SEC looks wide open
Southeastern Conference men’s basketball coaches love to talk about how their league is more balanced than its national reputation suggests.
Early returns from this season back up their statements and indicate there will be a wide-open race for the SEC title as league play begins Saturday.
“The league is as good as it has been in a number of years,” Georgia coach Mark Fox said.
It’s definitely less predictable. Traditional powers Kentucky (9-2) and Florida (8-4) haven’t looked invincible during nonconference play, while the rest of the league has stepped up its performance.
The most recent AP Top 25 doesn’t necessarily show the SEC has gotten much better — only three teams are ranked: No. 5 Texas A&M (11-1), No. 16 Kentucky and No. 19 Tennessee (9-2).
But the Rating Percentage Index, which accounts for strength of schedule, gives the league more respect. In the top 20 for RPI nationally are Texas A&M at seventh, Tennessee at ninth, Arkansas (10-2) at 14th and Missouri (10-3) at 17th. Auburn (111) is 28th, Alabama (8-4) is 31st, Kentucky is 36th and South Carolina (9-3) is 40th.
“The difference is our league’s playing a better nonleague schedule,” said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, who is entering his third season leading the Volunteers.
“Top to bottom, there’s no question our league is playing a much more demanding nonconference schedule. Like we’ve all said, we’ve got to win some of those games. We’ve done that this year probably more so than any year since I’ve been in the league.”
The SEC is hoping to follow up its breakthrough in last season’s NCAA tournament by getting more teams invited next March. It hasn’t sent as many as six teams in a single year since 2008. The SEC earned five bids last year, with South Carolina making its first Final Four appearance and Kentucky and Florida reaching regional finals.
Kentucky has won at least a share of the SEC’s past three regular-season titles and was the favorite again this season, according to a preseason poll of the league’s media. That same poll had Florida finishing second.
Still, nobody truly knows what to expect in league competition.
“There’s a lot up at the top there, and it could go a variety of ways,” said Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew, whose Commodores are 5-7.
“Texas A&M is playing at a really high level. Kentucky keeps getting better, and as the season goes they’re going to keep getting better, and they’re playing really well. Tennessee is off to a great start, and there are a lot of teams that will be positioned for that top spot.”
Other win-loss records entering league play: Mississippi State (11-1), Georgia (9-2), LSU (8-3), Ole Miss (7-5).