SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Preview
This year the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament is being held in Nashville, Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena. The 57th Tournament will kick off on March 8th and run until March 12th.
Seedings:
#1 Kentucky:
The 26-5 Wildcats are looking to 3 peat in the SEC Tourney, led by Freshmen Malik Monk (21.2 ppg) and De’Aaron Fox (15.5 ppg) the Wildcats are a heavy favorite to 3 peat in the SEC.
#2 Florida:
Florida enters the tournament with a 24-7 record, with a season split vs Kentucky. KeVaughn Allen leads the team with 13.9 ppg. This just shows how many weapons this team has, John Egbunu, Kasey Hill, and Canyon Barry are also featured on this squad.
#3 Arkansas:
This team honestly came out of nowhere. We were so focused on Kentucky, and Florida that Arkansas made a run and surpassed South Carolina for the number 3 seed. I can see this team making a little run and maybe upsetting Florida in a potential semifinal game.
#4 South Carolina:
South Carolina has been in that 3 spot the whole year and like I said above no one saw Arkansas coming. The Gamecocks do have the #4 seed though and will take on the winner of Mississippi State/Alabama.
#5 Alabama:
Alabama is another good under the radar team in this tournament that is taking an underdog approach. Although they are not a true underdog Alabama is still considered an under the radar team by most such as myself. This team could be a surprise in this tournament and a team I could see making a run for the semifinal round.
#6 Ole Miss:
Ole Miss led by forward Sebastain Saiz (10.9 RPG) comes into this tournament with a 10-8 conference record, with key wins vs Tennessee, vs South Carolina, and at Vanderbilt.
#7 Vanderbilt:
Vandy also with a 10-8 conference record led by Luke Kornet is a very very overlooked team. This team can bite you in the butt if you underestimate them especially at home (where the tournament will be for them).
#8 Georgia:
Georgia is a very good young team, with JJ Frazier at the point and Yante Maten who both average 18.7 ppg (tied for 3rd in SEC) the Bulldogs could be putting some teams on upset alert this week.
#9 Tennessee:
Tennessee has had its ups (beating Kentucky at home, beating Texas A&M by 10, and coming back to beat Alabama 59-54 on Senior Day) and its downs (being crushed at Kentucky, losing at home to Chattanooga, and blowing a lead to fall to Georgia at home 76-75). The Vols were considered a first four out team midway through the season and then they hit a wall, winning just 3 out of the last 9. If there is one way for Tennessee to get into the NCAA Tournament it’s to win this tournament.
The SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be on SEC Network and ESPN throughout the week, for more updates and coverage stay with Upstate Sports Zone… @Upstate_Sports #TourneyWeek
