2023–24 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

The 2023–24 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by head coach Eric Musselman in his fifth and final year, and played its home games at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 16–17, 6–12 in SEC play to finish in a tie for 11th place. As the No. 12 seed in the SEC tournament, they defeated Vanderbilt before losing to South Carolina in the second round. It was Arkansas' first losing season since 2009-10.

2023–24 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record16–17 (6–12 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaBud Walton Arena
(Capacity: 19,368)
Seasons
2023–24 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 5 Tennessee144 .778279 .750
No. 20 Kentucky135 .7222310 .697
No.Alabama135 .7222512 .676
No. 18 Auburn135 .722278 .771
No. 24 South Carolina135 .722268 .765
Florida117 .6112412 .667
Texas A&M99 .5002115 .583
LSU99 .5001716 .515
Mississippi State810 .4442114 .600
Ole Miss711 .3892012 .625
Georgia612 .3332017 .541
Arkansas612 .3331617 .485
Vanderbilt414 .222923 .281
Missouri018 .000824 .250
2024 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

On April 4, 2024, head coach Eric Musselman left the school to become the head coach at USC.[1] On April 10, the school hired Kentucky coach John Calipari as the team's new head coach.[2]

Previous season

The Razorbacks finished the 2022–23 season 22–14, 8–10 in SEC play to finish in a tie for ninth place. In the SEC tournament, the Razorbacks defeated Auburn in the second round before losing to Texas A&M in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 8 seed in the West. They would defeat Illinois before upsetting No. 1 seeded Kansas in the second round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the third consecutive year. There they lost to eventual national champion UConn.

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Anthony Black0G6'7"198FreshmanDuncanville, TXDeclared for 2023 NBA draft
Ricky Council IV1G6'6"205JuniorDurham, NCDeclared for 2023 NBA draft
Nick Smith Jr.3G6'5"185FreshmanJacksonville, ARDeclared for 2023 NBA draft
Jordan Walsh13F6'7"205FreshmanDesoto, TXDeclared for 2023 NBA draft
Barry Dunning12G6'6"195FreshmanMobile, ALTransferred to UAB
Makhel Mitchell22F6'10"240SeniorWashington, D.C.Transferred to Little Rock
Derrian Ford23G6'3"205FreshmanMagnolia, ARTransferred to Arkansas State

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Khalif Battle0G6'5"185SeniorMetuchen, NJTemple
Keyon Menifield1G6'1"150SophomoreFlint, MIWashington
El Ellis3G6'3"180SeniorDurham, NCLouisville
Denijay Harris7F6'7"200SeniorColumbus, MSSouthern Miss
Tramon Mark12G6'6"185JuniorDickinson, TXHouston
Chandler Lawson14F6'8"215SeniorMemphis, TNMemphis
Jeremiah Davenport24F6'6"215SeniorCincinnati, OHCincinnati

Sources:[3][4]

Recruiting classes

2023 recruiting class

Arkansas signed two high school athletes for the 2023 class, which can sign in the early signing period in November 2022.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Layden Blocker
PG
Little Rock, ArkansasSunrise Christian Academy Wichita, Kansas6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg)Jun 25, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 88
Baye Fall
C
Dakar, SenegalAccelerated Schools Denver, Colorado6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)210 lb (95 kg)Nov 15, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 88
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 21  247Sports: 13  ESPN: 20
  • 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 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.

