Will Razorback basketball really finish 26-5?
Warren Nolan, as far as I know, is of no relation to Nolan Richardson. Regardless, the college sports site is still showing these 2017-18 Hogs, led by Richardson protege Mike Anderson, some serious love in the wake of Arkansas’ dramatic 95-93 defeat of No. 19 Tennessee. First off, the site calculates the Hogs’ “real-time RPI” to be 4 (two spots higher than the RealTimeRPI.com ranking).
The little robot men who work behind the curtains at WarrenNolan.com also had some fun predicting how Arkansas will finish the regular season. They have tinkered a crystal ball showing the 11-2 Hogs will lose only three conference games, which would give the team 26 wins heading into the SEC Tournament.
A 26-win regular season would tie the 1977-78 Razorbacks (the team which the Triplets led to a national third-place finish) for second all-time in program history in terms of overall wins. Indeed, a 26 regular season wins would surpass both of the national title game squads of the mid-1990s.
Here are the current Top 4 regular season teams in Razorback basketball history:
1. 1990-91
Regular Season Record: 28-3
(15-1 SWC record)
Home: 13-1, Road: 10-1
2. 1977-78
Regular Season: 26-2
(14-2 SWC)
Home: 11-0, Road: 11-2
3. 1976-77
Regular Season: 25-1
(16-0 SWC)
Home: 11-0, Road: 12-0
4. 1994-95
Regular Season: 25-4
(12-4 SEC)
Home: 14-1, Road: 7-3
For a full list of the Top 5, plus details on how the teams fared in their postseasons, go here.
As well as Arkansas has played so far this season, it would likely shock many Hog fans if this team ends up surpassing the national championship game teams in regular season play. Especially in a season in which the SEC ranks among the nation’s top three conferences. So, how exactly does WarrenNolan.com predict the 15-3 record will play out?
See the game-by-game predictions below. The records to the right of each opponent’s name is that program’s current record. Notice how none of the defeats are to Kentucky or Florida. Finally beating both teams in the same season would be a triumph in and of itself.
| 14 | JAN 2 TUE |
9:00 PM | @ | 76 | Mississippi State | 12-1 | W | 79 – 77 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | JAN 6 SAT |
6:00 PM | @ | 29 | Auburn | 12-1 | L | 86 – 87 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | JAN 10 WED |
9:00 PM | 120 | LSU | 9-3 | W | 92 – 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | JAN 13 SAT |
6:00 PM | 24 | Missouri | 9-3 | W | 85 – 77 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | JAN 17 WED |
7:00 PM | @ | 87 | Florida | 9-4 | W | 86 – 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | JAN 20 SAT |
3:30 PM | 159 | Ole Miss | 8-5 | W | 95 – 80 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | JAN 23 TUE |
6:30 PM | @ | 58 | Georgia | 9-3 | W | 82 – 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Big 12/SEC Challenge – Fayetteville, AR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | JAN 27 SAT |
6:00 PM | ESPN2 | 94 | Oklahoma State | 10-3 | W | 85 – 76 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | JAN 30 TUE |
9:00 PM | @ | 9 | Texas A&M | 11-2 | L | 78 – 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | FEB 3 SAT |
3:30 PM | @ | 120 | LSU | 9-3 | W | 88 – 85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | FEB 6 TUE |
7:00 PM | 47 | South Carolina | 8-4 | W | 83 – 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | FEB 10 SAT |
8:30 PM | 165 | Vanderbilt | 5-8 | W | 87 – 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | FEB 13 TUE |
7:00 PM | @ | 159 | Ole Miss | 8-5 | W | 91 – 84 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | FEB 17 SAT |
4:00 PM | 9 | Texas A&M | 11-2 | W | 82 – 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | FEB 20 TUE |
9:00 PM | 18 | Kentucky | 11-2 | W | 86 – 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | FEB 24 SAT |
6:00 PM | @ | 30 | Alabama | 9-4 | W | 84 – 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | FEB 27 TUE |
9:00 PM | 29 | Auburn | 12-1 | W | 90 – 83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | MAR 3 SAT |
6:00 PM | @ | 24 | Missouri | 9-3 | L | 81 – 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
So, now that Warren Nolan and his bots have had their say, it’s your turn to chime in.
How many regular-season wins will Razorback basketball rack up in 2017-18?
