SOUTHEASTERN
CONFERENCE
SCottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
March 7-11
AUBURN
Record: 25-6, 13-5
Auburn may have the top seed, but probably has the longest odds of any 1-seed in Conference Tournaments this season. The SEC is truly a mess and it doesn’t help that the Tigers haven’t looked as good without Anfernee McLemore in the lineup, losing three of their last five (all losses on road). This team has impressed all season, but putting that together in this Tournament when teams like Florida and Kentucky have steadily improved, will be tough. In fact, that matchup with UK could happen in the semis. Even then, Games against A&M and Alabama in the quarterfinals won’t be easy. It was only a month ago that the Aggies won 81-80 in Auburn.
TENNESSEE
Record: 23-7, 13-5
The same sentiment goes for the Volunteers, although they enter the Tourney having won their last Four with one of them being against the Gators, a possible semifinal opponent. The Vols have the guard play and bigs to contend with every team in the Conference and that should lead to a semifinal appearance at the least. If they make it there, a rematch with Florida is possible and the Gators have won their last three since losing that Game in Knoxville. But get past Florida and anything can happen in the championship.
FLORIDA
Record: 20-11, 11-7
The Gators are playing their best basketball at the right time after beating Auburn, Alabama and Kentucky in their last three. Not to say their first Game will be easy against possibly Arkansas, but they’ll be favored. There’s also a good chance Florida will be favored the rest of the way if it keeps winning. That said, the Gators are a team that relies heavily on threes with three guys having taken at least 150 and when the shots aren’t falling, anything can happen.
KENTUCKY
Record: 21-10, 10-8
There will be a lot of money on the Wildcats simply because of who they are. And at the end of the day, there are good reasons to take them to win this Tournament. A matchup with Missouri would be interesting, especially if Michael Porter Jr. returns to the cOurt. If that happens, all bets are off. Still, the Cats have won Four of their last five and are playing more like a team, getting more from guys like Jarred Vanderbilt and Quade Green. If UK gets past Mizzou, it’s a toss up the rest of the way and the Wildcats could be favored in every Game outside of a rematch against Florida in the final and that includes a meeting with top seed Auburn.
Missouri
Record: 20-11, 10-8
As a five seed, the Tigers may be a long shot to win this Tournament, but if Porter Jr. returns, anything can happen. For starters, no one has really seen the stud freshman play this season, which makes things even more intriguing. If he doesn’t play, it’s hard to see Missouri taking down Kentucky as it doesn’t have the weapons to compete on a neutral cOurt. But with Porter possible returning, there will be a decent amount of money on the Tigers as an underdog to win this Tournament.
TEXAS A&M
Record: 20-11, 9-9
The Aggies were projected to be one of the best teams in the SEC, but that never played out after losing their first five Games in Conference play. Of course, a lot of that had to do with Schedule and injuries. Still, the opener against Alabama is far from a freebie since it lost by 22 in the first meeting and barely escaped at home last weekend. The Aggies may have talent, but they haven’t consistently put it together this season. Even if they can beat ‘Bama and then escape Auburn, it’s hard to see the run continuing if Kentucky is on the other side in the semifinals.
Alabama has lost its last five and will be hard to trust, although may be playing for its NCAA Tournament life if it’s not careful. Arkansas is another team that could win a Game or two, but the Razorbacks haven’t had enough to beat the top teams in the Conference this season, especially away from home and a Game against Florida in the quarters won’t be favorable. Mississippi State and LSU may be fighting for a spot in March Madness, but it’s hard to see either one getting past Tennessee.
Kentucky and Florida were early preseason favorites to win the Conference and while that didn’t happen in the regular season, it could happen in this Tournament. Of course, there are numerous teams standing in each of their paths with Tennessee at the top of the list, but also Auburn or Texas A&M and even Missouri, pending on the status of Porter Jr.