SEC Hoops Conversation 6.0: SEC Tournament is here. Let the madness begin …
By Joe Cox
Published:
Our resident hoopsters, Al Blanton and Joe Cox, get together for another of their on-going series of SEC hoops conversations. They’re taking a look back at the final wrap of the SEC regular season and contemplating the SEC Tournament and the looming NCAA Tournament.
1. Any hope for a 5th SEC team in the Dance? What would it take?
Al: Joe, it’s the Paula Abdul effect. Remember the song, “Opposites Attract”? There was a line that said, “I take two steps forward, I take two steps back”…well, it seems like every time an SEC bubble team starts to climb up the rung of bracketology, they take a major step back. Alabama picked up a big win against South Carolina and then lost to Vanderbilt and Missouri. Tennessee beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena and then got blown out by Auburn at home. South Carolina beat Mississippi State and then lost to Vandy.
Joe: Hold on, I lost the entire rest of the thread after Paula Abdul. I’m 39. I don’t only remember the song, I remember the video where she danced with an animated animal of some sort. Paula Abdul was always a very high pick in the future wife of Joe Cox fantasy draft. Anyway … Yes, oddly enough, an upset in the SEC always seems to get framed as a bad loss for the favorite, rather than an impressive upset for the conqueror. Vandy gave Kentucky all it wanted twice — there are no real dogs in this league. But a 5th team? The only real hopes are probably Arkansas and Mississippi State.
Al: The answer is Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 11-7 in conference and secured the 4-seed in the SEC Tournament. A quick note: This is MSU’s 3rd consecutive 20-win season. Don’t look now, but Ben Howland is doing a good job in Starkville.
Joe: Much better bracket set up than Arkansas, which would have to win over not only Vandy, but also South Carolina and probably LSU to have a good shot. On the other hand, if State knocks off Florida (assuming the Gators survive Ole Miss or UGA, which isn’t guaranteed), that might be enough. Honestly, it probably should be enough. With a good matchup in the NCAAs, State could be a Sweet 16 team.
2. What’s the possible NCAA Tournament seeding range for UK, Auburn, LSU, Florida?
Al: Florida has really fallen off recently, losing 3 out of the past 5, prompting some to express their displeasure with head coach Mike White. At 19-12, the Gators do not have a super impressive résumé, but they do have talent. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if Florida fell to a 10-seed on Selection Sunday. LSU has fallen victim to the same trend, going 4-4 to close the regular season. Florida’s NET ranking is a little higher, which might keep the Gators at a 9, but I don’t think you’ll see LSU and Florida higher than a 9.
Joe: They’ve both stumbled lately, but a good SEC Tournament could matter. If Florida beat, say, MSU and Kentucky, they’d be a 7 probably. Just MSU, maybe an 8, but probably a 9. Similarly, an LSU team that beat South Carolina and Auburn could slide up to 7 or 8. But barring something impressive, they’re both in, but stuck firmly in an 8/9 game.
Al: Auburn and Kentucky will get the 2 highest seeds, but it’s not likely that either of the 6-loss teams will get a No. 1 bid. Kentucky is gunning for a 2 while Auburn can sneak in at a 4 or even a 3 with a strong showing in the SEC Tournament.
Joe: I’m not sure winning out would get Kentucky a 2 seed. That NET ranking isn’t going to change much. Given the committee’s history of disregarding the SEC title game, UK might well be locked into a 3 by Saturday night. Meanwhile, I agree that an Auburn title win would get them a 4 or maybe a 3. But by the same token, a semifinal loss to LSU might drop them to 5.
3. The awards are out. Did you agree with All-SEC, player, coach, freshman of the year?
Al: Kentucky’s Immanuel Quickley was named SEC Player of the Year. I don’t necessarily think that the Player of the Year has to be a player on the best team or even a good team. However, I will say that it makes it all the more difficult. Voters must have agreed. Mason Jones was still my POY. Here’s why: He scored at least 30 in a game 9 times. He scored 40 twice. He put up double figures in 14 out of the last 15 games. He’s leading the SEC in scoring (22 PPG). He’s in the top 20 in field goal percentage, total steals, assists, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage (82.3 percent). He has made more free throws than anyone else in the conference and is 6th in 3-pointers made. No, he’s not on a great team, but he’s been the best player in the conference this season, and I think that’s what the award should recognize.
