2022–23 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

2022–23 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 21
Record22–14 (8–10 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBud Walton Arena
(Capacity: 19,368)
Seasons
2022–23 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 1 Alabama† 16 – 2   .889 31 – 6   .838
No. 17 Texas A&M 15 – 3   .833 25 – 10   .714
Kentucky 12 – 6   .667 22 – 12   .647
No. 23 Missouri 11 – 7   .611 25 – 10   .714
No. 20 Tennessee 11 – 7   .611 25 – 11   .694
Vanderbilt 11 – 7   .611 22 – 15   .595
Auburn 10 – 8   .556 21 – 13   .618
Florida 9 – 9   .500 16 – 17   .485
Mississippi State 8 – 10   .444 21 – 13   .618
Arkansas 8 – 10   .444 22 – 14   .611
Georgia 6 – 12   .333 16 – 16   .500
South Carolina 4 – 14   .222 11 – 21   .344
Ole Miss 3 – 15   .167 12 – 21   .364
LSU 2 – 16   .111 14 – 19   .424
† 2023 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2022–23 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Eric Musselman, and played its home games at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 19–12, 8–10 in SEC Play to finish in a tie for 9th place. In the SEC tournament, the Razorbacks defeated Auburn in the second round before being defeated by Texas A&M in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed in the West Region. They defeated Illinois in the first round and upset No. 1 seed Kansas to reach the Sweet Sixteen. There, they were defeated by No. 4 seed, and eventual tournament champions, UConn, ending their season with an overall 22–14 record.

Previous season

Main article: 2021–22 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

Arkansas followed up an Elite Eight appearance in 2021 with another in 2022, even though the Razorbacks didn't finish as high in the SEC as they had a year prior. This time they were fourth in the final SEC standings, and earned a 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. Arkansas was sent to Buffalo, New York where they dispatched Vermont and New Mexico State to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.[1]

In the regional semifinals against overall top seeded Gonzaga, Arkansas secured a 74–68 upset victory at the Chase Center in San Francisco.[2] This set up an Elite Eight showdown with Duke, in the final year of head coach Mike Krzyzewski's 43-year stint with the Blue Devils.

Duke defeated the Razorbacks 78–69 to advance to the Final Four. The Razorbacks finished with a record of 28–9.[3]

Offseason

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Stanley Umude 0 G 6'6" 210 Graduate Student San Antonio, Texas Graduated
JD Notae 1 G 6'2" 190 Senior Covington, Georgia Declared for 2022 NBA draft
KK Robinson 2 G 6'0" 180 Sophomore Little Rock, Arkansas Transferred to Texas A&M
Trey Wade 3 F 6'6" 220 Graduate Student Marietta, Georgia Graduated
Au'Diese Toney 5 G 6'6" 205 Senior Huntsville, Alabama Graduated
Chris Lykes 11 G 5'7" 160 Graduate Student Mitchellville, Maryland Graduated
Jaylin Williams 10 F 6'10" 240 Sophomore Fort Smith, Arkansas Declared for 2022 NBA draft
Chance Moore 13 G 6'5" 195 Freshman Brookhaven, Georgia Transferred to Missouri State
Jaxson Robinson 14 G 6'6" 185 Sophomore Ada, Oklahoma Transferred to BYU
Connor Vanover 23 F 7'3" 235 Junior Little Rock, Arkansas Transferred to Oral Roberts

Incoming transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Transfer from Eligibility
Ricky Council IV 1 G 6'6" 205 Junior Durham, North Carolina Wichita State Three years, beginning immediately
Trevon Brazile 2 F 6'10" 200 Sophomore Springfield, Missouri Missouri Three years, beginning immediately
Jalen Graham 11 F 6'9" 225 Senior Phoenix, Arizona Arizona State Two years, beginning immediately
Makhi Mitchell 15 F/C 6'9" 230 Senior Washington, D.C. Rhode Island Two years, beginning immediately
Makhel Mitchell 22 F/C 6'10" 240 Senior Washington, D.C. Rhode Island Two years, beginning immediately

