16. Texas A&M Aggies
19. Indiana Hoosiers
22. Texas Longhorns
25. Miami Hurricanes
28. BYU Cougars
29. Maryland Terps
31. UCLA Bruins
32. Oregon Ducks
34. Florida Gators
35. Ole Miss
36. USC Trojans
39. Mississippi State Bulldogs
41. Memphis Tigers
42. McNeese Cowboys
45. VCU Rams
46. Dayton Flyers
47. St Mary’s Gaels
49. UCF Knights
52. Clemson Tigers
53. New Mexico Lobos
58. SMU Mustangs
60. Nevada Wolfpack
61. TCU Horned Frogs
63. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
65. Syracuse Orange
68. Iowa Hawkeyes
70. Butler Bulldogs
71. Princeton Tigers
74. Oklahoma Sooners
75. West Virginia Mountaineers
76. Georgia Bulldogs
77. UAB Blazers
80. Missouri Tigers
Welcome to another edition in our 82 in 72 countdown series! We are now into our top 15 and two weeks away from tipping off the college basketball season! For today’s edition of 82 in 72, we are looking at the Arkansas Razorbacks, one of the most talked-about teams leading into 2024-2025. Eric Musselman is out, and John Calipari is in as the head man for the Razorbacks. Expectations have only risen after the best coach in the program’s history since Nolan Richardson departed to USC only to be replaced by one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history…
For the Razorbacks and their respective preview, I want the focus to be on the rotation and the players who will look to contribute to the success on the hardwood…I feel like all the Arkansas content I have consumed has centered around Coach Cal(and deservedly so), and I want to put the shine (almost)completely on the players for this preview! Below is where our TCH crew had Arkansas ranked heading into 2024-2025 and a Razorbacks rotation report!
| Steven | Maxwell | Kam | Cody |
| 22 | 14 | 22 | 21 |
*Please note this rotation report is personal analysis and personal projections, starters and roles listed are personal preferences and what I think would be most effective for Arkansas on the hardwood! Starters are italicized!
Arkansas Rotation Report:
Guards/Wings:
Johnell Davis(Starting Lead Guard); Grad transfer from Florida Atlantic: Per Cerebro Sports, Johnell Davis was the only player in the country last season to post a >25% usage rate with >40% shooting from three along with a PureScoringProwess score of >79, a 3PointEfficiency score of >80, a DefensiveStatisticalImpact of >70 and an AtTheRim score of >60(The only other qualifier was Jermaine Cousinard in March Madness). Davis was a top ten finalist for the Jerry West Award and a top twenty finalist for the Wooden Award last season and will be the floor general for the Razorbacks. Davis is the most experienced guard in the Razorbacks’ rotation; his leadership on the floor and manipulation of game pace will prove valuable for Arkansas this year, given the youth in their backcourt. Davis’s efficiency will also be an essential piece for the starting group this season; Davis comes off a season where he posted shooting splits of 51%fg-41%3fg-85%ft with a usage rate above 27% per Barttorvik. The Razorbacks will go as Johnell Davis goes in 2024-2025…
Karter Knox(Starting Off Guard); True Freshman from Overtime Elite: While it may come as a surprise to some, Karter Knox is the best NBA prospect on this roster and should be the starting two guard for the Hogs this season. Knox is a five-star freshman who dazzles on both ends of the floor. I love his game! Knox has a gorgeous jump shot and gets a really strong rotation on his shot; he can shoot off the dribble and is even better off the catch. At 6’ 6, 225lbs, Knox has the body of an NBA guard and compliments his build with above-average athleticism and a change of speed on the offensive end. Knox’s athleticism and build will allow him to attack the rim with his NBA-ready jumper at 19. Defensively, Knox can guard any position on the perimeter, possesses an above-average defensive IQ for a Freshman, and boasts excellent positional strength that will allow him to impact the defensive end immediately. I expect Knox to follow in his brother Kevin’s footsteps… and be a first-round selection in the NBA draft following his freshman season under Coach Cal.
Adou Thiero(Starting Wing), Junior transfer from Kentucky: I believe Adou Thiero will start alongside Davis and Knox for the Razorbacks…and I would suggest it…Thiero was one of the best defensive guards in the country last season and led Kentucky in blocks per game in 2023-2024. Thiero is the definition of a glue guy and one of the most advanced glue guys in the country. Arkansas was extremely fortunate to land Thiero in the portal this offseason; he’s the only ‘larger’ wing on this roster that can play rotation minutes feasibly (outside of Knox). Thiero is also a plus rebounder and is a really intriguing ball handler in transition when he turns up off a defensive rebound. I expect a big year in Fayetteville for Adou Thiero in 2024-2025.
