Arkansas Basketball: Ranking Hogs 2019-20 non-conference opponents

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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 9: A general view of McCamish Pivilion during the game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on January 9, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

6. North Texas (Nov. 12)

2018-19: 21-12 (8-10 C-USA)

Key Returners: Umoja Gibson, Zachary Simmons, Roosevelt Smart

The Mean Green are coming off a 21 win season, albeit a roller-coaster. They got off to a program-best 16-1 start and were receiving votes for the AP Top 25. They started Conference USA play 8-3. Then the wheels fell off. North Texas dropped their last seven regular-season games and had an early exit in the conference tournament. Despite losing Ran Woolridge as a grad-transfer to Gonzaga, North Texas brings back some firepower including three double-digit scorers and four immediately eligible transfers highlighted by North Dakota State forward Deng Geu and Junior College standout Javion Hamlet.

5. Tulsa (Dec. 14)

2018-19: 18-14 (8-10 AAC)

Key Returners: Martins Igbanu, Jeriah Horne

Frank Haith has never had a shortage of talent at any of his stops and this year’s group at Tulsa is no exception. If you are looking for some connections here, there are plenty. Haith replaced Mike Anderson at Missouri when he bolted for Arkansas. Former Razorback guard Keyshawn Embry-Simpson transferred to Tulsa in the spring, although he will have to sit out this season. This game is also an old Southwest Conference match-up, and the 61st all-time meeting between the two schools located just two hours apart. Tulsa notched a pair of impressive non-conference wins over Oklahoma State and Kansas State a year ago and return enough pieces to be a formidable match-up for Arkansas.

4. @ Georgia Tech (Nov. 25)

2018-19: 14-18 (6-12 ACC) *W @ Arkansas 69-65 last season

Key Returners: Jose Alvarado, James Banks III, Michael Devoe

If you follow the Razorbacks, you certainly remember this game a year ago. Josh Pastner and his Yellowjackets came into Bud Walton Arena and stunned Arkansas, who is not accustomed to losing on their home floor. That game was certainly part of the beginning of the end for Mike Anderson. Aside from that, Georgia Tech did not have a great season overall. That being said, there is a lot of reason for optimism heading into 2019-20. They return an experienced trio in Alvarado, Banks III, and Devoe and boast one of the country’s most stingy defenses. In addition, this year the game will be played at Georgia Tech. The Yellowjackets ceiling is as a middle-of-the-pack ACC team that could sneak into the NCAA Tournament discussion. This offers an excellent road test for Musselman’s Hogs that could serve as a resume-boosting win.

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