Hogs open new year breaking into AP’s Top 25

FAYETTEVILLE — Riding a six-game winning streak, including two wins over top-20 programs, Arkansas entered The Associated Press Top 25 Poll Monday, debuting at No. 22.

The Top 25 ranking is the program’s first since the final poll of the 2014-15 season.

Arkansas has a 396-111 record all-time as a ranked program, including a 14-8 mark under coach Mike Anderson, all coming during the 2014-15 season.

Arkansas’ victory over No. 19 Tennessee on Saturday was the 10th AP Top 25 victory in the Anderson era. The win gave the Razorbacks multiple Top 20 wins in a season for the seventh time in the last 13 years.

The Razorbacks lead the Southeastern Conference in scoring offense (90.4), scoring margin (+15.8), three-point field goal percentage (.409), turnover margin (+5.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6).

Following Arkansas’ win over Tennessee, the Razorbacks jumped to No. 4 in the NCAA’s official RPI rankings. Arkansas is 2-1 against top 15 RPI teams with wins over the Volunteers, who sit at 12, and Oklahoma, who is No. 3 in the nation.

The Razorbacks return to action this week, hitting the road for the first time in Southeastern Conference play. Arkansas travels to Mississippi State (12-1) on Tuesday for an 8 p.m. tip on SEC Network, followed by a Saturday showdown at Auburn (12-1) at 5 p.m. on ESPNU.