College Hoops Today

Serving College Basketball 365 Days a Year

5 questions entering the SEC

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 6th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the SEC:

1. Does the SEC have a clear cut favorite?
Not at all. Seven teams from this league — Texas A&M, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Alabama — are ranked in the ROTHSTEIN 45, but there’s very little separation in this group. While people from the periphery will look at Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama as likely favorites for the SEC regular season title, it should be noted that both Texas A&M and Mississippi State return over 80 percent of their scoring from last season — the most in the SEC. This conference is wide open. 

2. How good is Kentucky’s freshmen class?
Good enough to be the best class that John Calipari has had since he enrolled De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Bam Adebayo in 2016. Four of the Wildcats’ freshmen — Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw (currently injured), DJ Wagner, and Robert Dillingham — are ranked in the top 20 of the 2023 class according to the 247Sports composite. Another freshman — Reed Sheppard — is ranked 75th. That doesn’t mean that Kentucky is going to win the SEC and earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, but it does mean that the talent base of this program is at an exceptionally high level. If veterans like Antonio Reeves and West Virginia grad transfer Tre Mitchell can provide a stabilizing foundation, the Wildcats’ freshmen could very well put this team over the top as the season progresses. 

3. Can Tennessee get over the hump?
We’ll find out in March. The Vols have averaged 24 wins over the past six seasons under Rick Barnes, but have yet to advance beyond the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee also won the SEC Tournament in 2022. In order for this program to truly take the next step, it must get to the either the Elite Eight or the Final Four in 2024. Three of the Vols’ top four scorers — Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Zeigler, and Josiah-Jordan James — are back from last season’s team that reached the Sweet 16 along with three other guys who were in Tennessee’s rotation in Jonas Aidoo, Jahmai Mashack, and Tobe Awaka.

4. Which off-the-radar SEC player is about to become a national name?
Florida’s Riley Kugel. The 6-5 wing averaged 17.3 points and shot 39.6 percent from three-point range over the Gators’ final 10 games of last season. He now seems primed to begin the 2023-24 campaign on fire. If the Gators are going to challenge for a berth in the 2024 NCAA Tournament in their second season under Todd Golden, Kugel’s emergence will be a major reason why. Remember the name.

5. Who is the sleeper?
Ole Miss. Chris Beard has already taken three different Division 1 programs — Little Rock, Texas Tech, and Texas — to the NCAA Tournament and he got his first Division 1 head coaching job in 2015. Don’t be shocked if the Rebels are the fourth in 2024. Beard inherits two quality pieces in Matthew Murrell (14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds) and Jaemyn Brakefield (11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds) to go with a quality transfer class headlined by Jamarion Sharp (Western Kentucky) and Allen Flanigan (Auburn). The 7-5 Sharp has led the nation in blocked shots in each of the past two seasons. Don’t be shocked if this team is on the bubble in February. 

Leftovers