DJ Wagner(Sixth Man/Combo Guard), Sophomore transfer from Kentucky: In a prediction lined with irony, I don’t think DJ Wagner is best suited to start for this Arkansas team; I think his ideal role for Calapari and Arkansas will be as a sixth man off the bench. DJ Wagner fits the bill as a premium sixth man in college basketball… The above-average change of pace, shot creation, and finishing ability set Wagner up for serious success coming off the bench. Wagner can spell any of the three aforementioned guards in the starting lineup, and his height and perimeter switchability on defense will serve him well if he has to take Thiero out of the game. I would like to note that I do think Wagner opens the year as a starter for the Razorbacks, but I think he’ll flourish best coming off the bench, targeting around 30 minutes a night as the sixth man!
Boogie Fland(Rotation Guard); True Freshman from Archbishop Stepinac HS: One of the top freshmen in the country in terms of ranking, Boogie Fland will look to make an immediate impact off the bench for the Hogs. Fland’s arc to success this season is eerily similar to that of Rob Dillingham’s last season for Coach Cal at Kentucky. Both were highly touted lead guards and above-average ball handlers who had elite quickness to pair and struggle defensively against bigger guards. Fland is a better defender than Dillingham was at the same stage of their development, but Fland is also not as creative of a shot-creator…Boogie Fland will find success this season in Fayetteville off the bench, and with the success guards have had off the bench for Cal in recent memory, Fland is on track…
Billy Richmond III(Rotation Wing); True Freshman from Camden HS: A former teammate of DJ Wagner in high school, Billy Richmond will join up with his former running mate in the college ranks. Richmond is an interesting piece for the Razorbacks and another highly touted true Freshman. Richmond’s father played for Cal at Memphis, and it feels like Richmond III playing under Cal is material from a storybook. Richmond is a versatile wing who can play on or off the ball and is a plus cutter and finisher when attacking the rim. Richmond is keen to collect steals and blocks and showcased that in high school, Richmond’s length and explosive athleticism allow him to create these opportunities often…Billy Richmond is a player to keep your eye on for the Razorbacks this season…he could pop early and command minutes…
Bigs:
Jonas Aidoo(Starting Center); Grad transfer from Tennessee: With three seasons in the SEC already under his belt, First(AP)/Second(Coaches) team All-SEC performer Jonas Aidoo is positioned to vault Arkansas back to the top of the SEC in 2024-2025… Aidoo is the best pure center in the SEC. Aidoo will surely be a focal point for Arkansas on both ends of the floor, especially on defense. With the youth and lack of proven defensive ability on the perimeter, Aidoo’s defensive prowess will be coveted. Aidoo is a versatile rim protector inside the arc and is fantastic as an off-ball defender. If Aidoo and Trevon Brazille share the frontcourt together, they could form the best defensive big-man duo in the SEC and possibly the nation…Offensively, Aidoo’s touch around the basket and screen-setting ability will work wonders for the Arkansas guards, and Aidoo’s knack for drawing fouls will help Arkansas and their lack of size!
Trevon Brazille(Starting Power Forward); Junior returner: I have had Trevon Brazille in the late second round on two previous NBA big boards(2023, 2024). He is one of my guilty pleasure watches in college basketball and a player that I am enamored with. Brazille is an All-American athlete and possibly the living embodiment of a “toolsy big forward.” Brazille is the only returning player on this Arkansas roster and returns to a new head coach who has been known for developing “toolsy big forwards” in the past…I have been a longtime holder of Trevon Brazille stock. I might hold the most TB stock outside the state of Arkansas, but the time to buy is now, especially playing in front of Aidoo as the rim protector…buy shares now in Trevon Brazille!!
Zvonimir Ivisic(Rotation Big); Sophomore transfer from Kentucky: Big Z’s Freshman campaign at Kentucky was far from ideal…ineligible for the first 16 games of the season, he has his second-best performance of the season in his debut, then wrestles the rest of the season with minutes, role and available opportunities. There is no doubting the basketball ability of Zvonimir Ivisic; the hesitation to believe in Big Z lies in the unproven Freshman season, which was marred by inconsistency. Ivisic has shown he can space the floor and be an effective screener in pick-and-roll actions, and he has shown consistent shooting touch from the field and the stripe. While the numbers could be better, Big Z shot over 75% from the stripe and over 55% from the field last season while finishing 6-16 from behind the arc. Big Z’s length allows him to impact shots on the defensive end and switch onto slower guards in pick and rolls, and his limited defensive skill set will be relied upon off the bench this season for Arkansas to find success.
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