Questions, newcomers and projected starters for every SEC basketball program in 2025-26

We’re less than a month out from the start of the 2025 college basketball season and, like every preseason across the game’s history, there are questions galore. Which player will burst onto the scene? Who’s overrated? Who’s underrated? And, of course, the big one: Who will cut down the nets on April 6?

There are certainly plenty of candidates. There are 355, if you want to be technical about it. Realistically, the number probably hovers around 25 or so. Purdue is the favorite to win it all according to bet365 at +900, and Florida has the best odds among SEC programs at +1600.

Plenty of new faces litter the SEC basketball landscape. Bruce Pearl, Buzz Williams and Rodney Terry are out for Auburn, Texas A&M and Texas, respectively, while Steven Pearl, Bucky McMillan and Sean Miller are in. Every team in the conference brings in at least 5 newcomers, and most have at least 5 newcomers who will see legitimate action in 2025-26.

There’s a lot to get to, so let’s not waste any more time. Here’s how this is going to work:

• We’ll have a section for each SEC basketball team, ranked in descending order. Remember, Florida was picked 6th in the SEC preseason poll last season — with the transfer portal how it is and the SEC’s incredible parity year in and year out, it would be unwise to take any preseason ranking as gospel on October 10. I will, however, give my reasoning for each ranking.
• With each ranking, we’ll present one lingering question and provide the key newcomers and losses for the team in question. Finally, we’ll throw out a projected starting 5 for each squad.

Sound good? Let’s roll.

16. South Carolina

• Record last year: 12-20 (2-16 SEC)
• Key losses: Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamarii Thomas, Nick Pringle
• Key Newcomers: Meechie Johnson (Ohio State), Nordin Kapic (UC San Diego), Kobe Knox (South Florida), Eli Ellis (HS)

The question: Who will step up alongside Meechie Johnson with Collin Murray-Boyles out of the picture?

Meechie Johnson — who started his career with Ohio State, transferred to South Carolina and subsequently transferred back to Ohio State — is now back in Columbia. It’s a whole thing. Anyhow, Johnson saw success during his first stint in Columbia by taking the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament as a 6-seed, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t work as the leader of this team.

That being said, I can’t imagine the Gamecocks not being a bottom-half unit in this league — even with all the incoming experience. Nobody on the roster has Collin Murray-Boyles’ ceiling. The frontcourt in general, outside of Nordin Kapic, is a major question mark, too.

So, who will step up besides Johnson? That’s where I have some pause.

Kapic is the immediate answer. The former UC San Diego Triton is a talented stretch 4 who can pass, get to the basket, draw fouls — the whole 9 yards for a European big. He played center for the Tritons, but I’ll bet he starts at the 4 for South Carolina, even if I like the prospect of some small ball lineups with him in the middle.

The freshmen are intriguing. South Carolina signed 4 members of the YNG Dreamerz Overtime Elite championship squad, headlined by Eli Ellis — a 4-star guard who can shoot the leather off the ball and has great feel as a facilitator. He’s a little on the smaller side, but I think he plays a big role immediately.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Meechie Johnson, R-SR
• G – Mike Sharavjamts, SR
• F – Myles Stute, R-SR
• F – Nordin Kapic, SR
• C – Christ Essandoko, JR

15. Georgia

• Record last year: 20-13 (8-10 SEC)
• Key Losses: Silas Demary, Asa Newell, Tyrin Lawrence
• Key Newcomers: Jeremiah Wilkinson (Cal), Smurf Millender (UTSA), Kanon Catchings (BYU)

The question: The Bulldogs boast a fun starting 5, but is there enough depth and experience to compete in the SEC?

I really hate putting the Bulldogs at No. 15. That’s just how good these SEC rosters look at of early October.

Smurf Millender, Jeremiah Wilkinson and Blue Cain have the potential to deliver a really fun backcourt — perhaps Mike White’s best at Georgia. Millender was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country last year, and Wilkinson is a bucket-getter who will only get better entering his sophomore year. Cain will be the team’s leader alongside returner Dylan James, who’ll share minutes with BYU transfer Kanon Catchings. Finally, Somto Cyril is a wrecking ball and should be reliable rim defender and rebounder — but he’ll need to improve just about everywhere else.

