Arkansas basketball enters the final week of the regular season reeling off arguably its worst loss of the campaign. The Razorbacks were safely in the March Madness field before Saturday’s 72-53 loss to last-place South Carolina.
The Hogs scored 14 points in the first half — their lowest-scoring half since 1987 — and now find themselves back on the NCAA Tournament bubble. The result was especially jarring considering Arkansas had won its last two games against Missouri and Texas.
Fortunately for the Razorbacks, they have two chances to add to their résumé in the final week. Arkansas closes the season with a road game at No. 18 Vanderbilt and a home contest against Mississippi State.
Until then, here are the latest Bracketology projections for the Hogs, with all forecasts updated as of March 4.
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Arkansas basketball NCAA tournament projections
ESPN: Joe Lunardi says that the Razorbacks are one of the last four teams in the field, projecting Arkansas to be a No. 11 seed and face No. 11 Ohio State in the First Four. The winner would go to Milwaukee and face No. 6 Louisville, with No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 14 Jacksonville State also in the regional.
CBS Sports: Jerry Palm also has the Hogs in the First Four, projecting Arkansas to face Boise State in a battle of 11 seeds. The winner would face No. 6 Memphis in Milwaukee, with either No. 3 Michigan or No. 14 Northern Colorado awaiting the victory of John Calipari’s reunion.
On3: This bracketologist has Arkansas facing No. 11 West Virginia in the First Four. The winner would head to Wichita, Kan. to play No. 6 Louisville. On3 is teasing Calipari fans with a potential second round matchup against No. 3 Kentucky, who would play No. 14 Chattanooga in the first round.
USA TODAY: USA TODAY believes the Hogs will be an 11 seed that avoids the First Four and faces No. 6 Memphis in the second round. That matchup would take place in Denver, with No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 14 Utah Valley awaiting the winner in the second round.
Arkansas basketball NCAA Tournament résumé
The Razorbacks have three high-quality wins over Michigan, Kentucky and Missouri. The team’s road victory against Texas also qualifies as a Quad 1 win, and the Hogs are 4-9 in that category.
Arkansas is 2-3 against Quad 2 opponents, which is where the home win over Texas and the loss to South Carolina fall. The Razorbacks are No. 47 in the NET Rankings and No. 41 on KenPom.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@gannett.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas basketball bracketology: March Madness projections as of March 3
