As we wrap up February, the excitement around March Madness is palpable, and ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has just unveiled his latest Bracketology, and it’s shaping up to get interesting. Among his projections, the Arkansas Razorbacks find themselves as one of the sought-after “last four byes,” positioned as a No. 10 seed set to face off against the No. 7 seed Memphis Tigers in the East Region down in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Now, let’s talk about Memphis. They’re riding a commendable wave, currently sitting at No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll and with the tantalizing prospect of clinching the American Athletic Conference regular season title for the very first time, pending a clean sweep of their next three games. With a sparkling 23-5 overall record and a robust 13-2 in conference play, the Tigers are bringing serious firepower to the table. Their NET ranking sits at No. 48, bolstered by an impressive resume including a 6-2 record in quad-one games and three wins against ranked opponents—most notably taking down No. 2 UConn, No. 16 Clemson, and No. 16 Ole Miss.
On the flip side, we’ve got the Razorbacks, who have shown some resilience by winning three of their last five games. Their campaign includes victories over LSU, No. 15 Missouri, and Texas at home. However, they’ve also faced narrow defeats on the road against some formidable competition, dropping close games to No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 1 Auburn, each by fewer than nine points. This recent performance has positioned the Hogs on the favorable side of the bubble, enhancing their chances for a coveted bid in the NCAA Tournament.
As it stands, Arkansas holds a NET ranking of No. 40. Their quad-one record may be a bit shaky at 4-9, but they’ve showcased grit elsewhere, with records of 2-2 in quad-two games, a perfect 4-0 in quad-three, and 7-0 in quad-four matchups. Just like Memphis, the Razorbacks have also made their mark by taking down three ranked opponents—most impressively, No. 14 Michigan, No. 12 Kentucky on the road, and No. 15 Missouri.
If a first-round clash between Arkansas and Memphis becomes a reality, brace yourself for a game that could fire up fans and analysts alike. Historically, matchups between 10 and 7 seeds often deliver high drama, and this one promises to do just that. Memphis is currently averaging an impressive 79.8 points per game compared to Arkansas’ 76.4, while on the defensive end, the Tigers allow 72.9 points per game versus the Hogs’ 69.9.
As March rolls in, the SEC Tournament is just around the corner, set to kick off on March 12. Before that, Arkansas has three essential regular-season games left, including a trip to South Carolina on March 1, followed by a visit to Vanderbilt on March 4, and then a significant home game against No. 24 Mississippi State on March 8. Each game is crucial as the Razorbacks aim to solidify their standing and make a strong case for the Big Dance. Buckle up, folks—this is shaping up to be quite a ride!