Millender (5-11) and Wilkinson (6-1) are both undersized, which is concerning defensively, especially with Millender making the jump from the AAC. Jordan Ross will be the best backcourt defender and could start in front of Millender, but he wasn’t a threat on offense at Saint Mary’s — which is why I think he’ll be the backup. Justin Bailey showed a promising ability to score at Wofford, but he struggled in his 2 games against top-level competition.

Still, Bailey and James look to be the best depth options this team has, and there’s little behind Cyril — who will be entering his first starting role — to feel comfortable, either. Finally, this will be one of the youngest teams in the conference this year. I’m not ruling out another run to the NCAA Tournament by any means, but there are more questions to answer than teams to come.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Smurf Millender, JR
• G – Jeremiah Wilkinson, SO
• G/F – Blue Cain, JR
• F – Kanon Catchings, SO
• C – Somto Cyril, JR

14. LSU

• Record last year: 14-18 (3-15 SEC)
• Key Losses: Cam Carter, Jordan Sears, Vyctorius Miller, Damion Collins
• Key Newcomers: Dedan Thomas (UNLV), Ron Zipper (Israel), PJ Carter (Memphis), Rashad King (Northeastern)

The question: There’s little doubt LSU can score. Can the Tigers defend?

LSU’s offensive potential is hard to discount.

It starts with Dedan Thomas, a gem of a transfer for the Tigers. The former Runnin’ Rebel averaged just under 5 assists and 15.6 points per game in the Mountain West and will have more consistent options at his disposal in Baton Rouge, such as sharpshooters Max Mackinnon and Ron Zipper, who played in one of the highest leagues in Israel. The lefty’s transition to the SEC will be interesting to watch, but at 22 years old with pro experience, I would be surprised if Zipper is a total flop for the Tigers on offense. Summit League Player of the Year Marquel Sutton and returners Robert Miller and Jalen Reed are capable scorers in the front-court, too, though I wonder how effective Sutton will be in his new role.

All that is great, but apart from Miller and Reed — who can both provide some decent rim protection — I don’t know how this team is going to stop anybody. Every newcomer mentioned above, also including Northeastern transfer Rashad King, will be taking a considerable step up in competition in the SEC, and none of them were particularly great defenders at their old stop apart from King.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Dedan Thomas, JR
• G – Rashad King, SR
• W – Max Mackinnon, SR
• F – Marquel Sutton, GR
• C – Jalen Reed, R-JR

13. Oklahoma

• Record last year: 20-14 (6-12 SEC)
• Key Losses: Jeremiah Fears, Duke Miles, Brycen Goodine, Jalon Moore
• Key Newcomers: Xzayvier Brown (St. Joseph’s), Nijel Pack (Miami), Tae Davis (Notre Dame), Derrion Reid (Alabama)

The question: What will the Sooners look like defensively?

We have to cut right to the chase here. Porter Moser is going to have his work cut out for him ingraining a defensive mentality into this unit.

Nijel Pack (6-0) and Xzayvier Brown (6-2) can both handle the ball and, with fan favorite Dayton Forsythe (6-2), give Oklahoma some serious firepower in the backcourt. I have no clue what to expect from Jadon Jones — who sat out last season after a good stint at Long Beach State — but he’ll be a solid depth piece as well, whether it be minutes at the 2 or backup minutes at the 3 behind Alabama transfer Derrion Reid.

Speaking of, Reid is a good defender and probably the best overall player on this team. Pack and Brown are going to be electric offensively, but are obviously at a disadvantage due to their size. Unless something changes drastically, they won’t have an elite safety blanket guarding the rim, either.

Mo Wague and Tae Davis both have low block numbers, and SEC teams took advantage of Wague’s struggles there last year. I’m not saying it can’t happen — Wague was a better defender at Alabama than he was last season — but there’s a big mountain to climb for Moser and Co. to shore up these issues.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Xzayvier Brown, JR
• G – Nijel Pack, GR
• W – Derrion Reid, SO
• F – Tae Davis, SR
• C – Mo Wague, SR

12. Texas A&M

• Record last year: 23-11 (11-7 SEC)
• Key Losses: The entire team
• Key Newcomers: Jacari Lane (North Alabama), Pop Isaacs (Creighton), Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana), Rylan Griffen (Kansas)

The question: Will “Bucky Ball” translate to the SEC in Year 1?