2022 Recruiting Class

With his third signing class, Eric Musselman signed the nation's second-ranked class (just behind Duke), with three 5* signees and three 4* signees. Guard Nick Smith finished ranked in the overall Top 5 of every major rankings service, and ended up ranked as the #1 overall recruit in the nation by 247Sports when their final rankings were released in May 2022.[4]

College recruiting information (2022)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Nick Smith Jr.
CG 		North Little Rock, Arkansas North Little Rock High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sep 29, 2021 
Star ratings: Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 93
Jordan Walsh
SF 		Cedar Hill, Texas Link Academy (Branson, MO) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Oct 14, 2021 
Star ratings: Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 93
Anthony Black
PG / SF 		Duncanville, TX Duncanville High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Mar 28, 2022 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 90
Derrian Ford
CG 		Magnolia, AR Magnolia High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jul 14, 2021 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 83
Barry Dunning
SF 		Mobile, AL McGill-Toolen Catholic High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jul 5, 2021 
Star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 83
Joseph Pinion
SG 		Morrilton, AR Morrilton High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oct 23, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 2  247Sports: 2  ESPN: 2
  • 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:

  • "Arkansas 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 7, 2022.

2023 Recruiting Class

Arkansas currently has two verbal commitments for the 2023 class, which can sign in the early signing period in November 2022.

College recruiting information (2023)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Layden Blocker
PG 		Little Rock, Arkansas Sunrise Christian Academy Wichita, Kansas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jun 25, 2022 
Star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Baye Fall
C 		Dakar, Senegal Accelerated Schools Denver, Colorado 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Nov 15, 2022 
Star ratings: Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 90
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 13  247Sports: 27  ESPN: 10
  • 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

2022–23 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Anthony Black 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Fr Duncanville High School Duncanville, Texas
G 1 Ricky Council IV 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Southern Durham HS
Wichita State 		Durham, North Carolina
F 2 Trevon Brazile 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 212 lb (96 kg) So Kickapoo HS
Missouri 		Springfield, Missouri
G 3 Nick Smith Jr. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr North Little Rock High School Jacksonville, Arkansas
G 4 Davonte Davis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Jacksonville HS Jacksonville, Arkansas
G 5 Joseph Pinion 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Morrilton High School Morrilton, Arkansas
F 11 Jalen Graham 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Mountain Pointe High School
Arizona State 		Phoenix, Arizona
G 12 Barry Dunning Jr. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr McGill–Toolen Catholic High School Mobile, Alabama
G 13 Jordan Walsh 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Link Year Prep DeSoto, Texas
F 15 Makhi Mitchell 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr Jackson-Reed High School
Rhode Island 		Washington, D.C.
F 20 Kamani Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Sr Holy Spirit Preparatory School
UALR 		Brooklyn, New York
G 21 Cade Arbogast 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Jr De La Salle High School
Lane Community College 		Concord, California
F 22 Makhel Mitchell 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Jackson-Reed High School
Rhode Island 		Washington, D.C.
G 23 Derrian Ford 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Magnolia, Arkansas Magnolia, Arkansas
F 45 Lawson Blake (W) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) So Fayetteville High School
Link Year Prep 		Fayetteville, Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: July 4, 2022

