# 2022–23 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team

The 2022–23 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Eric Musselman, and played its home games at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 19–12, 8–10 in SEC Play to finish in a tie for 9th place. In the SEC tournament, the Razorbacks defeated Auburn in the second round before being defeated by Texas A&M in the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed in the West Region. They defeated Illinois in the first round and upset No. 1 seed Kansas to reach the Sweet Sixteen. There, they were defeated by No. 4 seed, and eventual tournament champions, UConn, ending their season with an overall 22–14 record.

## Previous season

Arkansas followed up an Elite Eight appearance in 2021 with another in 2022, even though the Razorbacks didn't finish as high in the SEC as they had a year prior. This time they were fourth in the final SEC standings, and earned a 4 seed in the NCAA tournament. Arkansas was sent to Buffalo, New York where they dispatched Vermont and New Mexico State to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.
In the regional semifinals against overall top seeded Gonzaga, Arkansas secured a 74–68 upset victory at the Chase Center in San Francisco. This set up an Elite Eight showdown with Duke, in the final year of head coach Mike Krzyzewski's 43-year stint with the Blue Devils.
Duke defeated the Razorbacks 78–69 to advance to the Final Four. The Razorbacks finished with a record of 28–9.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Stanley Umude | 0 | G | 6'6" | 210 | Graduate Student | San Antonio, Texas | Graduated |
| JD Notae | 1 | G | 6'2" | 190 | Senior | Covington, Georgia | Declared for 2022 NBA draft |
| KK Robinson | 2 | G | 6'0" | 180 | Sophomore | Little Rock, Arkansas | Transferred to Texas A&M |
| Trey Wade | 3 | F | 6'6" | 220 | Graduate Student | Marietta, Georgia | Graduated |
| Au'Diese Toney | 5 | G | 6'6" | 205 | Senior | Huntsville, Alabama | Graduated |
| Chris Lykes | 11 | G | 5'7" | 160 | Graduate Student | Mitchellville, Maryland | Graduated |
| Jaylin Williams | 10 | F | 6'10" | 240 | Sophomore | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Declared for 2022 NBA draft |
| Chance Moore | 13 | G | 6'5" | 195 | Freshman | Brookhaven, Georgia | Transferred to Missouri State |
| Jaxson Robinson | 14 | G | 6'6" | 185 | Sophomore | Ada, Oklahoma | Transferred to BYU |
| Connor Vanover | 23 | F | 7'3" | 235 | Junior | Little Rock, Arkansas | Transferred to Oral Roberts |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Transfer from | Eligibility |
| Ricky Council IV | 1 | G | 6'6" | 205 | Junior | Durham, North Carolina | Wichita State | Three years, beginning immediately |
| Trevon Brazile | 2 | F | 6'10" | 200 | Sophomore | Springfield, Missouri | Missouri | Three years, beginning immediately |
| Jalen Graham | 11 | F | 6'9" | 225 | Senior | Phoenix, Arizona | Arizona State | Two years, beginning immediately |
| Makhi Mitchell | 15 | F/C | 6'9" | 230 | Senior | Washington, D.C. | Rhode Island | Two years, beginning immediately |
| Makhel Mitchell | 22 | F/C | 6'10" | 240 | Senior | Washington, D.C. | Rhode Island | Two years, beginning immediately |

### 2022 Recruiting Class

With his third signing class, Eric Musselman signed the nation's second-ranked class (just behind Duke), with three 5* signees and three 4* signees. Guard Nick Smith finished ranked in the overall Top 5 of every major rankings service, and ended up ranked as the #1 overall recruit in the nation by 247Sports when their final rankings were released in May 2022.
College recruiting information (2022) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Nick Smith Jr. CG | North Little Rock, Arkansas | North Little Rock High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Sep 29, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 93 |||||||
| Jordan Walsh SF | Cedar Hill, Texas | Link Academy (Branson, MO) | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Oct 14, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 93 |||||||
| Anthony Black PG / SF | Duncanville, TX | Duncanville High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Mar 28, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 90 |||||||
| Derrian Ford CG | Magnolia, AR | Magnolia High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jul 14, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Barry Dunning SF | Mobile, AL | McGill-Toolen Catholic High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Jul 5, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Joseph Pinion SG | Morrilton, AR | Morrilton High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Oct 23, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 2 247Sports: 2 ESPN: 2 |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Arkansas 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 7, 2022. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 7, 2022. |||||||

### 2023 Recruiting Class

Arkansas currently has two verbal commitments for the 2023 class, which can sign in the early signing period in November 2022.
College recruiting information (2023) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Layden Blocker PG | Little Rock, Arkansas | Sunrise Christian Academy Wichita, Kansas | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jun 25, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 89 |||||||
| Baye Fall C | Dakar, Senegal | Accelerated Schools Denver, Colorado | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Nov 15, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 90 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 13 247Sports: 27 ESPN: 10 |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Arkansas 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022. "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022. |||||||

