Same song, different verse? Media picks Kentucky to win 2020 SEC men's basketball title
In what’s comes as little surprise, the Kentucky men’s basketball team was voted by the media to win the 2020 SEC Tournament, a choice that continues a 20-year trend.
The Wildcats are the overall preseason favorite for the ninth consecutive season and the 15th time since the 1998-99 season. Meanwhile, Florida’s Kerry Blackshear was picked the SEC’s Preseason Player of the Year.
UK was voted to win its sixth regular-season title under John Calipari, who is in his 11th year, by the league’s media members. It would be the program’s 49th overall regular-season title.
At Big Blue Madness recently, Calipari outlined the program’s accomplishments since he’s been the coach.
“In the last 10 years … we’ve won a national championship … won more games than any other team … been to more final fours than any other program,” he said, … won more NCAA Tournament games … appeared in more Elite Eights and more Sweet 16s than any other school … won five SEC regular-season championships … and six SEC tournament titles.”
Calipari has directed his teams to regular-season SEC crowns in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Kentucky has claimed the SEC Tournament title six times, in 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
On the preseason all-SEC team with Blackshear is UK’s Ashton Hagans, Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, Ole Miss’ Breein Tyree and Mississippi State’s Reggie Perry.
UK and Florida have received much of the preseason attention as both are likely to be ranked in the preseason top 10 when polls are released.