If I’m being honest, having Arkansas this high really worries me. Mainly becauseI thought the Hogs were merely good, and not great last season. They got hot at the right time, caught a streak of wins against mediocre competition, and squeaked out a few wins when they may shouldn’t have. They went from 43rd in KenPom and a 10-4 record to 19th and 21-5 with four road wins (average KenPom rating of those wins: 81). They did wallop Alabama at home, but the Tide were known for throwing up a few stinkers here and there.
Credit to Arkansas, they made their first Sweet 16 since the Nolan Richardson era, won 25 games, and exceeded most everyone’s expectations.