2024 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2023 recruits
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Isaiah Elohim
SG
Chatsworth, CaliforniaSierra Canyon6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg)Oct 5, 2023 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 87
Jalen Shelley
SF
Frisco, TexasLink Academy Branson, Missouri6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)190 lb (86 kg)Sep 11, 2023 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 87
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 12  247Sports: 14
  • 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

2023–24 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G0Khalif Battle6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg)SrTrenton Catholic High School (Trenton, New Jersey)
Temple
Hillside, New Jersey
G1Keyon Menifield6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)150 lb (68 kg)SoPHHoenix Prep HS (Phoenix, Arizona)
Washington
Flint, Michigan
F2Trevon Brazile6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)220 lb (100 kg)SoKickapoo HS
Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
G3El Ellis6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg)SrQuality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Louisville
Durham, North Carolina
G4Davonte Davis6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg)SrJacksonville HSJacksonville, Arkansas
G5Joseph Pinion6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg)SoMorrilton High SchoolMorrilton, Arkansas
G6Layden Blocker6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg)FrSunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kansas)Little Rock, Arkansas
F7Denijay Harris6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg)SrColumbus HS (Columbus, Mississippi)
Southern Miss
Columbus, Mississippi
C10Baye Fall6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)200 lb (91 kg)FrAccelerated Schools (Denver, Colorado)Dakar, Senegal
F11Jalen Graham6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)220 lb (100 kg)SrMountain Pointe High School
Arizona State
Phoenix, Arizona
G12Tramon Mark6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)185 lb (84 kg)JrDickinson HS
Houston
Dickinson, Texas
F8Chandler Lawson6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg)SrWooddale HS
Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
C15Makhi Mitchell6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg)SrJackson-Reed High School
Rhode Island
Washington, D.C.
G21Cade Arbogast (W)6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg)RS SrDe La Salle High School
Lane Community College
Concord, California
F24Jeremiah Davenport6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg)SrHargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Virginia)
Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
C45Lawson Blake (W)6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg)JrFayetteville High School
Link Year Prep
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsSite (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 20, 2023*
6:30 p.m.
No. 14 UT TylerW 92–39 
 14  Battle  7  Davis  4  Ellis Bud Walton Arena (7,046)
Fayetteville, AR
October 28, 2023*
3:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
No. 14 No. 3 Purdue
Charity exhibition
W 81–77 OT
 15  Tied  6  Mark  4  Brazile Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
No. 14 Alcorn StateW 93–59 1–0
 21  Battle  8  Graham  5  Davis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
November 10, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
No. 14 Gardner–WebbW 86–68 2–0
 21  Battle  7  Brazile  3  Ellis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
November 13, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
No. 14 Old DominionW 86–77 3–0
 17  Ellis  10  Mitchell  8  Ellis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
November 17, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
No. 14 UNC GreensboroL 72–78 3–1
 21  Mark  9  Brazile  2  Tied Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
November 22, 2023*
2:30 p.m., ESPNU
No. 20 vs. Stanford
Battle 4 Atlantis quarterfinals
W 77–74 2OT4–1
 25  Mark  17  Brazile  3  Davis Imperial Arena (820)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
November 23, 2023*
4:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 20 vs. Memphis
Battle 4 Atlantis semifinals
L 79–84 4–2
 21  Battle  10  Brazile  3  Ellis Imperial Arena (982)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
November 24, 2023*
12:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 20 vs. No. 14 North Carolina