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| European exhibition trip |||||||||
| August 9, 2022* 12:30 pm, FloHoops | | vs. Valencia Seleccion | W 108–59 | | 21 – Smith Jr. | 9 – Johnson | 7 – Black | La Alqueria del Basket Valencia |
| August 11, 2022* 1:30 pm, FloHoops | | vs. Catalan Elite | W 99–86 | | 17 – 2 tied | 12 – Johnson | n/a – n/a | Pavelló Poliesportiu Municipal de Tiana Barcelona |
| August 13, 2022* 12:30 pm, FloHoops | | vs. Orange 1 Basket Bassano | W 75–54 | | 20 – Smith Jr. | 8 – Johnson | 5 – Davis | PalaSampietro – Casnate con Bernate Como |
| August 15, 2022* 12:00 pm, FloHoops | | vs. Bakken Bears | W 70–59 | | 28 – Brazile | 9 – Brazile | 7 – Black | PalaSampietro – Casnate con Bernate Como, Italy |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| October 24, 2022* 7:00 p.m. | No. 10 | Rogers State | W 83–49 | | 15 – Pinion | 7 – Walsh | 5 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| October 29, 2022* 3:00 p.m. | No. 10 | at No. 12 Texas Charity exhibition | L 60–90 | | 14 – Walsh | 6 – Johnson | 3 – Davis | Moody Center (7,271) Austin, TX |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| November 7, 2022* 7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ | No. 10 | North Dakota State | W 76–58 | 1–0 | 22 – Council IV | 12 – Brazile | 3 – Tied | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| November 11, 2022* 7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ | No. 10 | Fordham | W 74–48 | 2–0 | 15 – Council IV | 8 – Brazile | 7 – Council IV | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| November 16, 2022* 7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ | No. 9 | South Dakota State | W 71–56 | 3–0 | 22 – Council IV | 10 – Brazile | 5 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| November 21, 2022* 4:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 9 | vs. Louisville Maui Invitational Tournament quarterfinals | W 80–54 | 4–0 | 26 – Black | 6 – Tied | 6 – Black | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI |
| November 22, 2022* 7:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 9 | vs. No. 10 Creighton Maui Invitational Tournament semifinals | L 87–90 | 4–1 | 26 – Black | 6 – Tied | 6 – Black | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI |
| November 23, 2022* 9:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 9 | vs. No. 17 San Diego State Maui Invitational Tournament 3rd place game | W 78–74 $^{OT}$ | 5–1 | 20 – Brazile | 9 – Brazile | 4 – Council IV | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI |
| November 28, 2022* 7:00 p.m., SECN | No. 11т | Troy | W 74–61 | 6–1 | 27 – Council IV | 9 – Makhi Mitchell | 3 – Walsh | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| December 3, 2022* 3:00 p.m., SECN | No. 11т | San Jose State | W 99–58 | 7–1 | 23 – Brazile | 6 – Graham | 6 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| December 6, 2022* 6:00 p.m., SECN | No. 9 | UNC Greensboro | W 65–58 | 8–1 | 22 – Smith Jr. | 14 – Makhi Mitchell | 3 – Smith Jr. | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| December 10, 2022* 12:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 9 | vs. Oklahoma The Crimson and Cardinal Classic | W 88–78 | 9–1 | 26 – Council IV | 6 – Makhi Mitchell | 5 – Tied | BOK Center (14,201) Tulsa, OK |
| December 17, 2022* 3:00 p.m. | No. 10 | vs. Bradley | W 76–57 | 10–1 | 18 – Walsh | 7 – Davis | 4 – Black | Simmons Bank Arena (16,675) North Little Rock, AR |
| December 21, 2022* 8:00 p.m., SECN | No. 10 | UNC Asheville | W 85–51 | 11–1 | 16 – Graham | 7 – Johnson | 3 – Tied | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| SEC regular season |||||||||
| December 28, 2022 8:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 9 | at LSU | L 57–60 | 11–2 (0–1) | 16 – Davis | 12 – Makhi Mitchell | 4 – Black | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,428) Baton Rouge, LA |
| January 4, 2023 7:30 p.m., SECN | No. 13 | No. 20 Missouri | W 74–68 | 12–2 (1–1) | 25 – Council IV | 8 – Johnson | 5 – Tied | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| January 7, 2023 7:30 p.m., SECN | No. 13 | at No. 22 Auburn | L 59–72 | 12–3 (1–2) | 23 – Black | 10 – Walsh | 4 – Black | Neville Arena (9,121) Auburn, AL |