Bucky McMillan was a fantastic hire, and surely a relief for Texas A&M fans who watched a semi-effective, yet mind-numbingly boring brand of basketball under Buzz Williams. McMillan’s Samford teams pressed often, played an up-tempo style and shot a lot of 3s. That style worked well in the Southern Conference — the Bulldogs won the league in 2024 and finished top 3 in 2023 and 2025 — but how will it look against some of the best defenses in the nation?

Something that’s absolutely crucial for this whole thing to work out in Year 1 is experience, and the Aggies have a lot of it. Texas A&M is the oldest team in the SEC, with experienced players such as Rylan Griffen, Mackenzie Mgbako, Pop Isaacs and Jacari Lane set to lead the way. Lane is an especially intriguing prospect. The North Alabama PG transfer can let it fly (41% from 3 last season) and was an ASUN all-conference player.

The talent here is too much to ignore, and I think McMillan is going to be a great SEC coach, but there’s a lot that has to go right for this to jell in Year 1. I’d say the Aggies sneak into the NCAA Tournament as an 10/11-seed.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Jacari Lane, SR
• G – Pop Isaacs, GR
• G/F – Rylan Griffen, SR
• F – Mackenzie Mgbako, JR
• C – Fede Federiko, GR

11. Mississippi State

• Record last year: 21-13 (8-10 SEC)
• Key Losses: KeShawn Murphy, Michael Nwoko, Claudell Harris, Riley Kugel, Cam Matthews
• Key Newcomers: Jayden Epps (Georgetown), Quincy Ballard (Wichita State), Ja’Borri McGhee (UAB)

The question: Can these transfer pieces build a viable SEC contender?

I don’t necessarily have any issue with the talent that Chris Jans brought in. For some, it’s just a little tough to understand the fit.

Let’s start with Quincy Ballard, who has a great chance to be the most impactful addition. That guy is going to be awesome. The Wichita State center, who stands at 6-11, 250+ pounds, ranked No. 1 per KenPom in effective field goal percentage at 75% from the field. His offensive rating, as a result, was through the roof, and it’s hard to imagine his play not translating to the SEC. To boot, Ballard’s block rate of 7.3% ranked within the top 75 of all players in the sport last season.

Then there’s Josh Hubbard, who is primed to be one of the best scorers in America. The all-SEC player will hit some shots that just blow you away, but he’s also 5-11. So, to remedy that, Jans brought in… 6-2 Jayden Epps out of Georgetown and 6-1 Ja’Borri McGhee out of UAB?

I like McGhee and believe he fits well with Hubbard’s skillset offensively. While McGhee likes to get to the rim, Hubbard is a willing scorer anywhere and fills it up from range — he took almost 250 more 3s than McGhee last season. That said, his addition isn’t really addressing the problem that MSU is going to have in the defensive backcourt. Ballard is sure to clean up a lot of issues at the rim, but it feels like Mississippi State will struggle to guard the ball in a league with capable scorers everywhere you turn.

If it seems like I’m harping on this team a lot, it’s probably because I am… but I also think there’s a decent amount of potential here. Jans has done it in the past, let’s see if he can put the pieces together once again.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Jayden Epps, JR
• G – Josh Hubbard, JR
• G – Shawn Jones, SR
• F – Achor Achor, GR
• C – Quincy Ballard, GR

10. Ole Miss

• Record last year: 24-12 (10-8 SEC)
• Key losses: Sean Pedulla, Dre Davis, Matthew Murrell, Jaylen Murray
• Key Newcomers: James Scott (Louisville), AJ Storr (Kansas), Koren Johnson (Louisville), Ilias Kamardine (France)

The question: What kind of production will Ole Miss get at point guard?

Ole Miss has a lot of options to run the point this season. I don’t believe that’s a good thing.

The contenders for lead guard are Koren Johnson, who is likely to win the role, Kentucky transfer Travis Perry and High Point transfer Kezza Giffa. None of the 3 averaged more than 3 assists last season (2024 for Johnson, he was sidelined for the majority of last year), and more importantly, none of them have seen consistent success as a primary point guard. Giffa really shined off the ball in 2025, helping the Panthers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.

