The Sports Bank’s college basketball season previews undergo a face lift this season. Rather than counting down the top 111 teams in 111 days, we will go conference-by-conference. I’ve already counted down the Pac-12 and Big 12 now we turn our attention to the SEC.
If any team is poised to supplant Kentucky or Florida in the top two of the SEC, it is the Arkansas Razorbacks. Heavily reliant on a deep rotation, the Hogs bring back six of their top seven scorers from last year’s team that missed out on the NCAA Tournament.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Last Season: 5th, 10-8 in SEC, 22-12 overall
Predicted SEC Finish: 3rd
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Bobby Portis (So)/Moses Kingsley (So)
F: Alandise Harris (Sr)/Jacorey Williams (Jr)/Keaton Miles (Jr)/Trey Thompson (Fr)
G/F: Michael Qualls (Jr)
SG: Anthlon Bell (Jr)/Nick Babb (Fr)
PG: Rashad Madden (Sr)/Anton Beard (Fr)
Gone: PF-Coty Clarke, SG-Rickey Scott, G-Mardracus Wade, PG-Fred Gulley, SG-Kikko Haydar, PG-DeQuavious Wagner (transfer-Angelo State)
2014-2015 Outlook:
For Arkansas to establish themselves as the next in line in the SEC, they need a breakout sophomore season from Bobby Portis. A future first round pick, Portis has a well-rounded game and can make his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
Mike Anderson has quality depth in the frontcourt. Undersized four man Alandise Harris returns and should start alongside Portis. Moses Kingsley and Jacorey Williams were a part of the rotation last season and provide size inside while West Virginia transfer Keaton Miles should factor into the equation as well.
The backcourt has always been the sparkplug for a Mike Anderson coached team and his up-tempo style of play. Rashad Madden is not a true point guard but plays that role for Arkansas. He can shoot it from distance but also uses his 6-5 size to his advantage around the basket. Michael Qualls is crazy athletic and Athlon Bell is another capable scorer giving the Hogs a potent three-guard look. Freshmen Anton Beard and Nick Babb should see minutes right away as Anderson tends to go deep on his bench in an attempt to keep them fresh and continuously pressuring the opposing team.
Anderson added Texas Tech transfer Dusty Hannahs this off-season. A potent three-point threat, Hannahs must sit out this season but will added even more backcourt depth beginning in 2015-16.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/19 vs. Wake Forest
11/25 at SMU
11/30 vs. Iona
12/4 at Iowa State
12/7 at Clemson
12/13 vs. Dayton
OTHER SEC PREVIEWS:
BIG 12 PREVIEWS:
#1 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
#2 TEXAS LONGHORNS
PAC-12 PREVIEWS:
#1 ARIZONA WILDCATS
#4 UCLA BRUINS
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.