Schedule

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
European exhibition trip
August 9, 2022*
12:30 pm, FloHoops 		vs. Valencia Seleccion W 108–59 
 21 – Smith Jr.   9 – Johnson   7 – Black  La Alqueria del Basket 
Valencia
August 11, 2022*
1:30 pm, FloHoops 		vs. Catalan Elite W 99–86 
 17 – 2 tied   12 – Johnson   n/a – n/a  Pavelló Poliesportiu Municipal de Tiana 
Barcelona
August 13, 2022*
12:30 pm, FloHoops 		vs. Orange 1 Basket Bassano W 75–54 
 20 – Smith Jr.   8 – Johnson   5 – Davis  PalaSampietro – Casnate con Bernate 
Como
August 15, 2022*
12:00 pm, FloHoops 		vs. Bakken Bears W 70–59 
 28 – Brazile   9 – Brazile   7 – Black  PalaSampietro – Casnate con Bernate 
Como, Italy
Exhibition
October 24, 2022*
7:00 p.m. 		No. 10 Rogers State W 83–49 
 15 – Pinion   7 – Walsh   5 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
October 29, 2022*
3:00 p.m. 		No. 10 at No. 12 Texas
Charity exhibition 		L 60–90 
 14 – Walsh   6 – Johnson   3 – Davis  Moody Center (7,271)
Austin, TX
Non-conference regular season
November 7, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 10 North Dakota State W 76–58  1–0
  22 – Council IV   12 – Brazile   3 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
November 11, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 10 Fordham W 74–48  2–0
  15 – Council IV   8 – Brazile   7 – Council IV  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
November 16, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 9 South Dakota State W 71–56  3–0
  22 – Council IV   10 – Brazile   5 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
November 21, 2022*
4:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 vs. Louisville
Maui Invitational Tournament quarterfinals 		W 80–54  4–0
  26 – Black   6 – Tied   6 – Black  Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Maui, HI
November 22, 2022*
7:00 p.m., ESPN 		No. 9 vs. No. 10 Creighton
Maui Invitational Tournament semifinals 		L 87–90  4–1
  26 – Black   6 – Tied   6 – Black  Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Maui, HI
November 23, 2022*
9:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 vs. No. 17 San Diego State
Maui Invitational Tournament 3rd place game 		W 78–74 OT 5–1
  20 – Brazile   9 – Brazile   4 – Council IV  Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Maui, HI
November 28, 2022*
7:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 11т Troy W 74–61  6–1
  27 – Council IV   9 – Makhi Mitchell   3 – Walsh  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
December 3, 2022*
3:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 11т San Jose State W 99–58  7–1
  23 – Brazile   6 – Graham   6 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
December 6, 2022*
6:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 9 UNC Greensboro W 65–58  8–1
  22 – Smith Jr.   14 – Makhi Mitchell   3 – Smith Jr.  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
December 10, 2022*
12:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 vs. Oklahoma
The Crimson and Cardinal Classic 		W 88–78  9–1
  26 – Council IV   6 – Makhi Mitchell   5 – Tied  BOK Center (14,201)
Tulsa, OK
December 17, 2022*
3:00 p.m. 		No. 10 vs. Bradley W 76–57  10–1
  18 – Walsh   7 – Davis   4 – Black  Simmons Bank Arena (16,675)
North Little Rock, AR
December 21, 2022*
8:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 10 UNC Asheville W 85–51  11–1
  16 – Graham   7 – Johnson   3 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
SEC regular season
December 28, 2022
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 9 at LSU L 57–60  11–2
(0–1) 		 16 – Davis   12 – Makhi Mitchell   4 – Black  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,428)
Baton Rouge, LA
January 4, 2023
7:30 p.m., SECN 		No. 13 No. 20 Missouri W 74–68  12–2
(1–1) 		 25 – Council IV   8 – Johnson   5 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 7, 2023
7:30 p.m., SECN 		No. 13 at No. 22 Auburn L 59–72  12–3
(1–2) 		 23 – Black   10 – Walsh   4 – Black  Neville Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