There are a few reasons why Johnson should end up with the role, but it presents a new problem that may be equally as concerning for Beard and Co.

Johnson is the best proven backcourt defender the Rebels have. Frenchman Ilias Kamardine is going to surprise some folks with his shot, and his monster wingspan should give Ole Miss some dependable minutes defensively, too. Outside of those 2, it gets murky — Giffa, Perry and Storr are all negative defenders.

James Scott was a monster near the rim at Louisville, but it remains to be seen if he can contribute on offense apart from lobs — a problem considering, once again, Ole Miss doesn’t have a true point guard on the roster. Malik Dia could be in for a boost in his production on defense — but as long as he’s as much of a beast as he was last season, I doubt it really matters. Dia is the best player on this team and a first-team All-SEC candidate.

If Beard can figure out the PG problem, this is a sleeper team. There’s experience, an intriguing prospect in Kamardine, shooting and a superstar in the making in Dia.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Koren Johnson, JR
• G – Ilias Kamardine, SR
• F – AJ Storr, SR
• F – Malik Dia, SR
• C – James Scott, JR

9. Vanderbilt

• Record last year: 20-13 (8-10 SEC)
• Key Losses: Jason Edwards, Jaylen Carey, AJ Hoggard
• Key Newcomers: Mike James (NC State/Louisville), AK Okereke (Cornell), Frankie Collins (TCU), Duke Miles (Oklahoma)

The question: Can Frankie Collins and Duke Miles adequately replace Jason Edwards and AJ Hoggard?

Barring terrible injury luck — and Vanderbilt’s roster certainly has a history of bad injury luck — I don’t see how this Commodores squad isn’t better than last year. Even slightly. You know, the team that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017? Mark Byington doesn’t really have a superstar at his disposal, but he did bring in a ton of talent, which will make Vandy one of the deepest teams in the SEC.

Immediately, I’m blown away by the shooting on this squad. Tyler Harris, Tyler Nickel and Duke Miles all knocked down 3s at a 40% clip or better last season. Frankie Collins is going to have to be better in that department, but he makes up for it with his ability guarding the ball, which should be an upgrade over Edwards at the lead guard spot.

Apart from Miles’ 3-point shot, there just isn’t much offensively between he and Collins. Tyler Tanner and Mike James will hope to alleviate some of that pressure, but neither are great 3-point shooters and James has been out of the game for a year after being sidelined last year.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Frankie Collins, GR
• G – Tyler Harris, JR
• W – Tyler Nickel, SR
• F – Devin McGlockton, SR
• C – Jalen Washington, SR

8. Missouri

• Record last year: 22-12 (10-8 SEC)
• Key Losses: Tamar Bates, Caleb Grill, Tony Perkins
• Key Newcomers: Sebastian Mack (UCLA), Shawn Phillips (Arizona State), Jevon Porter (Loyola Marymount)

The question: Above all else, can Mizzou limit extra opportunities for the opposing team?

Mizzou is one of the ultimate hot or cold teams entering the 2025 season, for several reasons.

Anthony Robinson and Mark Mitchell were excellent for Dennis Gates last year and should be even better this season. Robinson is an elite defender at the point, has a knack for getting to the line and, though reluctant, is a 40% 3-point shooter when he pulls the trigger. With Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates now out of the picture, someone is going to have to step up to space the floor — Robinson and candidates Jayden Stone (23-24 with Detroit Mercy), Jacob Crews and Trent Pierce were not elite 3-point shooters last season. We’ll see if they can improve their efficiency, too.

Which brings us to an even bigger problem: limiting opportunities for the opposing team. Mizzou was flat-out bad in this department last year, and it’s part of what ended up keeping them from truly competing for the top of the conference. Apart from LSU, the Tigers were the worst defensive rebounding team in the SEC, and a physical style of defense gave opponents a lot of opportunities at the line.

