program, and is their best predicted finish since being chosen to win the SEC West ahead of the 2007-08 season.
Kentucky was picked to win the SEC and has the league's preseason player of the year, forward Oscar Tshiebewe. The Wildcats also placed senior guard Sahvir Wheeler on the preseason All-SEC first team.
The Razorbacks are scheduled to play Kentucky twice in the upcoming season, including in the regular-season finale at Bud Walton Arena on March 4.
Arkansas went 28-9 overall and 13-5 in SEC play last season. The Razorbacks advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, where they lost 78-69 to Duke.
Arkansas guard Nick Smith was named to the All-SEC first team, becoming the first Arkansas freshman to pick up preseason All-SEC honors. He is the 11th Razorback to land on the preseason first team and first since Daniel Gafford in 2018-19.
A former 5-star recruit by ESPN and the No. 1 player in the 2022 class, according to 247 Sports, Smith is the highest-ranked prospect to sign with Arkansas in the modern recruiting service era. Blue Ribbon Yearbook has named him the preseason national newcomer of the year.
SEC Preseason Projected Order of Finish
1. Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. Tennessee
4. Auburn
5. Alabama
6. Texas A&M
7. Florida
8. LSU
9. Ole Miss
10. Mississippi State
11. Missouri
12. Vanderbilt
13. Georgia
14. South Carolina
Preseason All-SEC First Team
G Nick Smith, Fr., Arkansas
F Colin Castleton, Sr., Florida
F Oscar Tshiebwe, Sr., Kentucky
G Sahvir Wheeler, Sr., Kentucky
G Santiago Vescovi, Sr., Tennessee
Preseason All-SEC Second Team
F Brandon Miller, Fr., Alabama
G Jahvon Quinerly, Sr., Alabama
F KJ Williams, Sr., LSU
G Josiah-Jordan James, Sr., Tennessee
G Zakai Zeigler, So., Tennessee