ESPN: A Primer for the SEC Season

[golfballs]

A primer for the SEC season -- college basketball - ESPN

The other, other contenders: I like Tennessee as a sleeper as long as its offense wakes up when necessary (117th in Pomeroy's efficiency rankings). But the Vols haven't done that enough thus far, and Jeronne Maymon's redshirt certainly affects their potential.

Wins to brag about: Tennessee over Wichita State at home.

Biggest disappointments: Jeronne Maymon's knee injury, which ultimately led to a redshirt, was a big blow to the program. But Tennessee missed key opportunities (Georgetown, Oklahoma State, Virginia) simply because its offense was so awful.

Revised predictions:

1. Florida: Erik Murphy gets healthy and the Gators finish 3-1 in four matchups against contenders Missouri and Kentucky on their way to the league title.
2. Kentucky: The Wildcats emerge as Florida's biggest threat as Harrow continues to improve and help their NBA-level talent challenge Florida for the SEC crown.
3. Missouri: The Tigers use their depth to stay in the mix all season, but defensive challenges lead to a third-place finish.
4. Tennessee: Jarnell Stokes and Co. score in spurts but play solid defense, so they're competitive most nights.
5. Ole Miss: The Rebels aren't talented or deep enough to slay the top three teams, but they're better overall than the rest of the seemingly mediocre assembly in the SEC.
6. Arkansas: BJ Young positions the Razorbacks to win a few games that they probably shouldn't and dismiss most of the SEC's bottom tier.
7. Alabama: The Crimson Tide's free fall continues as they deal with the interior gap created by Engstrom's injury and play porous defense that costs them in tight games.
8. LSU: A mediocre nonconference slate will cost the Tigers in conference play, but Johnny Jones will lead his new team to a respectable finish.
9. Texas A&M: Solid defense will be enough to contend with lower-level squads, but a sputtering offense will result in more losses than wins.
10. Georgia: Caldwell-Pope will have a few elite performances that lead to wins in games the Bulldogs should lose, but that strategy won't work most nights.
11. South Carolina: Brenton Williams helps the Gamecocks stay alive in multiple games, but turnovers (17.3 per game) ensure that the majority don't end in South Carolina's favor.
12. Vanderbilt: This young squad gets into trouble when Kedren Johnson is blanketed by multiple defenders against teams that know he's Vandy's only true offensive threat.
13. Auburn: An upset or two at home seems possible, but on the road, the Tigers will suffer a string of losses that push them toward the bottom of the SEC standings.
14. Mississippi State: Rick Ray's short-handed program will fall short of victory on most evenings and will try to use the season as a learning experience.

Shows how bad the SEC is if UT is really it's 4th best team.

 

[Stoked]

We really need to go at least 1-4 with UK x 2, Florida, and Mizzou.

 

[Stoked]

And luckily 3 out of 4 of those games are at home.

 

[golfballs]

And luckily 3 out of 4 of those games are at home.

Missouri at home is the most likely, IMO. By then hopefully our offensive woes will be solved.

 

[KnoxArmyVOL]

Poor Maymon, dude is limping around. He is in one of my classes. I think this team will get better and hopefully we can win 2 of those big games.

 

[calban]

A healthy golden is a must to be 4th.
Without his production we're 5th or 6th.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

A 4th place finish SHOULD get us into the tourney this year. We're fighting, IMO, with Bama and ole miss probably for that 4th spot. That makes these next 2 games huge for obvious reason, start out conference 2-0 while handing those teams each a loss would be huge.

 

[johnnybravo]

A 4th place finish SHOULD get us into the tourney this year. We're fighting, IMO, with Bama and ole miss probably for that 4th spot. That makes these next 2 games huge for obvious reason, start out conference 2-0 while handing those teams each a loss would be huge.

Bama is pretty much done. Lost 6 out of the last 8. Only 1 descent win against 8-4 Villanova. Unless they win the SEC or tourny, then they are playing for NIT seeding IMO.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Bama is pretty much done. Lost 6 out of the last 8. Only 1 descent win against 8-4 Villanova. Unless they win the SEC or tourny, then they are playing for NIT seeding IMO.

Yea very true. Arkansas may get into the battle there, but likely UT and Ole Miss battling.

Makes this game huge.

 

[johnnybravo]

Yea very true. Arkansas may get into the battle there, but likely UT and Ole Miss battling.

Makes this game huge.

Might be an elimination game tonight between Ark and Tex A&M

 

[golfballs]

Yea very true. Arkansas may get into the battle there, but likely UT and Ole Miss battling.

Makes this game huge.

Arkansas, Ole Miss, and UT battling it out. Alabama could potentially get it together but it doesn't look like it so far

 

[OrangeBalls]

We have to get a split vs. Ole Miss. I don't think we win down there. I almost wish this game was at their place first. If we lose this game tonight, this could eventually end up being an elimination game at the start of the season that we look back on.

 

[OrangeBalls]

A primer for the SEC season -- college basketball - ESPN









Shows how bad the SEC is if UT is really it's 4th best team.

You notice how Maymon's name keeps coming up in that column? Some people want to dismiss that as, "Oh, injuries are injuries and you have to play through them". Yeah, take out the best player on any of those teams and see how their predictions are revised.