Robinson, Pierce, Arizona State transfer Shawn Phillips and Loyola Marymount transfer Jevon Porter all struggled with foul issues last season. That simply has to change if Mizzou wants to break into the top 5 of the conference in 2025-26.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Anthony Robinson, JR
• G – Sebastian Mack, JR
• F – Trent Pierce, JR
• F – Mark Mitchell, SR
• C – Shawn Phillips, SR

7. Texas

• Record last year: 19-16 (6-12 SEC)
• Key Losses: Tre Johnson, Arthur Kaluma, Kadin Shedrick, Julian Larry
• Key Newcomers: Simeon Wilcher (St. John’s), Camden Heide (Purdue), Dailyn Swain (Xavier), Matas Vokietaitis (FAU), Lassina Traore (Long Beach State/Xavier)

The question: This is a great fit and situation for a first-year SEC head coach. How high is Texas’s ceiling?

Sean Miller couldn’t have asked for a better situation heading into Year 1 at Texas. He inherited 3 veteran guards and brought in Simeon Wilcher from St. John’s to nail down dependable minutes at the 1 and 2. He also has some familiarity with his frontcourt, having brought over Lassina Traore and Dailyn Swain from Xavier.

There’s some more proven depth here, too. Chendall Weaver, one of the 3 veteran guards alluded to above, will play an important role off the bench. As will Purdue transfer Camden Heide and FAU transfer Matas Vokietaitis. Heide was mostly a 3-point threat but was extremely efficient offensively and is uber athletic. It remains to be seen if he’ll be able to defend enough to stay on the court, but he’s definitely not the biggest defensive concern on the team.

No, that’s a bit of a theme with the frontcourt. Traore and Vokietaitis will no doubt suffer some setbacks facing off against SEC centers, and neither were particularly great on that side of the ball to begin with. Mark and Pope (not to be confused with Kentucky coach Mark Pope) should shore up some of those concerns at the point of attack, but neither are as electric on offense as some of the other guards in the SEC.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Jordan Pope, SR
• G – Simeon Wilcher, JR
• G – Tramon Mark, GR
• F – Dailyn Swain, JR
• C – Lassina Traore, SR

6. Auburn

• Record last year: 32-6 (15-3 SEC)
• Key Losses: Chad Baker-Mazara, Johni Broome, Dylan Cardwell, Denver Jones
• Key Newcomers: KeShawn Murphy (Mississippi State), Keyshawn Hall (UCF), Elyjah Freeman (Lincoln Memorial), Filip Jovic (Serbia)

The question: How will the Tigers respond to Bruce Pearl’s surprise retirement?

Bruce Pearl retired in late September, and as a result the Tigers players who were brought to The Plains are being put in a bit of a strange spot. It’s not 1 or 2 guys, either — apart from Tahaad Pettiford (and Drake Cardwell), the entire team is brand new.

Even before Pearl’s departure, there were some questions. How will Auburn replace Johni Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones? Is there enough depth? Is there enough experience? It’s hard not to trust Bruce Pearl to address those issues, but will Steven Pearl have the same luck?

All that said, I still believe in the Tigers. Tahaad Pettiford is an amazing basketball player. Keyshawn Hall and KeShawn Murphy are, too. None of them have a ceiling like Johni Broome, but if Auburn can find dependable play from one of its JUCO or international (Filip Jovic) prospects, the Tigers starting 5 could be one of the better units in the conference. Abdul Bashir and Jovic are excellent shooters, and Lincoln Memorial transfer Elyjah Freeman has insane bounce and an impressive offensive bag. How all 3 will fare on defense simply remains to be seen.

It’s also important to note that, while they weren’t given much of a choice, the reaction after Pearl’s departure spells good news for the locker room. From the outside looking in, it looks like the Tigers have a good attitude about the situation and are ready to play some ball.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Tahaad Pettiford, SO
• G – Kevin Overton, JR
• W – Abdul Bashir, JR
• F – Keyshawn Hall, SR
• C – KeShawn Murphy, R-SR

5. Alabama

• Record last year: 28-9 (13-5 SEC)
• Key Losses: Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Cliff Omoruyi, Derrion Reid
• Key Newcomers: Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State), Noah Williamson (Bucknell), Keitenn Barstow (Tarleton State), Jalil Bethea (Miami)

The question: There’s not much roster continuity for the Crimson Tide. Will that be a problem?

Alabama is one of the younger teams in the SEC, which goes hand in hand with the losses of Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Derrion Reid, Mo Dioubate, Jarin Stevenson, Chris Youngblood and Cliff Omoruyi. That’s a lot of names and a lot of production from a 2-seed that went to the Elite 8.