January 11, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 15 No. 4 Alabama L 69–84  12–4
(1–3) 		 16 – Tied   10 – Davis   3 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 14, 2023
1:00 p.m., ESPNU 		No. 15 at Vanderbilt L 84–97  12–5
(1–4) 		 24 – Council IV   8 – Makhi Mitchell   4 – Davis  Memorial Gymnasium (9,362)
Nashville, TN
January 18, 2023
8:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 25 at Missouri L 76–79  12–6
(1–5) 		 18 – Davis   9 – Tied   7 – Black  Mizzou Arena (14,448)
Columbia, MO
January 21, 2023
11:00 a.m., ESPN2 		No. 25 Ole Miss W 69–57  13–6
(2–5) 		 17 – Black   7 – Walsh   8 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 24, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		LSU W 60–40  14–6
(3–5) 		 16 – Davis   8 – Makhi Mitchell   3 – Tied  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 28, 2023*
3:00 p.m., ESPN 		at No. 17 Baylor
Big 12/SEC Challenge 		L 64–67  14–7
  25 – Council IV   9 – Graham   4 – Tied  Ferrell Center (10,627)
Waco, TX
January 31, 2023
6:00 p.m., ESPN2 		Texas A&M W 81–70  15–7
(4–5) 		 19 – Tied   13 – Makhel Mitchell   7 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 4, 2023
2:30 p.m., SECN 		at South Carolina W 65–63  16–7
(5–5) 		 16 – Graham   10 – Walsh   4 – Black  Colonial Life Arena (11,558)
Columbia, SC
February 7, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		at Kentucky W 88–73  17–7
(6–5) 		 20 – Council IV   9 – Makhi Mitchell   7 – Davis  Rupp Arena (19,855)
Lexington, KY
February 11, 2023
5:00 p.m., ESPNU 		Mississippi State L 64–70  17–8
(6–6) 		 23 – Black   6 – Tied   5 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 15, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at Texas A&M L 56–62  17–9
(6–7) 		 14 – Davis   9 – Makhi Mitchell   8 – Black  Reed Arena (11,315)
College Station, TX
February 18, 2023
1:00 p.m., ESPN2 		Florida W 84–65  18–9
(7–7) 		 26 – Graham   10 – Makhi Mitchell   3 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 21, 2023
8:00 p.m., SECN 		Georgia W 97–65  19–9
(8–7) 		 26 – Smith Jr.   7 – Walsh   8 – Black  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 25, 2023
1:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at No. 2 Alabama L 83–86  19–10
(8–8) 		 24 – Smith Jr.   8 – Mahkel Mitchell   2 – Tied  Coleman Coliseum (13,474)
Tuscaloosa, AL
February 28, 2023
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at No. 12 Tennessee L 57–75  19–11
(8–9) 		 13 – Tied   6 – Davis   2 – Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (18,324)
Knoxville, TN
March 4, 2023
1:00 p.m., CBS 		No. 23 Kentucky L 79–88  19–12
(8–10) 		 25 – Smith Jr.   8 – Black   6 – Smith Jr.  Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
SEC Tournament
March 9, 2023*
6:00 p.m., SECN 		(10) vs. (7) Auburn
Second round 		W 76–73  20–12
  19 – Black   10 – Davis   6 – Black  Bridgestone Arena 
Nashville, TN
March 10, 2023*
6:00 p.m., SECN 		(10) vs. (2) No. 18 Texas A&M
Quarterfinals 		L 61–67  20–13
  16 – Smith Jr.   6 – Tied   4 – Smith Jr.  Bridgestone Arena 
Nashville, TN
NCAA Tournament
March 16, 2023*
3:30 pm, TBS 		(8 W) vs. (9 W) Illinois
First Round 		W 73–63  21–13
  18 – Council IV   10 – Council IV   1 – Tied  Wells Fargo Arena (16,745)
Des Moines, IA
March 18, 2023*
4:15 pm, CBS 		(8 W) vs. (1 W) No. 4 Kansas
Second Round 		W 72–71  22–13
  25 – Davis   10 – Johnson   4 – Council IV  Wells Fargo Arena (16,796)
Des Moines, IA
March 23, 2023*
6:15 p.m., CBS 		(8 W) vs. (4 W) No. 10 UConn
Sweet Sixteen 		L 65–88  22–14
  20 – Black   5 – Johnson   3 – Johnson  T-Mobile Arena (18,544)
Las Vegas, NV
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

  1. ^ "SWEET 16! Hogs hold off NMSU to advance to second straight Sweet 16". March 19, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "No. 4 Arkansas Shocks No. 1 Overall Seed Gonzaga in Sweet 16". Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Duke Blue Devils Live Score and Stats – March 26, 2022 Gametracker". Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. ^ "2022 Top Basketball Recruits". 247Sports. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.