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5 questions entering the SEC

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 7th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the Big Ten:

1. Is it a Final Four or bust season for Kentucky?
It certainly feels that way. The Wildcats went 26-8 a year ago and had a phenomenal regular season, but lost in the Round of 64 to St. Peter’s in arguably the biggest upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari has done a tremendous job during his tenure as Kentucky’s head coach, but he hasn’t been to a Final Four since 2015. The Wildcats came close three times since, losing in the Elite Eight in 2017 and 2019 as well as the Sweet 16 in 2018. The 2017 loss to North Carolina went down to the game’s final possession while the 2019 loss to Auburn was in overtime. Kentucky returns the AP National Player of the Year in Oscar Tshiebwe as well as the SEC’s leader in assists over the past two seasons in Sahvir Wheeler. The Wildcats also added two five-star freshmen in Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston, while 6-9 forward Jacob Toppin is prime for a breakout season. Anything less than playing during the first weekend in April will be viewed as a disappointment for Kentucky and its ravenous fan base. 

2. Can Arkansas get over the hump?
Eric Musselman has led this program to back-to-back appearances in Elite Eight, but the question in Fayetteville is whether or not the Razorbacks will reach the Final Four this season for the first time since 1995. Arkansas has talent, but the question is does it have the experience? Musselman’s top flight recruiting class features three five-star freshmen in Nick Smith, Jordan Walsh, and do-everything point guard Anthony Black. Well embedded moles in Fayetteville are also bullish on the upside of transfers Trevon Brazile (Missouri) and Ricky Council IV (Wichita State). Musselman has been a wizard at putting teams together successfully on short notice, but the facts are the facts: Arkansas does not return a double-figure scorer from last year’s team that lost to Duke in the West Regional Final. It remains to be seen if this team — which has more long-term talent than the past two — is able to reach the same heights when things matter most in March.

3. Which Tennessee guard is about to become a star nationally?
Zakai Zeigler. Kennedy Chandler received most of the attention on the perimeter last season for the Vols, but Zeigler quietly did yeoman’s work as a freshman, averaging 8.8 points and 2.7 assists in 22.1 minutes. With Chandler no longer in Knoxville, the 5-9 Zeigler is ready to emerge as one of the top guards in the SEC. With Zeigler, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, and Indiana transfer Tyreke Key, Tennessee is more than capable of again challenging for an SEC regular season title.

4. When will Jahvon Quinerly return for Alabama?
Nate Oats told College Hoops Today in August that Quinerly — who suffered a torn ACL in the NCAA Tournament against Notre Dame — “was on track to return for the SEC schedule and maybe a little sooner”. The 6-1 guard averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 assists, and three rebounds last season prior to injury and is an All-SEC first-team caliber player when healthy. Quinerly is the only double figure scorer returning for Alabama, who features a talented, but brand new nucleus of freshmen Jaden Bradley and Brandon Miller along with transfers Mark Sears (Ohio) and Dominick Welch (St. Bonaventure). 

5. Who is the sleeper?
Florida. Todd Golden — who comes to Gainesville from San Francisco — is stepping up a weight class he transitions from the WCC to the SEC, but he’s put together a roster that should be more than competitive in his first season as a head coach in a power conference. Veteran big man Colin Castleton (16.2 points, nine rebounds) is a first-team All-SEC caliber player and Golden also added major reinforcements via the transfer portal in Alex Fudge (LSU), Kyle Lofton (St. Bonaventure), and Will Richard (Belmont). Golden also inherits two capable perimeter players in Myreon Jones (8.5 points) and Kowacie Reeves (5.5 points). Florida has the requisites to compete for an NCAA Tournament berth in 2023. 

Leftovers