Nearing the halfway point of the SEC conference season, who is the best team in the SEC?
Is there a bona fide Final Four contender? Is this a 10-bid league? Is the frontrunner for SEC Player of the Year the same player as the frontrunner for SEC Freshman of the Year? Is there a better food city in the SEC than Athens, Georgia?
These are among the burning questions your faithful correspondent will address this week, which saw road teams grab huge upset wins over the weekend (Hello, Tennessee and Auburn!), home teams respond with big wins on Tuesday (we see you, Alabama and Vanderbilt!), and a road team grab a program record road win (Where did that come from, Florida?).
There’s a 3-team race at the top of the league, with Bucky McMillan’s upstart Texas A&M Aggies maintaining a half game lead over Arkansas and Florida entering the weekend. Eight teams remain just 2 games behind the first place Aggies in the win column, setting the stage for a frenetic February that will bring separation or create even more chaos as March beckons.
Time will tell, but while we wait, here are 10 things I’m absolutely overreacting to after 4 weeks of SEC play.
Opening Tip: In the year of the star freshman, the SEC has 2 of the best in America
Have you seen Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas?
There’s a reasonable argument that this is the greatest freshman class to play college basketball in a generation. I’ll credit recency bias for any sentiment that it’s the best freshman class ever, but with stars like Cam Boozer of Duke, AJ Dybantsa of Brigham Young, Koa Peat of Arizona, Kingston Flemings of Houston, Keaton Wagler of Illinois, Darryn Peterson of Kansas, and Caleb Wilson at North Carolina — to name just a few — there’s an embarrassment of freshmen riches in college basketball.
How deep is the talent pool? Consider the latest No Ceilings Mock Draft (if you don’t know the No Ceilings guys yet, do you even hoop?) No Ceilings has a staggering 8 of the top 10 picks in this summer’s NBA Draft hailing from this freshman class. That would be the largest contingent of one-and-dones taken in the top 10 since 2017, a class that included future All-NBA Team selections De’Aaron Fox of Kentucky and Jayson Tatum of Duke, among others.
One of the players currently slated in the top 10 is Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr., who No Ceilings slots as the 8th overall pick.
Acuff ranks fourth in the SEC in points per game (20.2) and second in assists (6.3), one of 2 SEC players in the top 5 in each category (Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama). Acuff is one of those freshmen who appears to be improving by the game.
On Saturday, he poured in 31 points in a comeback win over LSU, with 24 coming in the second half. Acuff followed that masterpiece with 21 points and 9 assists — without a single turnover — in helping Arkansas rally from 13 points behind on the road at Oklahoma.
The talk of Acuff Jr. as SEC Player of the Year is a bit premature. The freshman ranks 7th in Evan Miya’s offensive impact ratings and ranks second lowest of any player in the top 10 in defensive performance rating. But with the ball in his hands at the end of games, Acuff is making winning play after winning play.
The end result is an Arkansas team that appears poised to contend for a SEC Championship.
Wait until you hear about Nate Ament of Tennessee
The Vols super freshman has suffered through more growing pains than Acuff, but he’s still been extremely productive, averaging 16.2 points per game and 6.4 rebounds for a Vols team that ranks in the top 25 in America in every major analytical database (21st in Evan Miya, 19th Bart Torvik, 20th in KenPom).
Ament is an excellent ball handler at a legitimate 6-9 and he’s a capable passer, though rarely given the ability to showcase that skill in Tennessee’s offense, which relies heavily on him and teammate Ja’Kobi Gillespie to score.
Ament is coming of his best week as a collegian, scoring 29 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists in Tennessee’s upset win at Alabama last weekend. Ament wasn’t quite as dominant against Georgia, but with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, he was instrumental in Tennessee’s 86-85 overtime win.
In his last 5 games, Ament is averaging 21 points per game with 5.8 rebounds while shooting 39% from 3. That’s top-10 pick good.
Perhaps most impressive? Ament played 38 minutes in the win at Alabama and followed it up with 39 minutes in the overtime victory at Georgia. He’s indispensable to Tennessee and if his improvement continues, perhaps Tennessee will reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for a program-best fourth consecutive season.
