2017–18 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

2017–18 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
NCAA tournament, First Round
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record23–12 (10–8 SEC)
Head coach
Associate head coachMelvin Watkins
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBud Walton Arena
Seasons
2017–18 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 19 Auburn 13 5   .722 26 8   .765
No. 13 Tennessee 13 5   .722 26 9   .743
No. 23 Florida 11 7   .611 21 13   .618
No. 18 Kentucky 10 8   .556 26 11   .703
Missouri 10 8   .556 20 13   .606
Arkansas 10 8   .556 23 12   .657
Mississippi State 9 9   .500 25 12   .676
Texas A&M 9 9   .500 22 13   .629
Alabama 8 10   .444 20 16   .556
LSU 8 10   .444 18 15   .545
Georgia 7 11   .389 18 15   .545
South Carolina 7 11   .389 17 16   .515
Vanderbilt 6 12   .333 12 20   .375
Ole Miss 5 13   .278 12 20   .375
2018 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2017–18 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by Mike Anderson, who was in his seventh season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 23–12, 10–8 in SEC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place. As the No. 6 seed in the SEC tournament, they defeated South Carolina and Florida before losing in the semifinals to Tennessee. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Butler.

Senior guard Jaylen Barford was named first-team All-SEC, while senior guard Daryl Macon was a second-team All-SEC selection. Freshman center Daniel Gafford was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. On March 26, 2018, Gafford announced he would forgo the 2018 NBA draft and would be returning to Arkansas for his sophomore season.

Previous season

The Razorbacks finished the 2016–17 season 26–10, 12–6 in SEC play to finish in a tie for third. In the SEC tournament, the defeated Ole Miss and Vanderbilt before losing to Kentucky in the tournament championship. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years as a #8 seed in the South region. There, they defeated #9 Seton Hall before falling to top seed and eventual national champion North Carolina in the round of 32.

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Dusty Hannahs 3 G 6'3" 210 Senior Little Rock, Arkansas Graduated
Brachen Hazen 12 F 6'8" 195 Freshman Fort Wayne, Indiana Transferred
Manuale Watkins 21 G 6'3" 220 Senior Fayetteville, Arkansas Graduated
Moses Kingsley 33 C 6'10" 230 Senior Abuja, Nigeria Graduated

2017 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Daniel Gafford
F
El Dorado, Arkansas El Dorado High School 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Aug 1, 2015 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Khalil Garland
G
Little Rock, Arkansas Parkview High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jul 16, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Darious Hall
F
Little Rock, Arkansas Mills University Studies High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Mar 15, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Gabe Osabuohien
F
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Southwest Christian Academy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 219 lb (99 kg) May 24, 2017 
Star ratings: RivalsN/A   247Sports:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 18, 2016.

2018 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2018)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Isaiah Joe
SG
Fort Smith, AR Northside High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Aug 2, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Desi Sills
PG
Jonesboro, AR Jonesboro High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Aug 19, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Ethan Henderson
PF
Little Rock, AR Parkview Magnet High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sep 5, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Keyshawn Embery
PG
Oklahoma City, OK Midwest City High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sep 16, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Jordan Phillips
SF
Cedar Hill, TX Cedar Hill High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oct 8, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPNN/A
Reggie Chaney
PF
Frisco, TX Findlay Prep 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Oct 28, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Mason Jones
SG
Warner, OK Connors State College 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Apr 7, 2018 
Star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

2017–18 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Jaylen Barford 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sr South Side HS
Motlow State CC
Jackson, Tennessee
PF 1 Trey Thompson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Sr Forrest City HS Madison, Arkansas
SF 2 Adrio Bailey 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Lakeview HS Campti, Louisiana
SG 3 Khalil Garland 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School Little Rock, Arkansas
SG 4 Daryl Macon 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Parkview HS
Holmes CC
Little Rock, Arkansas
SF 5 Arlando Cook 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Madison Prep
Connors State College
St. Louis, Missouri
PF 10 Daniel Gafford 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Fr El Dorado High School El Dorado, Arkansas
SG 11 Jalen Harris 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS So Word of God Christian Academy
New Mexico
Raleigh, North Carolina
SG 15 Jonathan Holmes 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Columbia High School Columbia, Illinois
SF 20 Darious Hall 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Mills University Studies High School Little Rock, Arkansas
SF 22 Gabe Osabuohien 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Southwest Christian Academy Toronto
SG 23 C.J. Jones 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Central Park Christian HS Birmingham, Alabama
PG 31 Anton Beard 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sr North Little Rock HS North Little Rock, Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: 2018-03-06

