SEC Hoops "Pre-Season" is over... Time for SEC play!

LSU's Coach Jones has been quoted many times calling the early season, out of conference schedule "Pre-Season". Most of the teams in the SEC wish it was considered pre-season with the way many played. Here I will give a quick update on how everyone has been coming into SEC play. Teams will be listed alphabetically.


Alabama (8-5)
Quality Wins: Oregon St (65-62 Neutral), Villanova (77-55 Neutral)
Bad Losses: Mercer (66-59 Home), Tulane (53-50 Home)

Crimson Tide have been led by Jr Trevor Releford who has been very solid scoring 15.6 per game with a 1.8 ast/to. They have lacked a superior player down low and it shows in their inability to rebound only averaging 33 per game (234th NCAA).


Arkansas (9-4)
Quality Wins: Oklahoma (81-78 Home)
Bad Losses: None

Arkansas had a few tough losses to Wisconsin, Syracuse, and Michigan. Their loss to Arizona St wasnt a bad loss either. They have won using an efficient offense that doesn't turn the ball over and the scoring of BJ Young who averages 17.7 per game.


Auburn (6-7)
Quality Wins: Florida St (78-72 Home)
Bad Losses: Winthrop (74-67 Home), Rhode Island (78-72 Home 2OT)

Auburn has looked much better in their final two "pre-season" games. Barely losing to Illinois in Chicago and beating ACC foe Florida St. Auburn has Sr guard Frankie Sullivan hitting on all cylinders and averaging 17.8 points per game. Their biggest problem has been turnovers and committing too many fouls.


Florida (10-2)
Quality Wins: Wisconsin (74-56 Home), Marquette (82-49 Home), Florida St (72-47 Away)
Bad Losses: None

Florida has been a top 10 team this year and look poised to win the SEC this season. They are lights out on offense and efficient on defense. Led by 2 seniors and 3 juniors the Gators look mature and ready. Their two losses were to Arizona by 1 point away and Kansas State away by 6.


Georgia (6-7)
Quality Wins: None
Bad Losses: Youngstown St (68-56 Home), Iona (81-78 Home OT)

Georgia has lacked much offense. They have a sturdy defense that keeps them in games, but their inability to score in bunches has lost them a few games. They lost to UCLA by only 4, Southern Miss by 2, and Ingiana by only 13.


Kentucky (9-4)
Quality Wins: Maryland (72-69 Neutral)
Bad Losses: None

Kentucky has grown up. With almost an entirely new squad it was given the Wildcats would have some growing pains. After losing at Louisville by only 3, the Cats look prone to challenge the Gators for the SEC. They have length, athleticism, and tons of talent. Even with 4 losses, the Wildcats are in the top couple teams in the conference.


LSU (9-2)
Quality Wins: Seton Hall (72-67 Home)
Bad Losses: None

LSU hasn't been tested as much as some other teams in the SEC, but they have also passed all the games they should have won. LSU lost to Marquette by only 4 after coming back from 21 points down and lost to Boise St in their first road game of the season due to their Achilles heal, foul trouble. The Tigers lead the SEC in steals and put lots of pressure on the ball.


Mississippi St (5-7)
Quality Wins: None
Bad Losses: Troy (56-53 Away), Alabama A&M (59-57 Home), Loyola Chicago (59-51 Away)

Mississippi State is as thin as a team can get. They have been playing 7 players and don't really have anything else. They lack size and offense. They will struggle to win more than a couple in SEC play this year.


Missouri (11-2)
Quality Wins: Stanford (78-70 Neutral), VCU (68-65 Neutral), Illinois (82-73 Neutral), Bucknell (66-64 Home)
Bad Losses: None

Missouri is also poised to challenge Kentucky and Florida for the title in their first year with the SEC. Led by Jr PG Phil Pressey and a group of talented vets, the Tigers get it done by scoring and rebounding. They currently lead the nation with 46.7 rebounds per game.


Ole Miss (11-2)
Quality Wins: Rutgers (80-67 Home)
Bad Losses: None

Ole Miss has done pretty much everything right so far. They lost to a very good Middle Tennessee St team by 3 on the road and a solid Indiana St squad by 2 in OT in Hawaii. Led by the double double machine Murphy Holloway, Ole Miss is the top of the second tier of SEC teams.


South Carolina (10-3)
Quality Wins: None
Bad Losses: Elon (65-53 Home)

South Carolina has been plagued with some injury trouble. They are led by Brenton Williams who averages 13.1 points per game. They have been very successful hitting the offensive boards and average a solid 38.8 rebounds per game.


Tennessee (8-4)
Quality Wins: Wichita St (69-60 Home), Xavier (51-47 Home)
Bad Losses: None

Tennessee has struggled to score at times this season, but they make up for it on defense where they have held opponents to very low scoring totals including 37 to Georgetown, 46 to Virginia, and 47 to Xavier. Tennessee games can look ugly, but they can beat anyone if their shots start to fall.


Texas A&M (10-3)
Quality Wins: Washington St (55-54 Neutral)
Bad Losses: Southern (53-51 Home)

Texas A&M hasn't had to show very much this year. They lost to their two hardest opponents Oklahoma and St Louis. They have struggled to score (231st in NCAA) and rebound (245th in NCAA) which will catch up to them if it cannot be corrected come SEC play.


Vanderbilt (6-6)
Quality Wins: Xavier (66-64 Away OT)
Bad Losses: Marist (50-33 Neutral)

Vanderbilt lost nearly everyone off a very special group last year. The team is young. They are the worst in the SEC in free throw shooting at only 57.9%. Kedren Johnson, the 6'4" sophomore, leads Vanderbilt with 16.6 points per game and 2.7 assists per game. They average less than 60 points per game and have scored under 50 3 times already in "Pre-Season".


SEC "Pre-Season" Rankings


Season Prediction:
LSU will make it to 9-9 in the SEC, maybe 10-8 and end up 5th or 6th in the SEC. Probably won't be good enough for the NCAA tournament sitting at 18-19 wins total (really wish we had all 13 OOC games). It would be a great step in the right direction. I'd say barring any major injuries the Tigers should end up between 7 and 11 wins in the SEC.