Entering the program’s fourth season under head coach Mike Anderson, Arkansas has been predicted to finish third in the SEC in a preseason vote by a select panel of both SEC and national media members released on Wednesday.
The preseason poll along with two All-SEC teams were released as all 14 programs were attending SEC Tipoff ’15 held in Charlotte, N.C.
Joining coach Anderson in Charlotte along with teammate Alandise Harris, sophomore Bobby Portis earned a spot on the preseason All-SEC first team. Portis became just the sixth freshman in program history to earn All-SEC honors as a rookie in 2013-14.
Portis did set plenty of freshman records in 2013-14, highlighted by breaking Scotty Thurman’s (1992-93) rookie scoring record with a 35-point night during a win over Alabama. Back-to-back double-doubles in the NIT against Indiana State and California helped Portis also set the Arkansas freshman single-season record with 230 rebounds on the year.
Arkansas finished with 226 points in the preseason poll, just 22 behind Florida for second while Kentucky received all 20 first place votes.
The season begins Nov. 7 with an exhibition game against Central Oklahoma at Bud Walton Arena.
Preseason Poll
1. Kentucky (280), 2. Florida (258), 3. Arkansas (226), 4. LSU (223), 5. Georgia (204), 6. Ole Miss (168), 7. Missouri (123), 8. Auburn (113), 9. Texas A&M (111), 10. Alabama (109), 11. Vanderbilt (89), 12. South Carolina (86), 13. Tennessee (75), 14. Mississippi State (35)
All-SEC
FIRST TEAM
Bobby Portis, Arkansas | 6-11, 242 | So.
Michael Frazier, Florida | 6-4, 194 | Jr.
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky | 6-6, 212 | So.
Jordan Mickey, LSU | 6-8, 238 | So.
Jarvis Summers, Ole Miss | 6-3, 186 | Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Charles Mann, Georgia | 6-5, 215 | Jr.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky | 7-0, 240 | Jr.
Andrew Harrison, Kentucky | 6-6, 210 | So.
Alex Poythress, Kentucky | 6-8, 238 | Jr.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky | 6-11, 250 | Fr.
SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky
