The SEC Event boasts one of many largest bracketology bubbles heading into Nashville.
The Southeastern Convention (SEC) is well-known for hogging the spots on the Faculty Soccer Playoff bracket, nevertheless it has apparently turned its efforts to a bigger bracket.
Because the SEC descends upon Nashville for its annual males’s basketball match, almost each one among its 16 groups lingers in some form of bracketology dialogue, whether or not it is via robust showings in opposition to the convention’s anticipated elite or for sterling endeavors overseas. In any occasion, the Nashville proceedings are one of many few the place each recreation has at the least some that means to it, be it on an area or nationwide degree.
All-Individuals, draft skills, mainstays and extra dominate the SEC bracket, and solely time will inform who’s the final crew standing …
Meet the Groups
(1) Auburn Tigers (27-4, 15-3)
Head Coach: Bruce Pearl (eleventh season, 239-121)
Gamers to Watch: Johni Broome (18.6 factors, 10.6 rebounds, 2.6 blocks), Chad Baker-Mazara (12.9 factors, 1.1 steals), Miles Kelly (11.6 factors, 3.7 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2024
The Tigers have lengthy lingered atop each the traditional and extra superior rankings all season lengthy and now it is all about placing it collectively. The mere presence of Broome, a strolling double-double and newly-minted SEC Participant of the Yr, is intimidating sufficient, the tempo for the long run is nicely set with freshman Tahaad Pettiford, and the switch portal has yielded beneficial enhances like Baker-Mazara and Kelly. That is by far one among most gifted groups that Pearl has ever had; will it yield spring glory?
(2) Florida Gators (27-4, 14-4)
Head Coach: Todd Golden (third season, 67-33)
Gamers to Watch: Walter Clayton Jr. (17.2 factors, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals), Alijah Martin (14.5 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals), Alex Condon (11.4 factors, 8.0 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2014 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2024)
Even with Auburn’s sheer firepower, the Gators current a harmful, full problem that has lived as much as the well-generated hype of Golden’s third season on the helm. Even when coping with opposition like Broome, Florida is outscoring opponents by over 16 and out rebounding them by greater than eight. With Condon serving as a dominant inside pressure and Clayton headlining a sterling backcourt image, Florida basketball is formally again on the map, nevertheless it may need to tame the Tigers to swipe a No. 1 seed on Choice Sunday.
(3) Alabama Crimson Tide (24-7, 13-5)
Head Coach: Nate Oats (sixth season, 141-61)
Gamers to Watch: Mark Sears (19.2 factors, 5.0 assists), Grant Nelson (12.1 factors, 7.9 rebounds), Aden Holloway (11.5 factors, 40.2 three-point proportion)
Final SEC Title: 2023 (Las NCAA Event Look: 2024)
The Crimson Tide should shore up their protection if they’ve bigger aspirations, because it’s permitting over 81 factors a recreation, an SEC-worst little doubt partly enforced by the medical lack of touted switch Latrell Whitesell Jr. However nothing’s really misplaced with a expertise like Sears in tow, as nobody within the convention makes higher use of his time atop the important thing and he is partly assisted by the skills of Holloway, a de facto reward from hated rival Auburn. Within the paint, Nelson has helped Alabama secured a plus-6 benefit on the boards, second-best within the SEC behind solely the Gators.
(4) Tennessee Volunteers (25-6, 12-6)
Head Coach: Rick Barnes (tenth season, 227-106)
Gamers to Watch: Chaz Lanier (17.9 factors, 3.9 rebounds, 40.5 three-point proportion), Zakai Zeigler (13.1 factors, 7.5 assists), Igor Milicic Jr. (10.2 factors, 7.3 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2022 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2024)
Newcomers from the portal have meshed completely nicely with the familiarity of Zeigler, who’s contemporary off his second SEC Defensive Participant of the Yr Award. The fifth-year senior Lanier is a risk all around the ground whereas Milicic can facilitate in a equally dependable jack-of-all trades method. Regardless of a hiccup in opposition to Mississippi, the Volunteers snuck into the final of the double-bye slots with robust victories over each Texas A&M (in Faculty Station) and Alabama.
(5) Texas A&M Aggies (22-9, 11-7)
Head Coach: Buzz Williams (sixth season, 119-71)
Gamers to Watch: Wade Taylor IV (15.2 factors, 4.3 assists), Zhuric Phelps (14.3 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals), Pharrel Payne (9.6 factors, 5.0 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: None (Final NCAA Event Look: 2024)
Assured their fifth consecutive season with at the least 20 wins, the Aggies have their eyes on bigger targets. What they’ve achieved is spectacular as is however there is a lingering feeling that there might be extra: they closed February and entered March with 4 consecutive losses (together with a slim defeat to Vanderbilt in Faculty Station), however managed to take down a top-ranked Auburn by a wholesome 11-point margin. Any and all progress will come all the way down to the efforts of lifelong Aggie Taylor, who earned some stable assist from portal finds Payne and Phelps.