Great Freshmen Aside, the SEC Player of the Year Race is Wide Open
A season ago, Johni Broome was such an overwhelming favorite for SEC Player of the Year that Florida star Walter Clayton Jr., well on his way to joining Broome on the First Team All-American squad, was rarely a centerpiece of conversation.
This year? There’s no clear frontrunner and the conversation could reasonably include 7 different names.
Of the 2 freshmen highlighted above, Acuff Jr. is the one that should factor into SEC Player of the Year honors.
That said, he grades out just 7th among SEC performers at Evan Miya and ranks 4th at KenPom.
Analytics and statistics aren’t everything, but there are other players in the SEC who impact winning as much or more than Acuff. Labaron Philon ranks first at KenPom, and Ja’Kobi Gillespie grades out tops at Evan Miya, and if either of those 2 veterans won SEC Player of the Year, it would be difficult to argue. Florida’s Thomas Haugh will be a lottery pick and an All-American. He doesn’t score as much as the other names on this list, but he scores 17 points a game and does a little of everything else. He’s also the SEC leader in defensive win shares, rating just ahead of teammate Rueben Chinyelu as the most impactful defender in the conference.
Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall just lit up Florida and should contend for the SEC scoring title a year after leading the Big 12 in scoring. If Auburn closes strong, could he win?
Tyler Tanner is the straw that stirs the drink for Vanderbilt, one of the best offenses in America. He scores at a 17-point clip and ranks top 5 in the SEC in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. It would hardly be surprising if he won SEC Player of the Year.
One name who likely won’t appear on many final ballots?
Preseason SEC Player of the Year Otega Oweh of Kentucky. Despite a team-high usage rate and taking 26% of Kentucky’s shots when he’s on the floor, Oweh averages 16.3 points per game (just a tenth of a percentage point above his average a year ago, while his rebounding has decreased, turnovers have increased, and his effective field goal percentage has dipped from a season ago. Oweh hasn’t been “bad” by any stretch of the imagination. But he’s failed to take the leap the supporting cast of Kentucky’s $21 million roster suggested he’d take.
Does the SEC have a Final Four contender?
We probably won’t have perspective on just how special the SEC was in 2024-25 for several years. Fourteen NCAA Tournament bids? That may never be replicated. Seven teams in the Sweet 16. Four in the Elite 8. Auburn in the Final Four and of course, the national champion in Florida.
Another way of thinking about the SEC in 2024-25? Consider South Carolina, who won just 2 games despite having a top-50 national defense and a lottery pick in Collin Murray-Boyles.
The Gamecocks weren’t a bad team. They were just in the worst team in a league that was a force of nature.
This year? The SEC remains the deepest league in America. Eight SEC teams rank in the top 32 of KenPom as of Wednesday evening, more than any league in America. Two other teams rank in the top 40.
But is anyone elite? A season ago, the SEC had multiple Final Four “favorites,” from Auburn, the most dominant team in America in the regular season to Elite 8 teams Alabama and Tennessee to the eventual champs in Florida.
This year? There are probably 3 Final Four “contenders” in the SEC.
Arkansas has the most talent. The Hogs have a plethora of play-making guards, precisely what’s needed to win games in March. The frontcourt is under-appreciated with Malique Ewin, Trevon Brazile, and veteran Nick Pringle. And if you don’t think John Calipari is highly motivated to get to one more Final Four after the way things ended in Lexington well… just ask him. He’ll tell you exactly what that would mean.
Florida has the best frontcourt in America and arguably the best coaching staff in the country. The Gators can dominate you on the glass, earning precious extra possessions, another must have in March. They are the best defense in the SEC, are battle-tested after a brutal nonconference slate and have a coaching staff that finds ways to win at the margins. Will Boogie Fland, Xavian Lee, and Urban Klavžar make enough plays to win 4 games in a row? It’s certainly possible, but nothing we’ve seen to date says it is probable.