Battle 4 Atlantis 3rd place game
L 72–87 4–3
 34  Mark  5  Mark  2  Lawson Imperial Arena (1,456)
Paradise Island, Bahamas
November 29, 2023*
8:15 p.m., ESPN
No. 7 Duke
ACC–SEC Challenge
W 80–75 5–3
 21  Battle  11  Brazile  6  Ellis Bud Walton Arena (20,344)
Fayetteville, AR
December 4, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
FurmanW 97–83 6–3
 25  Battle  10  Davis  8  Davis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
December 9, 2023*
3:00 p.m., ESPN2
vs. No. 19 Oklahoma
Crimson & Cardinal Classic
L 70–79 6–4
 13  Battle  6  Mitchell  2  Tied BOK Center (17,485)
Tulsa, OK
December 16, 2023*
5:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
vs. LipscombW 69–66 7–4
 17  Mark  6  Brazile  4  Blocker Simmons Bank Arena (16,361)
North Little Rock, AR
December 21, 2023*
6:00 p.m., SECN
Abilene ChristianW 83–73 8–4
 25  Mark  11  Mark  2  Tied Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
December 30, 2023*
6:00 p.m., SECN
UNC WilmingtonW 106–90 9–4
 32  Menifield  8  Brazile  6  Davis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
SEC regular season
January 6, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 25 AuburnL 51–83 9–5
(0–1)
 14  Menifield  7  Brazile  4  Menifield Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 10, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPNU
at GeorgiaL 66–76 9–6
(0–2)
 24  Mark  7  Mark  3  Tied Stegeman Coliseum (7,820)
Athens, GA
January 13, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN
at FloridaL 68–90 9–7
(0–3)
 14  Blocker  7  Brazile  3  Davenport O'Connell Center (10,445)
Gainesville, FL
January 16, 2024
8:00 p.m., SECN
Texas A&MW 78–77 10–7
(1–3)
 35  Mark  6  Tied  4  Lawson Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 20, 2024
12:00 p.m., SECN
South CarolinaL 64–77 10–8
(1–4)
 18  Mark  7  Lawson  2  Ellis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 24, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPNU
at Ole MissL 51–77 10–9
(1–5)
 11  Battle  4  Tied  3  Blocker SJB Pavilion (8,207)
Oxford, MS
January 27, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 6 Kentucky
College GameDay
L 57–63 10–10
(1–6)
 12  Mitchell  13  Mitchell  3  Mark Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
January 31, 2024
7:30 p.m., SECN
at MissouriW 91–84 11–10
(2–6)
 22  Mark  14  Mitchell  4  Graham Mizzou Arena (11,020)
Columbia, MO
February 3, 2024
11:00 a.m., ESPN2
at LSUL 74–95 11–11
(2–7)
 20  Mark  6  Mark  4  Mitchell Pete Maravich Assembly Center (7,880)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 10, 2024
5:00 p.m., SECN
GeorgiaW 78–75 12–11
(3–7)
 15  Tied  5  Tied  3  Tied Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 14, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 8 TennesseeL 63–92 12–12
(3–8)
 12  Mark  7  Graham  4  Davis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 17, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPNU
at Mississippi StateL 67–71 12–13
(3–9)
 21  Mitchell  9  Mitchell  4  Ellis Humphrey Coliseum (9,219)
Starkville, MS
February 20, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN
at Texas A&MW 78–71 13–13
(4–9)
 26  Mark  13  Mitchell  5  Mark Reed Arena (8,789)
College Station, TX
February 24, 2024
11:00 a.m., ESPN2
MissouriW 88–73 14–13
(5–9)
 42  Battle  9  Davis  6  Davis Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
February 27, 2024
8:00 p.m., SECN
VanderbiltL 82–85 14–14
(5–10)
 36  Battle  6  Tied  3  Tied Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
March 2, 2024
12:30 p.m., CBS
at No. 16 KentuckyL 102–111 14–15
(5–11)
 34  Battle  8  Battle  3  Mark Rupp Arena (20,322)
Lexington, KY
March 6, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN
LSUW 94–83 15–15
(6–11)
 29  Battle  8  Mark  5  Mark Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
Fayetteville, AR
March 9, 2024
11:00 a.m., ESPN
at No. 16 AlabamaL 88–92 OT15–16
(6–12)
 22  Battle  7  Battle  3  Ellis Coleman Coliseum (11,031)
Tuscaloosa, AL
SEC Tournament
March 13, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN
(12) vs. (13) Vanderbilt
First Round
W 90–85 OT16–16
 24  Battle  12  Brazile  3  Tied Bridgestone Arena 
Nashville, TN
March 14, 2024
2:30 p.m., SECN
(12) vs. (5) No. 15 South Carolina
Second Round
L 66–80 16–17
 20  Battle  7  Battle  4  Graham Bridgestone Arena (11,638)
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Source[5]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP141420RVRVRV
Coaches1414RVRV

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.

References