That said, there’s a lot to like from the guards Oats retained and brought in through the portal. Labaron Philon is going to be an All-SEC caliber player this year, and Aden Holloway will throw his hat in the ring, too. Both are dynamic scorers, and Holloway can absolutely fill it up from deep after making 87 3s at a 41% clip last season. Don’t sleep on freshman Davion Hannah, either.

I’m less optimistic that the frontcourt will be able to keep up. Aidan Sherrill returns and will be asked to take a considerable step heading into his sophomore season, where he’ll likely get the starting role at the 5. Noah Williamson out of Bucknell can stretch the floor, but unless Oats plans on drastically changing his scheme (not gonna happen), I question how he fits as a primary paint threat who dominated Patriot League.

Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) is the most exciting transfer addition and, conversely, should be a perfect fit in this system thanks to his mobility, 41% 3-point shot and prowess as a defender.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Labaron Philon, SO
• G – Aden Holloway, JR
• G – Latrell Wrightsell, GR
• F – Taylor Bol Bowen, JR
• C – Aiden Sherril, SO

4. Arkansas

• Record last year: 22-14 (8-10 SEC)
• Key Losses: Adou Thiero, Johnell Davis, Boogie Fland
• Key Newcomers: Darius Acuff (HS), Meleek Thomas (HS), Karim Rtail (Lebanon), Isaiah Sealy (HS), Nick Pringle (South Carolina)

The question: Can Arkansas’s 5-star freshmen live up to the hype?

It’s the same question every year with John Calipari.

This isn’t one of Calipari’s youngest teams, but hat doesn’t mean he won’t be relying on some young talent at crucial spots on the floor. 5-star point guard Darius Acuff will take the reins of Calipari’s offense, and 5-star guard Meleek Thomas will play an important role as well.

Like another 5-star freshman with another team we’ll mention later, it feels like Arkansas’s ceiling is directly tied to Thomas and Acuff. They don’t necessarily have to be the best players on the team — several Razorbacks could snag that honor — but the backcourt is pretty thin if neither are ready for the grind of SEC play.

It feels like I’ve been mostly negative about Arkansas — my No. 4 team — so far. Let’s change that.

There’s a lot to like with Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Malique Ewin in the assumed starting lineup. Ewin and the ever-dependable Nick Pringle will anchor the 5, Brazile is primed for a monster year and Knox played his best basketball during Arkansas’s semi-surprising run to the Sweet 16 last season. If he can carry that fire into 2025 and find a little more consistency, Arkansas is in business.

And of course, what if Acuff and Thomas are as good as advertised? The Razorbacks have deep run potential.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Darius Acuff, FR
• G – DJ Wagner – JR
• W – Karter Knox, SO
• F – Trevon Brazlie, SR
• C – Malique Ewin, SR

3. Kentucky

• Record last year: 24-12 (10-8 SEC)
• Key Losses: Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Kerr Kriisa, Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, Koby Brea
• Key Newcomers: Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Kam Williams (Tulane), Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), Jasper Johnson (HS)

The question: Can Jaland Lowe effectively replace Lamont Butler’s production on both ends?

I’m of the opinion that Lamont Butler was the most underrated player in the SEC last season.

The former Aztec took San Diego State to the brink of glory in 2023, played one more good year in San Diego and transferred to Kentucky for one last ride. While there, he improved as a shooter, kept his tenacious on-ball defense and averaged 4.3 assists per game. His inability to stay on the court really hurt Kentucky at times last season — he missed 7 league games and Kentucky lost 5 of them.

Jaland Lowe is his replacement, and a lot of folks want to dismiss his fit thanks to a dreadful 3-point shot (26% on 154 attempts) and a general inability to score from the floor. The concerns are very real, but is there a better place to fix those issues than at Kentucky in Mark Pope’s system? Butler went from being a 31% 3-point shooter to a 39% 3-point shooter under Pope, and Lowe shot 35% from 3 his freshman year with the Panthers. I think last year was an outlier.

Here’s more SEC fans should know about Lowe: He’s an aggressive defender, can get to the free-throw line at will and averaged 5.5 assists on a Pitt team that couldn’t hit water if they fell out of boat.

