Hogs elected to finish second in SEC, Smith named first-team preseason All-SEC
The Arkansas men’s basketball team was selected to finish second in the conference for the upcoming season and freshman Nick Smith Jr. was named a preseason All-SEC First Team by a panel of SEC members and national media .
Eric Musselman’s team features 11 newcomers: six freshmen and five transfers. The No. 2 preseason pick is the highest for Arkansas since being selected to win the SEC West before the 2007-08 season.
Smith became the first freshman in program history to be named a preseason First Team All-SEC. He is the 11th Razorback to be named a preseason All-SEC, joining Todd Day (1991-92), Scotty Thurman (1993-94 and 1994-95, Corliss Williamson (1993-94 and 1994-95), Joe Johnson (2000 – 01), Ronnie Brewer (2005-06), Patrick Beverley (2007-080), BJ Young (2012-13), Bobby Portis (2014-15), Moses Kingsley (2016-17) and Daniel Gafford (2018-19 ) .
The Hogs will face Rogers State in a home exhibition next Monday at 7 pm at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas’ next showcase will be a benefit game at No. 12 Texas on Saturday, October 29 to open Longhorn’s new Moody Center.
The Razorbacks’ season will officially kick off on Monday, November 7, when the state of North Dakota comes to town. The game will kick off at 7 pm inside the Bud Walton Arena.
First Team Preseason All-SEC
Nick Smith, Jr. – Arkansas
Colin Castleton-Florida
Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky
Sahvir Wheeler–Kentucky
Bishops of Santiago – Tennessee
Second Team Preseason All-SEC
Brandon Miller-Alabama
Jahvon Quinerly–Alabama
KJ Williams–LSU
Josiah Jordan-James – Tennessee
Zakai Zeigler-Tennessee
SEC Preseason Player of the Year
Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky
Expected order of completion
1.Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. Tennessee
4.Auburn
5.Alabama
6.Texas A&M
7. florida
8. LSU
9. Be Miss
10. State of Mississippi
11. Missouri
12.Vanderbilt
13. Georgia
14. South Carolina