KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Time is running out for Arkansas basketball to prove it can hang with the best teams in the country before the calendar shifts to conference play.
The No. 21 Razorbacks (5-2) fell to Illinois (6-1) 90-77 Thursday, allowing the Illini to hit 15 3-pointers and ride an early lead into a comfortable victory.
The result marks Arkansas’ second loss in as many games against Power Four competition. The Hogs lost to Baylor during the opening week, and their Thanksgiving performance was a step in the wrong direction.
Arkansas could blame its loss to the Bears on its early struggles against a zone offense. With Illinois, the Hogs struggled shooting from three and played one of their worst defensive games of the season.
What chances are left to secure resume-building wins in the non-conference schedule? Arkansas plays Miami on Tuesday in the ACC/SEC Challenge, and a third neutral-site game against Michigan awaits on Dec. 10. Outside of that, there are no marquee matchups remaining until the Razorbacks head east to face Tennessee in the SEC opener.
The game against Miami will be a challenge as its Arkansas’ first true road game of the season, but the Hurricanes are 3-3 and coming off a winless showing at the Shriner’s Children’s Charleston Classic. A win over Miami would not look as impressive as it might have before the season, and a loss could be crippling.
The Michigan game should be a bigger opportunity. In their first year under Dusty May, the Wolverines are 6-1 and most recently upset No. 22 Xavier. It isn’t a must-win game as the Hogs’ will have plenty of quality opponents in the SEC, but it might be a necessary victory for the Razorbacks’ confidence. Losing to another Power Four team won’t set a comfortable tone with the likes of Auburn and Alabama still to come.
For now, Arkansas head coach John Calipari isn’t panicking.
“We’ve got a lot to learn. This team is going to be fine,” Calipari said. “Thank God it’s November… We haven’t really even scrimmaged because we haven’t had 10 guys. So, we have a lot of work to do.”
But the clock is certainly ticking. Arkansas is 41st in KenPom’s rankings and will assuredly drop out of the USA TODAY Coaches Poll next week.
The Razorbacks need wins over quality opposition for this season to officially take off.
