Any anxiety fans had for the 1998 campaign was put to rest early. Arkansas opened the season with 10 straight wins, which included victories over No. 12 Fresno State and Louisville. By December the Hogs were ranked in the top 25, where they would stay for the remainder of the season, reaching as high as No. 12. Arkansas returned to the NCAA Tournament, but fell in the second round to eventual national runner-up Utah.