Lowe is absolutely the key if Kentucky wants to compete among the best of the best, but Kentucky’s floor feels pretty high. Otega Oweh is back, Jayden Quaintance is an actual bulldozer in the paint (when healthy, he’ll be back… at some point, according to Pope) and Denzel Aberdeen just won a national title with Florida. Brandon Garrison will more than likely get the nod at center to start the year, and he performed well in a backup role for the Cats last season.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Jaland Lowe, JR
• G – Otega Oweh, SR
• G – Denzel Aberdeen, SR
• F – Mo Dioubate, JR
• C – Brandon Garrison, SR (until Quaintance is healthy)

2. Tennessee

• Record last year: 30-8 (12-6 SEC)
• Key Losses: Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack
• Key Newcomers: Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Maryland), Nate Ament (HS), Amaree Abram (Louisiana Tech), Ethan Burg (Israel)

The question: Perhaps no one freshman is more integral to their team’s success than Nate Ament. How far can the 5-star take Tennessee?

The key to Tennessee’s first ever Final Four may just be 5-star freshman Nate Ament, the No. 4 overall prospect from a stacked 2025 recruiting class. Word out of Knoxville is that Rick Barnes and the Vols love the kid. He’s a knockdown shooter and an impressive athlete all while standing at 6-9. There’s no dancing around it, Ament is a talent Tennessee hasn’t seen since… well, probably ever.

No pressure or anything, Nate.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie is the perfect guy to flank him, too. The former Maryland star appears to be Tennessee’s best overall player entering the season — a 40% 3-point shooter who can defend, facilitate and stay away from foul trouble with an effective field goal percentage of 56.3%. Replacing Zakai Zeigler was an impossible task, but Gillespie is about as good of an option as Rick Barnes could have possibly found.

It helps that Ament and Gillespie have Felix Okpara to clean up any mistakes. The 6-11 senior was among the best shot blockers in the country last season, as well as an elite lob threat. Expect Okpara to be even more effective on both sides of the ball. Need some scoring in the paint? JP Estrella is primed for a breakout year after sitting out with a foot injury last season.

You never, ever have to worry about defense with a Rick Barnes-coached team. You either lock in or you don’t play. Gillespie, Amaree Abram, Ament, Cade Phillips and Okpara, even without Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack, will boast the best defensive unit in the SEC — though No. 1 on our list may have something to say about that.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Ja’Kobi Gillespie, SR
• G – Amaree Abram, SR
• W – Nate Ament, FR
• F – Cade Phillips, JR
• C – Felix Okpara, SR

1. Florida

• Record last year: 36-4 (14-4 SEC)
• Key Losses: Walter Clayton Jr, Alijah Martin, Will Richard
• Key Newcomers: Boogie Fland (Arkansas), Xaivian Lee (Princeton), CJ Ingram (HS)

The question: Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard are gone. Can the backcourt transfers hold a candle to their production?

An equally appropriate question would be: How can anyone possibly stop this frontcourt?

My goodness, the Gators are loaded. Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Reuben Chinyelu and a fully healthy Micah Handlogten is the stuff of nightmares for opposing coaches. Even if the backcourt was completely helpless, which they aren’t, I’d believe this to be a top 5 team in the SEC based on this frontcourt alone. I have few questions about this unit so long as it stays healthy. There isn’t much depth behind those 4, if I had to nitpick.

Haugh will start the season at the 3, because the Gators don’t really have a proven wing. Isaiah Brown or AJ Brown, a transfer from Ohio who is really more of a shooting guard, could fill that role, as could incoming 5-star freshman CJ Ingram. For now, we’re in wait and see mode.

The key for Florida? The play from incoming guard transfers Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland. Both played point guard at their previous stops, and both are supremely talented. Lee has to make the jump from the Ivy League to SEC play, which is never a given, but his numbers are enticing: just under 17 points with 6.1 boards and 5.5 assists per game at Princeton. He was an efficient shooter for a guard and though defense is a bit of a concern, he and Fland on the court together could be something special.

Florida is the team to beat until proven otherwise.

Projected starting lineup

• G – Boogie Fland, SO
• G – Xaivian Lee, SR
• F – Thomas Haugh, JR
• F – Alex Condon, JR
• C – Reuben Chinyelu, JR