Arkansas Basketball: Way Too Early 2015-16 Outlook

The Arkansas Razorbacks disappointingly fell out of the 2015 NCAA tournament to the North Carolina Tar Heels, despite being one of the better teams in the SEC. The Razorbacks come into the 2015-16 season without three of their key players, Rashad Madden, Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls, meaning that several players must step forward or next season could be a rough one.

Fortunately for Arkansas, Mike Anderson is an excellent coach and an excellent recruiter. Over the past few seasons, he has brought in several four-star recruits who should be able to step onto the court and feature on this team, including two in 2015. Ted Kapita and Jimmy Whitt should see more time on the floor than their predecessors, if only due to the lack of depth that this team will possess.

It’s hard to predict where Arkansas will end up in the 2015-16 season, because it’s next to impossible to predict which players will step in to take the place of last season’s stars. However, I expect the Razorbacks to be a lot better than most believe. Anderson will have this team competing in every game, and they should finish with close to 20 wins.

That being said, it’s hard to see a scenario in which Arkansas goes to any postseason tournament aside from the NIT. The Razorbacks just do not have the mix of talent and experience that SEC teams like the Kentucky Wildcats, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies and Vanderbilt Commodores possess. Expect the unexpected from Arkansas in the 2015-16 season, but be sure not to expect too much from this young squad.

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.