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Arkansas Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Razorbacks

By Joey Loose

Mar 13, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Trevon Brazile (2) celebrates after a basket in overtime against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Mar 13, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Trevon Brazile (2) celebrates after a basket in overtime against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images / Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
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Season Outlook

So much has changed from where this program sat even six or seven months ago that it’s unfair to even think about last year’s struggles. Brazile is the only returning player from that team that should play meaningful minutes and it’s clear that a lot is different moving forward.

Calipari’s strategies and tactics grew stale in Lexington in recent years, but the Razorbacks are hoping he can rejuvenate himself at the tail end of his coaching career. You won’t see a plethora of 5-stars, with that short list of young talent coming to Fayetteville. The way to win in college basketball may no longer lean on raw freshman talent and perhaps Calipari knows this.

The Razorbacks landed two of the very best available players from the Transfer Portal and will have no shortage of talent on this team. Davis has only continued to grow as a backcourt weapon and pairs nicely with Wagner in leading the charge for this team. What those two bring is only magnified by Aidoo’s addition, as he looks to assert himself as one of the top defenders in the SEC once again, standing out as a rebounder and rim protector.

There will also be small holes in a lineup completely built in the offseason, and you can argue that this team lacks depth. The Razorbacks will lean on underclassman, hoping they can develop into reliable options as the season progresses. Remember, this isn’t one of those old Calipari classes filled with 5-star talent, though Fland and Knox should both factor into Arkansas’s success in major ways this year.

Next. Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2024-25. Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2024-25. dark

The Razorbacks really came together with postseason runs, but last season’s team just didn’t meld and fell short of all expectations. With a new culture in place in Fayetteville, this year’s roster faces similar questions. Has Calipari gathered enough talent to make an actual run at the SEC? We expect Arkansas to compete in this tough, deep league and return to the Big Dance, though they certainly aren’t in the same tier as some of the top-tiers programs… at least not yet.

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