Arkansas starts SEC play 0-3: What history says about Razorbacks’ tournament chances

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Razorback men’s basketball team is back in a familiar spot in mid-January — an 0-3 start to conference play for the third time in the last four seasons.

The team’s three losses have come on the road against No. 1 Tennessee and at home to No. 23 Ole Miss and No. 8 Florida.

According to HogStats on X, Arkansas went winless in three consecutive games against ranked opponents for just the second time in the last ten instances.

Since joining the Southeastern Conference more than three decades ago, the Razorbacks have started conference with three or more consecutive losses seven times.

Arkansas loses third straight game to open SEC play as No. 8 Florida grinds out 71-63 win Saturday at BWA

Additionally, it is Head Coach John Calipari’s first 0-3 start to conference play since 1988-89, his first year of college coaching at Massachusetts.

History would say the chances of Arkansas making the NCAA Tournament after starting winless through the first three conference games are incredibly slim. In those previous six seasons where Arkansas began 0-3, the team only made the tournament twice.

Here’s how each of those previous seasons turned out:

2000-01

Losses: 87-73 at Mississippi State, 53-48 vs. No. 20 Ole Miss, 81-64 at Vanderbilt

End of Season Conference Record: 7-9

Postseason?: NCAA Tournament First Round (No. 7 seed, lost to No. 10 seed Georgetown 63-61)

2002-03

Losses: 61-51 at No. 4 Alabama, 52-37 vs. Auburn, 81-64 vs. #20 Georgia

End of Season Conference Record: 4-12

Postseason?: No

2003-04

Losses: 66-55 vs. LSU, 80-62 at No. 22 Mississippi State, 81-65 at Alabama

End of Season Conference Record: 4-12

Postseason?: No

WATCH: John Calipari and Jonas Aidoo recap 71-63 loss to No. 8 Florida

2008-09 (Started 0-4)

Losses: 70-56 vs. Mississippi State, 74-65 at Ole Miss, 80-65 at Florida, 73-51 Auburn

End of Season Conference Record: 2-14

Postseason?: No

2021-22

Losses: 81-68 at Mississippi State, 75-74 vs. Vanderbilt, 86-81 at Texas A&M

End of Season Conference Record: 13-5

Postseason?: NCAA Tournament Elite 8 (No. 4 seed, lost to No. 2 seed Duke 79-68)

2023-24

Losses: 83-51 loss vs. #25 Auburn, 76-66 at Georgia, 90-68 at Florida

End of Season Conference Record: 2-14

Postseason?: No

What’s next?

The Razorbacks will look to avoid what would be their second 0-4 start and first in more than 15 years with a road win against LSU on Jan. 14.