Finally, in picking between Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Alabama, you have to take the Crimson Tide, at least if Charles Bediako remains eligible.
Alabama’s NIL situation in basketball isn’t on par with what is available at Kentucky, of course. It’s also less robust than what Arkansas and Florida have behind their programs. That made life harder on Nate Oats in the offseason, and he made uncharacteristic errors constructing his frontcourt. Bediako, an elite defender, rim protector, and sound rebounder, eliminates those errors. With one of the best backcourts in college basketball and a dynamic lottery talent in Labaron Philon, Alabama might be the most balanced team in the SEC, making it capable of winning games a number of different ways in March. That’s a must have.
The jury is still out on whether Tennessee, Vanderbilt, or Auburn can join these 3 as “Final Four contenders.” But for now, the 3 SEC teams most likely to crash the party in Indianapolis are Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas.
The Moment of Truth has arrived for Texas A&M
Bucky McMillan’s first season at Texas A&M has been incredibly positive through January.
The Aggies lead the SEC, are comfortably in the NCAA Tournament field with a NET of 40 and solid metrics (33rd in KenPom, 28th in Torvik), and a bona fide First Team All-SEC candidate in Rashaun Agee, who has been spectacular.
The success is remarkable considering the departure of Buzz Williams and Trev Alberts’ late hire of McMillan conspired to put Bucky in a tough spot last spring, left to build an entirely new roster with what remained in the transfer portal when he was hired. The narrow portal window meant McMillan, even with excellent resources, was hamstrung in building a team capable of playing his frenetic, high-tempo brand of basketball.
So far, McMillan’s thrived in spite of those limitations. He’s also done it without compromising style or program principles. The Aggies rank 26th nationally in tempo and are shooting 35.6% from deep in SEC play, excelling at McMillan’s 3-happy, high-tempo style. More impressive, the Aggies are defending at an elite level in league play, trailing only Florida in SEC-only defensive efficiency.
The Aggies aren’t metrics darlings by any stretch of the imagination, and they aren’t especially battle-tested, having played only 5 games in Quad 1, the fewest among the SEC’s top 8 teams.
Is that a warning sign or is Texas A&M’s lean résumé simply a product of a backloaded schedule?
We are about to find out. The moment of truth has arrived for the Aggies who, after a midweek bye, will play 3 consecutive games in Quad 1A, with road trips to Georgia and Alabama up next before a February 7 tilt with the Gators in College Station.
Are the Aggies legitimate protected seed candidates in the NCAA Tournament? Are they SEC title contenders? Answers are coming. The good news is that A&M basketball has certainly found a long-term answer in Bucky McMillan.
Team of the Week: Tennessee Volunteers
Rumors of Rick Barnes’s demise were overstated.
The Volunteers opened SEC play 2-3, a stretch that included an 11-point loss to Arkansas and a blowout loss to Florida. The Field of 68 even wondered aloud if Rick Barnes might step down at season’s end, with the loss of program stalwart Zakai Zeigler and multiple Elite 8 appearances in the rearview mirror. Barnes is 71, a living legend coaching in a confusing era where you adapt or die.
But as Barnes told SDS at SEC Media Day, “Coaching is still coaching. I think I still really enjoy it and the chance to watch kids grow.”
The Vols grew up this week.
Tennessee grabbed 2 Quad 1A victories, first defeating Alabama 79-73 with America watching, spoiling the return of G-League veteran Charles Bediako behind a monstrous performance from Nate Ament. The Volunteers followed that with an 86-85 overtime win at Stegeman Coliseum. That win may have been more impressive, with 4 Volunteers (led by 21 from Ja’Kobi Gillespie) scoring in double figures and the Vols winning the rebounding battle 52-27. That was sufficient to give Tennessee 10 more field goal attempts than the Dawgs, helping Tennessee collect another big-time victory.
Barnes’s team is now back in the thick of the SEC race, sitting at 4-3 overall with a 2-game homestand against Auburn (another Quad 1 opportunity) and Ole Miss on deck. Win those, and the Vols will be firmly in the “protected seed” discussion. What a difference a week can make.
