SEC Basketball: Alabama, Auburn leads way-too-early power rankings for 2024-25 season

5. Arkansas Razorbacks

The Razorbacks took a major step back last season, going just 16-17 (6-12) in what would be Eric Musselman’s final season leading the Razorbacks. With Musselman off to USC, Razorback AD Hunter Yurachek shook the college basketball coaching carousel by landing John Calipari.

When Calipari accepted the job, Arkansas did not have a single scholarship player on its roster. The Razorbacks literally started from scratch.

Flash forward two months later and the Razorbacks are looking at an overhauled roster that should compete near the top half of the SEC in 2024-25.

Calipari worked his recruiting touch by flipping three four-star Kentucky commits. Karter Knox, Boogie Fland and Billy Richmond. After all, what is a John Calipari-coached team without highly rated incoming freshmen?

Arkansas would also make waves in the transfer portal, landing instant-impact players such as Johnell Davis (FAU), big man Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee) as well as bringing DJ Wagner, Zvonimir Ivisic and Adou Thiero with him from Lexington.

Talent-wise alone, this core group of eight players can be one of the best in the country. However, the lack of depth is a major concern -- and can ultimately limit the ceiling of this year’s star-studded Razorback roster. Nevertheless, if John Calipari is in the mix, the expectations will remain sky-high, which is why Arkansas should find itself near the top of the SEC, even if there are growing pains along the way.