At least 5 ranked teams on Hogs' basketball schedule

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks have five basketball games against teams in The Associated Press preseason poll released Wednesday, including three at home in Walton Arena.

Kentucky, ranked No. 5, will play at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville for the first time in two years when the Wildcats take on the Razorbacks on Feb. 20 in a Tuesday night ESPN game.

A visit from No. 15 Minnesota on Dec. 9 highlights the Razorbacks' home nonconference schedule.

Arkansas plays at No. 8 Florida on Jan. 17 and plays twice against No. 25 Texas A&M. The Razorbacks play the Aggies on Jan. 30 in College Station, Texas, and Texas A&M plays at Arkansas on Feb. 17.

It's possible the Razorbacks could play two more preseason ranked teams -- No. 2 Michigan State and No. 9 North Carolina -- in Portland, Ore., at the Phil Knight Invitational.

The winner of the Arkansas-Oklahoma first-round game Nov. 23 will play the winner of the North Carolina-Portland game Nov. 24.

Arkansas and Michigan State could meet in a third-round game Nov. 26.

"We're going to be playing some players," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said. "That schedule is put together on purpose, to find out where we are and who we are and where we're going to end up being.

"It's challenging, but I think it's one our guys look forward to, especially when you have six seniors on your team."

Oklahoma is among four teams on Arkansas' schedule receiving votes in the AP poll, along with Alabama, Missouri and South Carolina.

The Razorbacks didn't receive any votes.

Anderson said he never puts a lot of stock in preseason polls.

"Early on that's an opinion based on what teams have coming back," Anderson said. "You want to be there when it's all said and done."

North Carolina beat Arkansas 72-65 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and went on to win the national championship.

"Last year we were one of 32 teams playing, and as that number dwindles down, we want to continue to be one of those teams that are still playing," Anderson said. "That's how I answer that.

"I don't worry about polls and all that. It's at the end when it really, really matters. So we want to be in the hunt big time. I really feel like with this group of guys the potential is there."

Duke is ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for the second consecutive season and ninth time overall, matching North Carolina for most all-time.

"It is an honor to be picked No. 1 in your sport," Blue Devils Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "At this time of the year, it truly is a prediction, so you haven't earned No. 1 yet.

"More than likely, past teams that have played at Duke have put this team in a position where people might say, 'How is that team going to do?' or 'They have a lot of talent,' and all of the sudden, you're No. 1.

"We'll look forward to trying to achieve and earn that ranking at some time during the season, hopefully at the end."

The Blue Devils received 33 of 65 first-place votes from a national media panel. Michigan State received 13 first-place votes, No. 3 Arizona had 18 and No. 4 Kansas got one.

Four of the top five teams in the poll -- Duke, Michigan State, Kansas and Kentucky -- play Nov. 14 in the Champions Classic in Chicago. Duke will play Michigan State in the opener and Kansas will play Kentucky in the second half of the doubleheader.

Northwestern, at No. 19, is ranked in the preseason poll for the first time.

The Atlantic Coast Conference has the most ranked teams with five, while the Big 12 and Big Ten have four apiece.

Kansas extended the nation's longest consecutive poll streak with its 162nd consecutive Top 25 ranking, a run that started Feb. 3, 2009. Arizona is next with 98 consecutive weeks.

The Associated Press contributed information for this report.

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Sports on 11/02/2017