CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Those who cover SEC basketball are expecting some big things from the Arkansas Razorbacks this season.
Arkansas was picked to finish third behind Kentucky and Florida in a preseason poll of 20 reporters released Wednesday at SEC media days.
Last year the Razorbacks were picked eighth and finished fifth with a 10-8 record. They also were 10-8 two years ago, when they finished seventh after being picked fifth.
"I feel we're in a great position," Razorbacks senior forward Alandise Harris said. "The odds aren't that much against us, because everybody's expecting us to do it this year. So I guess we've got to do what they expect."
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said he's not paying much attention to the preseason poll.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish," Anderson said. "Obviously, we have goals and expectations for our team, but the only thing we can control is each and every day trying to get better."
Sophomore forward Bobby Portis was the only Razorback among the 10 players voted to the first or second All-SEC teams. He made the first team.
"It's cool to be on the preseason team, but right now that doesn't mean anything," Portis said. "I still have to go out there and prove it to myself and to everyone else."
Litter of Cats
Kentucky had half of the 10 players voted onto the All-SEC first and second teams.
Sophomore guard Aaron Harrison was voted the SEC Player of the Year and was a first-team member, and the Wildcats had four players on the second team with junior center Willie Cauley-Stein, junior forward Alex Poythress, sophomore guard Andrew Harrison -- Aaron's twin brother -- and freshman forward Karl-Anthony Towns.
"That tells you they're pretty good, doesn't it?" Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said of Kentucky's roster dominating the All-SEC picks. "That's what everybody thinks."
Kentucky Coach John Calipari has nine McDonald's High School All-Americans.
"When the games start, it will all play itself out," Anderson said. "I'm sure Cal will be the first to say you've got play the game."
Kentucky was a unanimous pick to win the SEC title.
"We've been picked before and we haven't done it," Calipari said. "I mean, I had a team picked in the top three in the country [going into the 2012-2013 season] and we went to the NIT."
Red-White game
Arkansas' Red-White intrasquad game will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Walton Arena.
"I think our guys are looking forward to it," Coach Mike Anderson said. "They're in that mode to go through a game setting.
"We've been going through practice for two weeks, and now you put some officials out there and get the popcorn popping and get the fans in the stands to see how the players are going to react."
One bad night
Missouri Coach Kim Anderson has been on the visiting bench at Walton Arena for one game -- when the building was dedicated Dec. 2, 1993, and No. 2 Arkansas beat the Tigers 120-68.
Anderson was an assistant coach for Norm Stewart at the time.
"We were sure on the wrong end of that game," Anderson said. "It was a bad night for us and a great night for Arkansas."
The Razorbacks, led by 18 points from Scotty Thurman and 14 by Corliss Williamson, hit 16 of 25 three-point baskets before an announced crowd of 20,212.
"Unbelievably, our team that year went on to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament," Anderson said. "It just goes to show you can get better as the season goes on."
Arkansas won the national championship as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional. Missouri, which went 14-0 in the Big Eight Conference championship, was the No. 1 seed in the West Regional where the Tigers lost to Arizona in the regional final.
Sports on 10/23/2014