SEC NCAA Tournament Breakdown – 3/2

THE ELITE

1. Kentucky – 27-2 (12-2)
Last Week: South Carolina – W, @ Tennessee – L
This Week: @ Georgia, Florida

The ‘Cats avenged their only loss of the season but then fell too far behind the ‘Vols and their late rally fell just short. They are still in prime position for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, but must be weary of a Georgia team that is causing problems for others despite their lack of talent and depth. Remember, these Bulldogs took Vandy to OT at Memorial Gym and then upset the Gators last week. Despite the fact that Florida appears to be heading for the NCAA tournament, expect Wednesday’s contest to be tougher on the Wildcats than Sunday’s finale.

A VERY GOOD SQUAD, BUT NOT ELITE

2. Vanderbilt – 22-6 (11-3)
Last Week: Georgia – W, @ Arkansas – W
This Week: @ Florida, South Carolina

Vandy escaped Georgia at home and then rolled against Arkansas on Saturday. I really believe this team is positioning themselves as a No. 3 or 4 seed in the tournament. They have the guard play, the bigs underneath and the athleticism to compete with anyone in the country.

3. Tennessee – 21-7 (9-5)
Last Week: @ Florida – L, Kentucky – W
This Week: Arkansas, @ Mississippi State

The Vols laid an egg in Gainesville last week and then followed that up by playing a near perfect game against the Wildcats. Despite all of the adversity they have faced, they are the only team in the country to knock off a No. 1 and No. 2 team, which is quite impressive. Like Vanderbilt, they are in position to receive a top four seed in the Big Dance. But, I would say they are closer to a five.

THE MIDDLING BUBBLE

4. Florida – 20-9 (9-5)
Last Week: Tennessee – W, @ Georgia – L
This Week: Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky

After their win against Tennesse the Gators were in good shape. They were sitting at 9-4 in the conference and had a feisty, but beatable Georgia team on the horizon. Then they lost 78-76 and everything changed. Now the Gators have work to do again and it isn’t going to be easy. They close out the regular season with contests against the SEC’s two best teams, including a venture to Rupp on Sunday.  It would help their cause tremendously if Billy Donovan’s squad could take care of Vandy at home, like they did Tennessee last week.

5. Mississippi State – 21-8 (9-5)
Last Week: Alabama – W, @ South Carolina – W
This Week: @ Auburn, Tennessee

The Bulldogs took care of business last week by downing two squads they had to beat in Alabama and South Carolina. If they can sweep the Tigers and the Vols this week, they will be in good shape. With a loss at home against Tennessee, they will need to win at least a game in the SEC tournament.

BUBBLES A’ BURSTIN’

6. Ole Miss – 19-9 (7-7)
Last Week: Auburn – W, @ Alabama – W
This Week: LSU, @ Arkansas

The Rebels entered last week losers of five of their last six and there were rumblings about Andy Kennedy’s job security. But, in last week’s segment we mentioned how thier final four conference games were all winnable. They handled both Alabama schools last week and if they can do the same against LSU and Arkansas, they will finish the SEC regular season at 9-7. Still, at this point I only see the SEC getting five teams in, so even at 9-7 I think the Rebels would still have work to do in the SEC tourney.

THEY GOTTA WIN THE SEC TOURNAMENT

7. Arkansas – 14-15 (7-7)
Last Week: @ LSU – L, Vanderbilt – L
This WeeK: @ Tennessee, Mississippi

The Razorbacks have lost four of five, including a 65-54 loss at LSU last week.

8. South Carolina – 14-14 (5-9)
Last Week: @ Kentucky – L, Mississippi State – L
This Week: Alabama, @ Vanderbilt

The Gamecocks are now 2-6 since their upset win over Kentucky in Columbia. Devan Downey may be tired. In their 76-63 loss at Mississippi State on Saturday, he finished with just 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

9. Georgia – 13-14 (5-9)
Last Week: @ Vanderbilt – L, Florida – W
This Week: Kentucky, @ LSU

Last week I said that nobody wanted to play Mark Fox’s Bulldogs and that the Gators better be weary of them on Saturday. Then Georgia downed a Florida team that really needed the win. Kentucky struggled against the ‘Dawgs in their SEC opener at Rupp. They are going to play defense, but they are going to turn the ball over as well. If Kentucky can get them running up and down the court, it should be smooth sailing. If not, it will again be a grind.

10. Auburn – 14-15 (5-9)
Last Week: @ Mississippi – L, LSU – W
This Week: Mississippi State, at Alabama

Jeff Lebo’s teams shoot the three a lot, even if they aren’t falling.

11. Alabama – 14-14 (4-10)
Last Week: @ Mississippi State – L, Mississippi – L
This Week: @ South Carolina, Auburn

The Elephants were swept by the Mississippi schools last week. Anthony Grant’s squad plays defense, they just don’t score enough to win games.

12. LSU – 10-18 (1-13)

Last Week: Arkansas – W, @ Auburn – L
This Week: @ Mississippi, Georgia

The Bayou Bengals got close two weeks ago against Mississippi State and they finally did it against Arkansas.