Player of the Week: Keyshawn Hall, Auburn
Hall was unconscious this week, scoring 24 points in Auburn’s upset win at Florida and backing it up with 31 points in a Wednesday night win over Texas. Against the Longhorns, Hall was an efficient 7-13 from the field while constantly getting to the free-throw line, where he made 14-17 charity shots.
The Big 12’s leading scorer a season ago at UCF, Hall is averaging 20.9 points per game this season, good for second in the SEC behind Labaron Philon. He scored 30 points or more in 3 of Auburn’s 8 SEC contests to date and posted at least 20 on 5 occasions. After a sluggish outing against South Carolina, Hall averaged 25 points per game over Auburn’s last 3 contests, the centerpiece of the Tigers’ offense during a season-changing 4-game win streak.
Stat of the Week: 6 different leading scorers for Florida
Play-making guards win in March. Just ask Walter Clayton Jr., who stormed his way to Most Outstanding Player honors a season ago in Florida’s run to the program’s third national championship.
What else wins?
“Competitive scoring balance,” legendary head coach Roy Williams told SDS.
“You better share it and you better have multiple guys who can get you one,” Williams added. “The best teams can beat you in a number of ways with a number of different guys on any given night.”
The theory makes sense. The more guys you have that can score, the tougher you are to scout.
Of teams that are .500 or above in SEC play through 4 weeks of conference action, Florida leads the way with 6 different players who have led the Gators in scoring in their first 8 conference games. The Gators have been led by Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, Urban Klavžar, Boogie Fland, and Xaivian Lee in at least 1 league game. Much has been made, with some justice, that Florida doesn’t have the consistent shooting and play-making of last year’s national champion. What they do have is scoring balance, which contributes to this being one of the nation’s most efficient offenses (17th in KenPom and Torvik offensive efficiency) and the top-ranked efficiency offense in SEC play to date.
SEC leader Texas A&M is second, with 5 different players (Rashaun Agee, Jacari Lane, Pop Isaacs, Zach Clemence, and Rylan Griffen) who have led the Aggies in scoring in conference play. Auburn, currently 9th nationally in KenPom offensive efficiency, also has been led by 5 different players.
The SEC team with the fewest different players to lead them in scoring through 8 games?
That would be Kentucky. Celebrated throughout the preseason for their depth and scoring balance, the Wildcats scoring primarily comes from just 2 players: Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen. Shut off their water, and it’s tough for Kentucky to be successful.
Where to Eat on a SEC Hoops Weekend in: Athens, Georgia
If there’s a better overall food city in the SEC than Athens, Georgia, please send me an email and make your case to the United States and Canada.
Athens has everything, from hills to autumn leaves to dogwood trees in the spring to the best coach in college football. There’s also about any cuisine you want, running the gamut from scrumptious Carolina BBQ to farm-to-table southern cuisine to iconic greasy diner spots to mouth-watering Thai. It’s a college town with big city chefs and options. But my favorite Athens spot remains The National, Erin Wilson’s unique restaurant and cocktail spot on Hancock Avenue, a hop and a skip from the University of Georgia Law School and The Bell Hotel. The menu is inspired by Mediterranean culinary traditions, with tapas and small plates the stars. Try the albondigas (Spanish meatballs) with a baguette or any of the seasonally rotating tapas items. For large plates, the pork chop with peas and Spanish chorizo is delightful and pares well with any number of the innovative cocktail offerings from the bar. There are mocktails, non-alcoholic refreshers, and an in-house dessert menu with range to satisfy any craving, too. It’s different, but welcoming and warm — a perfect taste of life in Athens.
If you are in town this weekend for the Dawgs and Aggies or find yourself back in Athens for another sports weekend sometime soon, give The National a shot. You’ll be back again.
The SEC’s 10 NCAA Tournament Teams will be:
Florida, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Texas.
Neil Blackmon covers SEC football and basketball for SaturdayDownSouth.com. An attorney, he is also a member of the Football and Basketball Writers Associations of America. He also coaches basketball.
