The Arkansas Razorbacks finished second in the SEC thanks to their up-tempo style of play, and are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.
Resume:
Record – 25-7 (13-5 in SEC)
RPI – 21
Strength of Schedule – 67
Starting Lineup:
G Anton Beard (Fr.) – 6.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg
G Rashad Madden (So.) – 10.0 ppg, 4.7 apg
G Michael Qualls (Sr.) – 15.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg
F Alandise Harris (Jr.) – 7.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg
F Bobby Portis (Fr.) – 18.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg
Key Player:
Bobby Portis
Portis - not someone on Kentucky - was named SEC Player of the Year, and for good reason. He has an NBA-ready body and his athleticism and shooting touch make extremely effective around the rim. Portis is good in the post and has range that extends all the way to the three-point line, making him almost impossible to guard.
Biggest Strength:
Scoring
The Razorbacks love to get out in transition and get easy baskets around the rim, which translates them averaging over 79 points per game, good to make them the 12th highest scoring team in the country. Their up-tempo system is so effective because of their willingness to share the ball, ranking 6th in the nation in assists per game.
Biggest Weakness:
Points Allowed
Arkansas loves to press on defense, and they do create an abundance of turnovers, but they get burned too often when the gamble for steals - and they aren't great guarding a team in the half court. They give up 70.6 points per game, though that number balloons to 78.5 against the teams they've played that are projected to make the NCAA Tournament.
Outlook:
Arkansas' up-tempo style of play will create problems for a lot of teams, and they have the talent to make a surprise run to the Elite 8 if they get good matchups along the way.
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