Hogs finalize basketball non-conference schedule
The Arkansas men’s basketball program unveiled its 2016-17 non-conference schedule Thursday morning that features 13 opponents with seven of those coming off 20-win seasons.
The Opponents
• Arkansas’ 2016-17 opponents had a 123-84 (.594) non-conference record last season and combined for an overall mark of 252-181 (.582).
• Arkansas will play four opponents that finished the 2015-16 season inside the top 100 of the final NCAA RPI in Texas (34), Stephen F. Austin (62), IPFW (74) and Houston (90).
By The Numbers
• Seven 20-win seasons in 2015-16
• Six teams finished in the top four of their conference standings
• Two regular season championships
• Two conference tournament championships
• Three NCAA Tournament appearances
• Three NIT selections
The Breakdown
• Nine games in Bud Walton Arena
• Three road games
• One game in North Little Rock
Exhibition Action
• Central Missouri (Oct. 28)
• Emporia State (Nov. 4)
Fort Wayne (Formerly IPFW) (Friday, Nov. 11)
• Finished second in the Summit League
• Led conference in 3-pointers made, attempted and percentage
• Return steals and rebounding leader in John Konchar
Southern Illinois (Monday, Nov. 14)
• Posted first 20-win season in 10 years with a record of 22-10
• Defeated Northern Iowa who went on to beat 6th-seeded Texas in the NCAA Tournament
• Finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference in six statistical categories, including points per game
UT Arlington (Friday, Nov. 18)
• Recorded first 20-win season in five years, posted a record of 24-11
• Defeated Ohio State on the road, who finished with an RPI of 78
• Return their top six scorers from last season
at Minnesota (Tuesday, Nov. 22)
• Defeated Maryland who finished with an RPI of 13 and advanced to the Sweet 16
• Return their top two leading scorers
• Return top rebounder, shot blocker and steals leader
Mount Saint Mary’s (Monday, Nov. 28)
• Return top two scorers from last season and top four 3-point shooters
• Finished first in the Northeast Conference in turnover margin, third in scoring defense and 3-point field goals made
• 77 percent of minutes played return from a season ago
Stephen F. Austin (Thursday, Dec. 1)
• Recorded fourth-most wins in school history with a 28-6 mark
• Defeated No. 3 seed West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
• Went 18-0 in the Southland Conference and captured the Southland tournament title
Austin Peay (Saturday, Dec. 3)
• Won the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament
• Finished top three in the league in five different statistical categories
• Return top 3-point shooter in Josh Robinson
Houston (Tuesday, Dec. 6)
• Finished third in the American Athletic Conference with a 22-10 mark
• Return two of the top 12 scorers in the conference
• Led the league in points per game and 3-point field goal defense
North Florida (Saturday, Dec. 10)
• Captured the Atlantic Sun regular season championship
• Advanced to the NIT
• Returns the league’s second leading scorer in Dallas Moore
vs. Texas (Saturday, Dec. 17)
• Posted a 20-win campaign and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the 17th time in 18 seasons
• Defeated North Carolina who finished with an RPI of five and played for the national championship
• Finished in the top five of seven different Big 12 statistical categories
North Dakota State (Tuesday, Dec. 20)
• Recorded fourth consecutive 20-win season
• Led the Summit league in fewest turnovers per game
• Return top 3-point shooter in Paul Miller
Sam Houston State (Thursday, Dec. 22)
• Return 12 of the 13 players that saw action last year
• Finished second in the Southland Conference in five different statistical categories
• Return the second-best 3-point shooter in the league
at Oklahoma State (Saturday, Jan. 28)
• Defeated Kansas last season in Stillwater, a team that finished with the No. 1 RPI in the nation
• Return their top two leading scorers that combined to average 26.2 points per game
• Finished second in the Big 12 in scoring defense, free throw percentage and field goal percentage defense