Hogs' March Madness Trending South According to ESPN's Lunardi

Rapidly shifting expectations for Calipari's first year with Razorbacks still looking for first SEC win
Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari reacts against Florida inside Bud Walton Arena. The Florida Gators won 71-63.
Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari reacts against Florida inside Bud Walton Arena. The Florida Gators won 71-63. / Nilsen Roman-Hogs on SI Images
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' basketball season is trending in a direction that few expected. The Razorbacks started the season at No. 16 in the AP Poll in the preseason. Now, not only did they not receive a single vote in the latest AP Poll, they're also at risk of being left out entirely of the NCAA Tournament entirely after starting 0-3 in SEC play.

According to Bracketology by ESPN's Joe Lunardi, the Razorbacks are the first team left out of the field of 68 and are ranked 49th overall in the NET Rankings. The Hogs have just one win against Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents, the comeback win at Madison Square Garden. Outside of the Michigan won, Arkansas' strongest win is against Lipscomb.

The teams right on the bubble just in front of Arkansas are Creighton, Dayton, Iowa and New Mexico.

NCAA.com's Andy Katz also has Arkansas outside of his tournament field.

The Razorbacks are not one of the 11 SEC teams included in Lunardi's Bracketology. If all of Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt all make the tournament, it would tie the 2011 record set by the Big East for most teams sent to the tournament.

The Hogs will look to remove its name from the list of five teams in the SEC still looking for its first confernce win. Arkansas will tip-off against LSU 8 p.m. Tuesday from Baton Rouge La. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

HOGS FEED:

Hogs' Iamaleava talks Polynesian Bowl experience, ready for SEC

• National media co-hosts absolutely bury Arkansas basketball program

• LSU desperate to get win at Razorbacks' expense

• Inconsistent Hogs on desperate mission for first SEC win

• Razorbacks' Former Defensive Back Trantham Passes Away at 79

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