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Oct 27, 2017*
7:00 p.m.
Central Oklahoma W 78–66 
Bud Walton Arena (13,272)
Fayetteville, AR
Nov 3, 2017*
7:00 p.m.
Missouri Western W 88–74 
Bud Walton Arena (13,291)
Fayetteville, AR
Regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
7:00 p.m.
Samford W 95–56  1–0
Bud Walton Arena (13,407)
Fayetteville, AR
Nov 12, 2017*
5:00 p.m., SECN
Bucknell W 101–73  2–0
Bud Walton Arena (13,404)
Fayetteville, AR
Nov 17, 2017*
7:00 p.m., ESPN3
Fresno State W 83–75  3–0
Bud Walton Arena (15,051)
Fayetteville, AR
Nov 23, 2017*
4:00 p.m., ESPN2
vs. Oklahoma
PK80 tournament Victory Bracket quarterfinals
W 92–83  4–0
Moda Center (11,294)
Portland, OR
Nov 24, 2017*
2:30 p.m., ESPN
vs. No. 9 North Carolina
PK80 Tournament Victory Bracket semifinals
L 68–87  4–1
Veterans Memorial Coliseum (6,603)
Portland, OR
Nov 26, 2017*
2:00 p.m., ESPN
vs. UConn
PK80 Tournament Victory Bracket 3rd place game
W 102–67  5–1
Moda Center (11,571)
Portland, OR
Dec 2, 2017*
6:30 p.m., CBSSN
at Houston L 65–91  5–2
H&PE Arena (4,186)
Houston, TX
Dec 5, 2017*
7:00 p.m.
Colorado State W 92–66  6–2
Bud Walton Arena (13,634)
Fayetteville, AR
Dec 9, 2017*
5:45 p.m., SECN
No. 14 Minnesota W 95–79  7–2
Bud Walton Arena (17,583)
Fayetteville, AR
Dec 16, 2017*
7:00 p.m.
vs. Troy
North Little Rock Showcase
W 88–63  8–2
Verizon Arena (16,416)
North Little Rock, AR
Dec 19, 2017*
7:00 p.m., ESPN3
Oral Roberts W 104–69  9–2
Bud Walton Arena (13,945)
Fayetteville, AR
Dec 27, 2017*
7:00 p.m., SECN
Cal State Bakersfield W 95–68  10–2
Bud Walton Arena (15,829)
Fayetteville, AR
Dec 30, 2017
12:00 p.m., SECN
No. 19 Tennessee W 95–93 OT 11–2
(1–0)
Bud Walton Arena (18,696)
Fayetteville, AR
Jan 2, 2018
8:00 p.m., SECN
No. 22 at Mississippi State L 75–78  11–3
(1–1)
Humphrey Coliseum (6,324)
Starkville, MS
Jan 6, 2018
5:00 p.m., ESPNU
No. 22 at Auburn L 77–88  11–4
(1–2)
Auburn Arena (8,950)
Auburn, AL
Jan 10, 2018
8:00 p.m., SECN
LSU L 54–75  11–5
(1–3)
Bud Walton Arena (15,199)
Fayetteville, AR
Jan 13, 2018
5:00 p.m., ESPN2
Missouri W 65–63  12–5
(2–3)
Bud Walton Arena (18,297)
Fayetteville, AR
Jan 17, 2018
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
at Florida L 73–88  12–6
(2–4)
O'Connell Center (9,929)
Gainesville, FL
Jan 20, 2018
2:30 p.m., SECN
Ole Miss W 97–93  13–6
(3–4)
Bud Walton Arena (18,030)
Fayetteville, AR
Jan 23, 2018
5:30 p.m., SECN
at Georgia W 80–77 2OT 14–6
(4–4)
Stegeman Coliseum (6,405)
Athens, GA
Jan 27, 2018*
5:00 p.m., ESPN2
Oklahoma State
Big 12/SEC Challenge
W 66–65  15–6
Bud Walton Arena (18,057)
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Jan 30, 2018
8:00 p.m., ESPNU
at Texas A&M L 66–80  15–7
(4–5)
Reed Arena (8,761)
College Station, TX
Feb 3, 2018
2:30 p.m., SECN
at LSU L 86–94  15–8
(4–6)
Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,272)
Baton Rouge, LA
Feb 6, 2018
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
South Carolina W 81–65  16–8
(5–6)
Bud Walton Arena (14,956)
Fayetteville, AR
Feb 10, 2018
7:30 p.m., SECN
Vanderbilt W 72–54  17–8
(6–6)
Bud Walton Arena (17,083)
Fayetteville, AR
Feb 13, 2018
6:00 p.m., SECN
at Ole Miss W 75–64  18–8
(7–6)
The Pavilion at Ole Miss (6,023)
Oxford, MS
Feb 17, 2018
3:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 21 Texas A&M W 94–75  19–8
(8–6)
Bud Walton Arena (18,097)
Fayetteville, AR
Feb 20, 2018
8:00 p.m., ESPN
Kentucky L 72–87  19–9
(8–7)
Bud Walton Arena (18,083)
Fayetteville, AR
Feb 24, 2018
5:00 p.m., SECN
at Alabama W 76–73  20–9
(9–7)
Coleman Coliseum (15,383)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Feb 27, 2018
8:00 p.m., SECN
No. 14 Auburn W 91–82  21–9
(10–7)
Bud Walton Arena (15,733)
Fayetteville, AR
Mar 3, 2018
5:00 p.m., ESPN2
at Missouri L 67–77  21–10
(10–8)
Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Columbia, MO
SEC Tournament
Mar 8, 2018
8:00 p.m., SECN
(6) vs. (11) South Carolina
Second Round
W 69–64  22–10
Scottrade Center (11,752)
St. Louis, MO
Mar 9, 2018
8:00 p.m., SECN
(6) vs. (3) Florida
Quarterfinals
W 80–72  23–10
Scottrade Center (14,596)
St. Louis, MO
Mar 10, 2018
2:30 p.m., ESPN
(6) vs. (2) No. 13 Tennessee
Semifinals
L 66–84  23–11
Scottrade Center (18,729)
St. Louis, MO
NCAA tournament
Mar 16, 2018*
2:10 p.m., truTV
(7 E) vs. (10 E) Butler
First Round
L 62–79  23–12
Little Caesars Arena (20,163)
Detroit, MI
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
E=East.
All times are in Central Time.

References