When it comes to basketball, the SEC isn’t quite as deep this year as it was last season, but the teams at the top of the conference are getting better.

In fact, Kentucky is no longer the top dog (or top cat, if you will), as the Tennessee Volunteers are having what could be a special season in Knoxville.

In ESPN expert Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology, he has the Vols as one of the NCAA Tournament’s four No. 1 seeds, followed by five other SEC squads making the field of 68:

  • No. 1 (West) — Tennessee
  • No. 3 (East) — Auburn
  • No. 5 (South) — Mississippi State
  • No. 6 (West) — Kentucky
  • No. 9 (Midwest) — LSU
  • No. 11 (South) — Florida

SEC play hasn’t started yet, so some other teams will have a chance to build their resumes. For now, though, everyone is chasing Tennessee.