| January 11, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 15 | No. 4 Alabama | L 69–84 | 12–4 (1–3) | 16 – Tied | 10 – Davis | 3 – Tied | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| January 14, 2023 1:00 p.m., ESPNU | No. 15 | at Vanderbilt | L 84–97 | 12–5 (1–4) | 24 – Council IV | 8 – Makhi Mitchell | 4 – Davis | Memorial Gymnasium (9,362) Nashville, TN |
| January 18, 2023 8:00 p.m., SECN | No. 25 | at Missouri | L 76–79 | 12–6 (1–5) | 18 – Davis | 9 – Tied | 7 – Black | Mizzou Arena (14,448) Columbia, MO |
| January 21, 2023 11:00 a.m., ESPN2 | No. 25 | Ole Miss | W 69–57 | 13–6 (2–5) | 17 – Black | 7 – Walsh | 8 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| January 24, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | LSU | W 60–40 | 14–6 (3–5) | 16 – Davis | 8 – Makhi Mitchell | 3 – Tied | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| January 28, 2023* 3:00 p.m., ESPN | | at No. 17 Baylor Big 12/SEC Challenge | L 64–67 | 14–7 | 25 – Council IV | 9 – Graham | 4 – Tied | Ferrell Center (10,627) Waco, TX |
| January 31, 2023 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | Texas A&M | W 81–70 | 15–7 (4–5) | 19 – Tied | 13 – Makhel Mitchell | 7 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| February 4, 2023 2:30 p.m., SECN | | at South Carolina | W 65–63 | 16–7 (5–5) | 16 – Graham | 10 – Walsh | 4 – Black | Colonial Life Arena (11,558) Columbia, SC |
| February 7, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPN | | at Kentucky | W 88–73 | 17–7 (6–5) | 20 – Council IV | 9 – Makhi Mitchell | 7 – Davis | Rupp Arena (19,855) Lexington, KY |
| February 11, 2023 5:00 p.m., ESPNU | | Mississippi State | L 64–70 | 17–8 (6–6) | 23 – Black | 6 – Tied | 5 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| February 15, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | at Texas A&M | L 56–62 | 17–9 (6–7) | 14 – Davis | 9 – Makhi Mitchell | 8 – Black | Reed Arena (11,315) College Station, TX |
| February 18, 2023 1:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | Florida | W 84–65 | 18–9 (7–7) | 26 – Graham | 10 – Makhi Mitchell | 3 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| February 21, 2023 8:00 p.m., SECN | | Georgia | W 97–65 | 19–9 (8–7) | 26 – Smith Jr. | 7 – Walsh | 8 – Black | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| February 25, 2023 1:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | at No. 2 Alabama | L 83–86 | 19–10 (8–8) | 24 – Smith Jr. | 8 – Mahkel Mitchell | 2 – Tied | Coleman Coliseum (13,474) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| February 28, 2023 8:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | at No. 12 Tennessee | L 57–75 | 19–11 (8–9) | 13 – Tied | 6 – Davis | 2 – Tied | Thompson–Boling Arena (18,324) Knoxville, TN |
| March 4, 2023 1:00 p.m., CBS | | No. 23 Kentucky | L 79–88 | 19–12 (8–10) | 25 – Smith Jr. | 8 – Black | 6 – Smith Jr. | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| SEC Tournament |||||||||
| March 9, 2023* 6:00 p.m., SECN | (10) | vs. (7) Auburn Second round | W 76–73 | 20–12 | 19 – Black | 10 – Davis | 6 – Black | Bridgestone Arena Nashville, TN |
| March 10, 2023* 6:00 p.m., SECN | (10) | vs. (2) No. 18 Texas A&M Quarterfinals | L 61–67 | 20–13 | 16 – Smith Jr. | 6 – Tied | 4 – Smith Jr. | Bridgestone Arena Nashville, TN |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 16, 2023* 3:30 pm, TBS | (8 W) | vs. (9 W) Illinois First Round | W 73–63 | 21–13 | 18 – Council IV | 10 – Council IV | 1 – Tied | Wells Fargo Arena (16,745) Des Moines, IA |
| March 18, 2023* 4:15 pm, CBS | (8 W) | vs. (1 W) No. 4 Kansas Second Round | W 72–71 | 22–13 | 25 – Davis | 10 – Johnson | 4 – Council IV | Wells Fargo Arena (16,796) Des Moines, IA |
| March 23, 2023* 6:15 p.m., CBS | (8 W) | vs. (4 W) No. 10 UConn Sweet Sixteen | L 65–88 | 22–14 | 20 – Black | 5 – Johnson | 3 – Johnson | T-Mobile Arena (18,544) Las Vegas, NV |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. |||||||||