“Program Departure: Arkansas Razorbacks Conclude 2023-24 Season with 16-17 Record”
The Arkansas Razorbacks, seeded 12th, concluded their season on Thursday evening with an 80-66 defeat against the 5th-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks, ranked 15th nationally, in the second round of the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Finishing with a 16-17 overall record for the 2023-24 season marked a departure for the program, marking their first losing season since 2009-10. The Razorbacks split their SEC Tournament appearances, securing an overtime victory against Vanderbilt on Wednesday before succumbing to the Gamecocks on Thursday.
Despite trailing by merely three points at halftime, Arkansas faced an 11-point deficit in the final 20 minutes, resulting in a decisive loss. South Carolina’s dominance in the paint, with 52 points, contrasted sharply with Arkansas’s overall 66 points in the game.
Assistant coach Todd Lee expressed the team’s emotional state in the aftermath, citing the challenge of facing a physically imposing opponent with minimal preparation time following the quick turnaround from the previous game.