Joe: I’ve defended not putting Jones in as the Player of the Year because of his horrible team performance. But my last word goes the other direction. You’ve won me over. Here’s the thing: I’m a lawyer when I’m not a sportswriter. Words have meaning. The award isn’t Most Valuable Player, which probably is Quickley. The Player of the Year is nothing more or less than the guy who was the best player in the league over the course of the year. Arkansas was a disappointment. Mason Jones wasn’t. I’ll go along with it. But given the debate, I’m not confused or horrified that Quickley won. He was tremendous, too.
Al: John Calipari, who won it, was still my Coach of the Year (coming from behind at Florida without Ashton Hagans was yet another masterpiece) and Anthony Edwards was still my pick for Freshman of the Year.
Joe: Agree. I feel like those are almost inarguable. The voters agreed, too.
4. Who got a particularly good or bad draw for Nashville? Most likely to surprise people and most likely to get upset?
Al: Alabama always seems to get Kentucky, and if the Tide gets by Tennessee, that’s who Nate Oats’ team will face Friday. Kentucky and Alabama have squared off in the past 4 SEC Tournaments, and you can imagine which team has won all 4. Overall, UK is 17-2 against the Tide in the conference tournament, so history does not bode well for Alabama plowing through this sucker and securing an automatic bid.
Joe: Arkansas ending up in the 11 spot instead of the 10 spot might have mattered. I would have liked the Hogs against A&M and then Auburn. Instead, they not only have to play an extra game, but then they get South Carolina and LSU, neither of which feels like a good opponent.
Al: On the other end, I wouldn’t be shocked if Mississippi State goes on a little run. The Bulldogs will likely get Florida on Friday, which is advantage MSU in my book. Then when the Bulldogs face the ‘Cats (who defeated the maroons from Starkvegas by 8 on Feb. 4), expect general bedlam and chaos to ensure theretofore. If State can get by Kentucky, look out NCAA Tournament, ’cause here we come. I think South Carolina will respond to the Vanderbilt loss and put on a good show in Nashville.
Joe: I’ve already said I think a win over Florida might be enough for State. A win over Kentucky would definitely get them in. And if Reggie Perry does Reggie Perry things, it’s not hard to imagine. Nick Richards owned him head-to-head, but I doubt that would happen twice in a row. A&M is also worth watching, just because Buzz Williams will get the most out of his team.
5. Ultimately, was the SEC down this year, or are they just getting hammered by the parity in the league?
Al: Both (I think). Joe, you and I have talked about this before, and I think the league is a bit down from the past 2 seasons. But I definitely wouldn’t say it was “way down” as some might suggest. It’s been Auburn and Kentucky and after that 12-car pileup such that you can’t predict who’s going to win week in and week out. I think the league is stacked with good players and good coaches, but like you said it’s the gauntlet that’s so incredibly challenging. And, of course, the road.
Missouri was 7-11 in conference play, but 6-3 in conference home games with wins over Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas and Florida. It’s just a tough league to win on the road. I would even venture to say that it’s tougher to win on the road in SEC basketball than it is in SEC football. That should stir up some debate, as, hopefully, this conversation has throughout this college basketball season.
Joe: Tougher to win on the road in hoops than football? Well, I’m at least willing to entertain the thought. I remember talking to Dave Odom and Wimp Sanderson at the SEC Tournament in 2017, when everybody thought the SEC was awful, and both veteran coaches told me, “Not so fast.” The league got 5 teams in the NCAA Tournament … and sent 3 to the Elite Eight, going 11-5 overall, tying the ACC for most wins (although UNC eventually won the title). The proof will be in the pudding. Another year like 2017 and maybe, just maybe, the SEC can shut up a few of the haters. I’m good with that.
Joe Cox is a columnist for Saturday Down South. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers’ near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores.
