The SEC Basketball regular season has come to an end which means its now time to look forward to the SEC Basketball tournament. Who are the favorites and what lower seeds can make a run? Let’s find out.
For weeks we have been waiting for the league to have a clear peaking order in the rankings. Let’s just say that ain’t happening this year. The Rankings!
#14 Missouri Tigers 10-21 Overall (3-15 Conf)
Since Missouri was kind enough to give themselves a postseason ban for the year (how convenient huh?) Saturdays loss at home put the dagger into the 2015-16 Missouri Tigers. This also means we have now seen the last of Ryan Rosburg, the big man that seems like he has played for the Tigers for over a decade now. Godspeed Mr. Rosburg.
#13 Tennessee Volunteers 13-18 Overall (6-12 Conf)
Tennessee got the news this week that Kevin Punter was officially lost for the season, but honestly, the season has been lost for the Vols for a few weeks now. They’ll likely have more growing pains next year as Punter and Amari Moore will both depart.
#12 Auburn Tigers 11-19 Overall (5-13 Conf)
The Tigers have been much more competitive since Canty quit/was kicked off the team. I expect them to take the first round matchup on Wednesday night against the reeling Volunteers in front of dozens and dozens of fans.
#11 Alabama Crimson Tide 17-13 Overall (8-10 Conf)
The NCAA tournament dreams have turned into a NIT nightmare as Bama has been struggling as of late, losing four of of their last five. Retin Obasahan has been great, but he has also been a one man show with little help from his supporting cast. I can’t imagine another team in the league that will miss a player more than Alabama will miss Obasahan next season.
#10 Arkansas Razorbacks 16-15 Overall (9-9 Conf)
The roller coaster ride of a season continued this week for the Hogs, grabbing an upset in Tuscaloosa during the week to get their fans back on the bandwagon. But once again the problem of inconsistency showed up again Saturday, as they were throttled by a struggling Gamecocks team who was without arguably their best player in Michael Carrera. The problem of being consistently inconsistent has always seem to plagued the Mike Anderson era as the Hogs are likely done with any postseason hopes with the loss.
#9 Florida Gators 18-13 Overall (9-9 Conf)
A struggling Gators squad found a good remedy for it’s troubles Saturday as they had a matchup against woeful Missouri and won. The Gators ended up a disappointing 9-9 in conference and will have to make a solid run in the SEC tournament to get into the Big Dance.
#8 Mississippi St. Bulldogs 14-16 Overall (7-11 Conf)
The Bulldogs keep trucking along but have a tough matchup against Georgia who has been on a surge as of late. The last time these two went at it Georgia took the win in Starksville, so we’ll see if MSU can get their revenge on Thursday.
#7 Ole Miss Rebels 20-11 Overall (10-8 Conf)
Andy Kennedy once again has his Rebels at the 20 win mark, which seems to be the case most every season. The Rebels are on a bit of of a hot streak, finishing out the SEC Basketball conference season winning it’s last two games. However, without a run in the SEC Basketball tournament, they’ll find themselves on the outside looking in on Selection Sunday. We’ll see just how far Stefan Moody can carry Ole Miss once they start tournament play on Thursday.
#6 Georgia Bulldogs 17-12 Overall (10-8 Conf)
Left for dead after a bad road loss to Auburn, Georgia has now won three straight against some solid competition and ended up with the 6 seed in the SEC Tournament. They’ll need the hot shooting of both JJ Frazier and Kenny Gaines to continue if they want to continue playing in Nashville for multiple days.
#5 LSU Tigers 18-13 Overall (11-7 Conf)
It’s win the SEC Tournament or bust for the Tigers. They have ended up with the 4 seed but will have a tough draw as they’ll likely draw the ‘Dores on Friday. However, I’ve seen nothing so far to make me believe LSU will do anything but disappoint in Nashville, leading to one of the more disappointing seasons for a team in recent SEC basketball history. But that is what you get from a Johnny Jones led basketball team.
#4 South Carolina Gamecocks 24-7 Overall (11-7 Conf)
The Gamecocks bounced back from a recent slump dominating the Hogs in Bud Walton on Saturday, and did so without arguably their best player in Michael Carrera. Carrera will have to heal up quickly from his hip injury if South Carolina wants to have any success in the SEC or NCAA Tournaments.
#3 Vanderbilt Commadores 19-12 Overall (11-7 Conf)
While Vandy has gotten back on track here recently, they ran into a buzzsaw Saturday against the Aggies in College Station. I still think a complete Vandy team, which we have seen the last few weeks, can make a solid run in the SEC Basketball Tournament and well as winning a game or two in the NCAA Tournament with the right draw.
#1A Texas A&M Aggies 24-7 Overall (13-5 Conf)
In a league that has been such a muddled mess from start to finish it only makes since to end the top of our Power Rankings in a tie. The Aggies have been on a roll after losing 5 straight in conference and have ended the season as the one seed in the SEC tournament thanks to a tiebreaker against Kentucky (and Issac Humphries incredibly stupid technical foul at the end of that game). The Aggies have a complete team that can make noise not only in the SEC Tournament but the NCAA Tournament as well.
#1B Kentucky Wildcats 23-8 Overall (13-5 Conf)
Kentucky continues to roll along with it’s guard play with the post guys playing a supportive roll. I think Jamal Murrary has been so good that you have to give him SOME consideration for SEC Freshman of the year, even though you would still likely give it to Simmons. But, that’s something you never would have thought you would even have consider at the beginning of the season. His backcourt mate, Tyler Ulis, will be my pick for SEC player of the year.
More razorbacks: Arkansas Gets Hot Late
So there you have it. If you love a wild rollercoaster ride, then this SEC Basketball season had it all for you this season. If the tournament is anything like the conference season was, it will be full of moments that will frankly make your head explode. Or at least, give yourself a case of some #SECBasketballfever.
WAIT! ***BONUS COVERAGE***
You didn’t think I wouldn’t include my SEC tournament predictions did you?
Wednesday:
Auburn beats Tennessee
Thursday:
Florida beats Arkansas
Vanderbilt beats Auburn
Ole Miss beats Alabama
Georgia beats Mississippi St
Friday Quarterfinals:
Texas A&M beats Flordia
Vanderbilt beats LSU
Kentucky Beats Ole Miss
Georgia beats South Carolina
Saturday Semifinals:
Vanderbilt beats Texas A&M
Kentucky beats Georgia
Sunday Finals:
Kentucky beats Vanderbilt