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With college football coming to a close, fans are beginning to turn their eyes from the gridiron to the hardwood for college basketball season. It’s crazy to think, but March Madness is only two months away. While SDS is keeping its eyes trained to the football field, we’re hoops fans too.
As SEC basketball gets into full swing, it got us wondering: which SEC football teams could field the best starting five on the basketball court? Sure, we probably put too much thought into figuring out how the lineups would work out and how the teams would play. But from run-and-gun squads to lockdown defenses, it’s fun to think about who would run the gym among these made-up teams.
Alabama
Point guard: Blake Sims; shooting guard: Amari Cooper, small forward: Derrick Henry; power forward: Reuben Foster; center: Cam Robinson
Alabama would have quite the starting lineup. Cooper would draw plenty of defensive attention, a threat to launch from deep or drive to the hoop. With all eyes on him, Sims would be free to toss alley-oops to Henry and Foster, the latter of whom would be scary crashing the glass.
Arkansas
PG: Jonathan Williams; SG: Alex Collins; SF: Hunter Henry; PF: Trey Flowers; C: Dan Skipper
The Razorbacks would bring the thunder, with a hard-charging backcourt that would put pressure on defenses. Flowers could wreck offenses as a defensive-minded power forward, the 6-foot-10 Skipper would deter just about anyone from coming near the basket, while the versatile Henry would set picks and show off his hands crashing into the paint.
Auburn
PG: Nick Marshall; SG: Jonathan Jones; SF: Duke Williams; PF: Sammie Coates; C: Montavius Adams
Auburn’s lineup would be on the smaller side, but Williams and Coates would stretch the floor as a front court duo. Marshall would be a dual-threat point guard, with the ability to score himself or set up teammates. Defenses would have to play Marshall honestly, with the threat him lobbing up oops to his front court or sprinting past a defender into the paint.
Florida
PG: Treon Harris; SG: Jalen Tabor; SF: Vernon Hargreaves; PF: Dante Fowler; C: Max Garcia
The Gators would be a bit undersized, but their athletic pairing on the wings would be able to hold its own defensively, especially with Fowler playing behind them. Harris’ quickness helps make up for any size deficiencies, while Garcia provides some intelligence and team management as the big man down low.
Georgia
PG: Nick Chubb; SG: Keith Marshall; SF: Amarlo Herrera; PF: Jeb Blazevich; C: John Theus
Marshall and Chubb make for a prolific back court, with Chubb keeping the ball in his hands to set up the offense. Theus would have some nifty footwork in the post, while Blazevich crashes the glass and steps out for mid-range jumpers.
Kentucky
PG: Boom Williams; SG: A.J. Stamps; SF: Blake Bone; PF: Bud Dupree; C: Matt Elam
Williams explosive scoring mentality is balanced out by Stamps’ aggressive defense, while Dupree gives the Wildcats a versatile post player who can switch out to guard players on the wing. Elam might not be in shape to chase guards on the perimeter when he gets caught up in pick-and-rolls, something opponents should try to take advantage of, but good luck trying to grab a rebound over him.
LSU
PG: Tre’Davious White; SG: Jamal Adams; SF: Leonard Fournette; PF: Danielle Hunter; C: La’el Collins
The Tigers would be a defensive-minded squad, with a backcourt ready to harass opponents into mistakes, while Danielle Hunter’s long arms would make him a threatening weak-side shot blocker. Fournette’s power and speed would make him a terror to try to defend, and Collins’ space-clearing ways would be devastating setting screens for ball handlers.
Mississippi State
PG: Dak Prescott; SG: Jameon Lewis; SF: De’Runnya Wilson; PF: Benardrick McKinney; C: Preston Smith
With Prescott running the show, the shifty Lewis driving the lane and former high school Mr. Basketball Wilson the focal point of the offense, the Bulldogs should be able to score in bunches on any opponent, while the defensive-minded front court would erase anyone that enters the paint.
Missouri
PG: Marcus Murphy; SG: Maty Mauk; SF: Bud Sasser; PF: Shane Ray; C: Markus Golden
Mauk can bomb away, but Mizzou needs to get him off the ball with his occasionally reckless decision making. The Ray-Golden pairing is just as devastating on the court and would defend the rim as well as anyone in this made-up hoops league.
Ole Miss
PG: Senquez Golson; SG: Laquon Treadwell; SF: Vince Sanders; PF: Marquis Haynes; C: Robert Nkemdiche
The Landsharks bring their game to the hardwood, bringing out a defensive-minded lineup that will hammer opponents into mistakes and bricks. The Rebels will rely on Treadwell and Sanders to generate offense for them, much like during the early part of 2014 on the gridiron.
South Carolina
PG: Pharoh Cooper; SG: Mike Davis; SF: Skai Moore; PF: Dylan Thompson; C: AJ Cann
Cooper is the do-it-all player at point for the Gamecocks, scoring, setting up his teammates and wearing out his defender. Davis would have some thunderous drives to the hoop, while Thompson serves a stretch power forward bombing away from long range.
Tennessee
PG: Josh Dobbs; SG: Pig Howard ; SF: Jalen Hurd; PF: Jalen Reeves-Maybin; C: Derek Barnett
Dobbs has the size and athleticism to run the point for the Vols, while Reeves-Maybin and Barnett gives Tennessee a defensively destructive front court. Both players have the speed to be excellent pick-and-roll partners for Dobbs, while Hurd’s athletic ability makes him a terror to defend when he gets the ball on the wing.
Texas A&M
PG: Kyle Allen; SG: Speedy Noil; SF: Tra Carson; PF: Josh Reynolds; C: Ricky Seals-Jones
The Aggies trot out an offense-only lineup that will play a lot like the Steve Nash-era Phoenix Suns. Allen’s underrated athleticism and accurate passing make him tough to defend in the pick-and-roll, while Noil comes flying off of screens for screaming drives to the hoop. The front court might be undersized, but Seals-Jones makes up for those deficiencies with his freakish athletic ability.
Vandy
PG: Johnny McCrary; SG: Ralph Webb; SF: C.J. Duncan; PF: Nigel Bowden; C: Steven Scheu
Scheu gives Vandy its most versatile weapon, a stretch-center with the footwork and strength to go down low as well. Webb is a volume scorer at the two-guard, driving to the hole with abandon, while Bowden crashes the glass and sets devastating screens for McCrary up top.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