(6) Kentucky Wildcats (21-10, 10-8)
Head Coach: Mark Pope (1st season)
Gamers to Watch: Otega Oweh (16.2 factors, 4.6 rebounds), Lamont Butler (11.9 factors, 4.4 assists), Amari Williams (11.0 factors, 8.7 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2018 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2024)
Life after John Calipari by no means reached the euphoric heights an early win over Duke produced nevertheless it’s laborious to quarrel with yr one of many Pope period, which closely relied on the efforts of transfers. UK will probably be on harmful floor for this match: not solely will the second spherical produce a harmful matchup in opposition to a crew with a flattening bubble, however the Wildcats lately realized that they will should work via Nashville with out former BYU shooter Jaxson Robinson. He’s about two weeks faraway from season-ending wrist surgical procedure.
(7) Missouri Tigers (21-10, 10-8)
Head Coach: Dennis Gates (third season, 53-43)
Gamers to Watch: Mark Mitchell (14.3 factors, 4.7 rebounds), Caleb Grill (14.2 factors, 50.0 three-point proportion), Tamar Bates (12.9 level, 41.7 three-point proportion)
Final SEC Title: None (Final NCAA Event Look: 2023)
It doesn’t matter what occurs in Nashville, this goes down as an simple win for Gates, who has the Tigers flirting with nationwide prominence and an ironclad case for the match after they had been totally denied a win on final yr’s SEC docket. Whereas the Tigers had some bother holding tempo defensively, they did pressure over 14 turnovers a recreation, the second-best tally within the convention, however their three-point taking pictures (second greatest success fee behind Kentucky) would be the true x-factor at holding them in high-profile match video games.
(8) Mississippi Rebels (21-10, 10-8)
Head Coach: Chris Beard (2nd season, 41-22)
Gamers to Watch: Sean Pedulla (15.1 factors, 3.7 assists), Jaemyn Brakefield (11.2 factors, 4.5 rebounds), Matthew Murrell (10.9 factors, 3.5 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2013 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2019)
Bubble watchers in Nashville can pay shut consideration to the Rebels, whose fall-off after a 4-0 begin in convention play would possibly require an announcement victory or two to make their match case ironclad. It is nonetheless a historic season in Oxford, which witnessed a number of victories in opposition to prime 5 competitors for the primary time in program historical past. Mississippi compelled 14.3 turnovers a recreation through the season, tied with Vanderbilt for many within the convention.
(9) Arkansas Razorbacks (19-12, 8-10)
Head Coach: John Calipari (1st season)
Gamers to Watch: DJ Wagner (11.1 factors, 3.5 assists), Johnell Davis (11.1 factors, 1.4 steals)
Final SEC Title: 2000 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2023)
Calipari and Co. put forth a stable effort in yr one, however is it sufficient to get him again within the Large Dance to atone for his final Kentucky stand in opposition to Oakland? Wins in 4 of the final 5 video games (two over ranked teams from Missouri and Mississippi State) have actually helped the trigger however the Razorbacks should work via at the least their opener with out main scorers Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland. The switch addition of Davis might be a difference-maker contemplating his earlier Ultimate 4 expertise with Florida Atlantic.
(10) Mississippi State Bulldogs Rebels
Head Coach: Chris Jans (third season, 62-38)
Gamers to Watch: Josh Hubbard (18.3 factors, 3.3 assists), Keshawn Murphy (11.6 factors, 7.5 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2009 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2024)
One other sufferer of the downright juggernaut nature of the SEC, the Bulldogs are arrange pretty nicely because of a dominant 14-1 begin that featured non-conference wins over Pittsburgh and Memphis. February triumphs over Mississippi and Texas A&M (the latter by 16 factors) needs to be sufficient to clinch Jans’ third match look in as many seasons. However the Bulldogs dropped 4 of their final 5, together with three to fellow Wednesday competitors, which may depart them liable to a bid stealer.
(11) Georgia Bulldogs (20-11, 8-10)
Head Coach: Mike White (third season, 56-44)
Gamers to Watch: Asa Newell (15.1 factors, 6.5 rebounds), Silas Demary Jr. (13.1 factors, 4.0 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2008 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2015)
Not like others trying to claw their means out of Wednesday obscurity, the Bulldogs in reality received every of their ultimate 4 video games. That stretch opened with a win over Florida and got here three months after UGA earned a non-conference win on impartial hardwood in opposition to St. John’s. Having landed the companies of a implausible freshman like Newell, the Bulldogs are in search of progress in yr three below former Florida boss White, whose NIT semifinal run in his sophomore marketing campaign gave Athens its first type of males’s postseason basketball since 2017.
(12) Vanderbilt Commodores (20-11, 8-10)
Head Coach: Mark Byington (1st season)
Gamers to Watch: Jason Edwards (16.9 factors), Devin McGlockton (10.4 factors, 7.8 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 2012 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2017)
Byington, previously of James Madison, received the ‘Dores again on monitor by greater than doubling their win complete from final season. Triumphs over Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M, and Missouri, ought to impress the committee however consecutive losses to Arkansas and Georgia ended the yr on a bitter observe and has diminished the margin for error in entrance of the hometown crowd to zero. Although letting up the third-most factors within the convention, Vandy additionally forces probably the most turnovers subsequent to Ole Miss.
(13) Texas Longhorns (17-14, 6-12)
Head Coach: Rodney Terry (third season, 60-35)
Gamers to Watch: Tre Johnson (20.2 factors, 3.2 rebounds), Arthur Kaluma (12.7 factors, 7,8 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: None (Final NCAA Event Look: 2024)
The Longhorns’ first dive into SEC play was a brutal one, although they at the least had the consolation of Johnson dwelling as much as his five-star billing. Texas might have to tug off a dominant run merely to safe each its current and future: carrying street jerseys on opening day of the match is much from a very good look, regardless of how highly effective the convention, and Terry’s goodwill is on the verge of operating out.
(14) Oklahoma Sooners (19-12, 6-12)
Head Coach: Porter Moser (4th season, 73-57)
Gamers to Watch: Jeremiah Fears (16.3 factors, 4.2 assists), Jalon Moore (16.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: None (Final NCAA Event Look: 2021)
One other newcomer that wore out their welcome early, the Sooners may need a ticket to Dayton prepared because of an ideal non-conference slate and profitable a de facto elimination recreation in opposition to Texas with out one among their starters. The stress can also be mounting on Moser, who has but to guide Norman into the NCAA Event after his magic run at Loyola Chicago.
(15) LSU Tigers (14-17, 3-15)
Head Coach: Matt McMahon (third season, 45-47)
Gamers to Watch: Cam Carter (16.5 factors, 4.0 rebounds), Jordan Sears (12.0 factors, 2.7 rebounds)
Final SEC Title: 1980 (Final NCAA Event Look: 2022)
Making an attempt to construct on final yr’s NIT look was all the time going to be a problem after Jalen Reed endured an early season-ending harm, however issues received significantly dire on the finish: the Tigers misplaced every of their ultimate 5 video games with solely one among them being significantly shut. Leaping into the match dialog is out of the query, regardless of how packed it could be, however they could be taking part in for McMahon’s job.
(16) South Carolina Gamecocks (12-19, 2-16)
Head Coach: Lamon Paris (third season, 49-48)
Gamers to Watch: Collin Murray-Boyles (16.7 factors, 8.1 rebounds), Jamarii Thomas (13.1 factors, 3.0 assists)
Final SEC Title: None (Final NCAA Event Look: 2024)
Equally, the Gamecock confronted an uphill battle with so many massive names from final yr’s 26-win group shifting on (Meechie Johnson, for instance, transferred again to Ohio State). USC’s exhibiting ought to at the least be value to see Murray-Boyles, because the sophomore has attracted some first rate draft consideration.
Schedule
(All Occasions ET)
Wednesday, March 12
(9) Arkansas vs (16) South Carolina, 1 p.m., SEC Community
(12) Vanderbilt vs (13) Texas, 3:30 p.m., SEC Community
(10) Mississippi State vs (15) LSU, 7 p.m., SEC Community
(11) Georgia vs (14) Oklahoma, 8:30 p.m., SEC Community
Thursday, March 13
(8) Ole Miss vs. ARK/SC, 1 p.m., SEC Community
(5) Texas A&M vs. VAN/TEX, 3:30 p.m., SEC Community
(7) Missouri vs MSU/LSU, 7 p.m., SEC Community
(6) Kentucky vs. UGA/OU, 9:30 p.m. SEC Community
Friday, March 14
(1) Auburn vs. MISS/ARK/SC, 1 p.m., ESPN
(4) Tennessee vs. TAMU/VAN/TEX, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
(2) Florida vs. MIZZ/MSU/LSU, 7 p.m., SEC Community
(3) Alabama vs. UK/UGA/OU, 9:30 p.m., SEC Community
Saturday, March 15
Semifinal 1: 1 p.m., ESPN
Semifinal 2: 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, March 16
Championship Recreation: 1 p.m., ESPN
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
