Alabama

Poll: Who Will Win the SEC Tournament?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:22:19 -0500

SEC Tournament Watch: Who Will Be Dancing?

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:19:32 -0500

Valentine’s Day for many people involves an intimate dinner, flowers, perhaps some candy, maybe even a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the snow. But for college basketball fans – it means that teams have one month left to earn their dance cards. One more month of proving their worth against conference opponents, trying to build momentum as they enter March.

With the conference season halfway done, the SEC is in decidedly better shape than last year, when Cupid arrived and saw a mess of bubble teams that had no shot of reaching the second weekend. This year, as many as six teams could find themselves dancing, although as always, there’s still a lot that can happen.

Here’s the breakdown right now.

Tournament Locks:

Kentucky: 23-1 (8-1 SEC)

RPI: 6

Strength of Schedule: 51

Key wins: Vanderbilt, at Florida, Mississippi

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: Tennessee, at Mississippi State at Vanderbilt, at Tennessee

The Cats have hovered in the top five all year, and should be in contention for a top seed come March. Despite some inconsistent efforts and youthful mistakes, they’ve simply been able to overwhelm people with their talent all year. Their non-conference schedule doesn’t look great, especially with North Carolina, Louisville and UConn struggling, but if they continue to win like they have, it won’t matter. With three tough road games left, it’s not unconceivable that the Cats could stumble once more, but barring a major surprise, they should be quite pleased on Selection Sunday.

Tennessee: 18-5. (6-3 SEC)

RPI: 19

Strength of Schedule: 38

Key wins: Kansas, Mississippi

Bad losses: at USC, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Kentucky, at Florida, Kentucky, at Mississippi State

The Vols have responded better than many thought after the dismissal of star Tyler Smith, but they still have work to do to improve their seed. Since losing Smith, the Vols have knocked off Kansas, but also have dropped a pair of games to Vandy, and struggled to win against Florida and LSU. They still have a pair of games left with Kentucky, and winning one of those would be huge for their resume. Right now, the Vols look to be around a 5-seed, but they could go a couple spots in either direction depending on how strong they finish the season.

Vanderbilt: 18-5 (7-2 SEC)

RPI: 18

Strength of Schedule: 24

Key wins: Tennessee (2), Florida, Missouri

Bad losses: Western Kentucky, at Georgia

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Kentucky, at Florida

The Commodores are a team to keep an eye on in March. They have veteran leadership, a balanced attack, and are playing well as of late, having won nine of 11 since the calendar flipped to 2010. If they’re able to score an upset of Kentucky in a huge home game on Feb. 20, they could find themselves as high as a three-seed in the NCAA. Right now, they’re probably in 5-seed range along with Tennessee, but they’re certainly capable of climbing higher. Look for Vandy to be a tough out this year in the NCAA Tourney.

Probably Dancing:

Mississippi: 17-6 (5-4 SEC)

RPI: 39

Strength of Schedule: 52

Key wins: at Kansas State

Bad losses: None

Big games remaining: at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida

The Rebels are in good position to make the tournament, but they may need to find another signature win somewhere. They don’t have any terrible losses, with four of their six losses coming to teams ranked in the top 15, and the early season win over Kansas State continues to look better. However, the Rebels need a strong finish to avoid being on bubble watch. If they’re able to get to 10 conference wins, and make a good showing in the SEC Tournament, they’ll likely find themselves in the 8-9 seed range. Knocking off Vanderbilt would be a huge boost for their resume.

On the Bubble:

Florida: 17-7 (6-4 SEC)

RPI: 50

Strength of Schedule: 70

Key wins: Michigan State, Florida State

Bad losses: South Alabama

Big games remaining: at Mississippi, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, at Kentucky

The Gators have been rolling lately, having won six of their last seven heading into a showdown with South Carolina on Wednesday. They don’t always win pretty, and have relied on some late-game heroics more than once, but regardless, they’re still sitting in a good position heading into March. They have two great non-conference wins, and even the loss to Richmond doesn’t look as awful as it did at the time. However, they’re still searching for a big SEC win to add to their resume. If they’re able to hold home court against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, as well as knock off Auburn and Georgia, 10 conference wins should get them into the tournament. They’re certainly not a sure thing, but they’re on the right track.

Mississippi State: 16-7 (4-4 SEC)

RPI: 71

Strength of Schedule: 126

Key wins: Mississippi

Bad losses: Rider, Western Kentucky

Big games remaining: Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee

The Bulldogs have plenty of work to do if they want to dance into March. The good news for them is that they’ll have plenty of chances, starting with a showdown against Ole Miss on Thursday. The Bulldogs also have homes dates with Kentucky and Tennessee, and they’ll probably need both to make their resume more tournament-worthy. Rick Stansbury’s club has some nice pieces, but they haven’t seemed to find a rhythm in conference play, having lost four of their last five. It’s not too late to make a run, but for a team that entered the season with expectations of a deep run through March, they’ve been largely disappointing so far.

On the Outside But Have a Chance:

South Carolina: 14-9 (5-4 SEC)

In all likelihood, the Gamecocks will need to win the SEC Tournament to earn a bid, but don’t count them out. Devan Downey is making a run at SEC Player of the Year, and he’s shown the ability to carry the team through long stretches. Another win over Kentucky certainly wouldn’t hurt, but overall, they still probably need to win out to even think about the bubble.

Arkansas: 13-11 (6-3 SEC)

Like South Carolina, the Hogs probably have too much work left to do to count on an at-large bid, and will need to run the SEC Tournament to get in. However, with Courtney Fortson back, the Hogs are a dangerous team, and they’re playing their best ball of the season right now. They may not win it, but look for the Hogs to at least put a scare into someone during the SEC Tournament.

There’s always next year:

Georgia 10-12 (2-7 SEC)

They may be the best 10-win team in the country, but at the end of the day, they’re still a 10-win team. The Dawgs have some good pieces, but just don’t have enough to compete this year.

Alabama 13-11 (3-7 SEC)

Like Georgia, the Tide can’t be faulted for their effort, but they just don’t simply have enough talent. On the bright side, spring football practice is only a couple months away.

Auburn: 12-12 (3-6 SEC)

The Tigers have attempted close to 600 three-pointers this year. When you’re shooting them at 32 percent, that’s not a recipe for success.

LSU 9-15 (0-10 SEC)

Nothing much to say here. The Tigers just simply aren’t a good team. Help may be on the way next year, but unfortunately, they have to finish this season first.

SEC to Make Big Impact on 2010 NBA Draft

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:31:31 -0500

For SEC fans, the 2009 NBA Draft was about as exciting as watching paint dry.

First there was the lottery... nothing. Next, the rest of the first round... nothing. It was nearly two hours into the draft before the Bucks selected Kentucky SG Jodie Meeks with the 41^st pick. Two picks later, LSU guard Marcus Thornton went to New Orleans, and two picks after that, Florida PG Nick Calathes was selected by Dallas.

But it was there the excitement ended, with just three SEC players selected. Three. And by the time Meeks finally heard his name called, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, UCLA, Wake Forest and Louisville had all seen multiple players selected. In fact, UNC produced more picks by themselves than the entire SEC, with four. Safe to say, it was not a banner year for the conference.

But it's also safe to say 2010 won't be more of the same. With the influx of talent into the league, as well as the development of some returning players, the SEC should be much better represented this year. With the season approximately halfway over, here's a look at some of the top NBA prospects.

John Wall, Kentucky

Key stats: 17. 1 points, 6.9 assists

Draft prediction: Top pick

Barring a major surprise, Wall will be the top pick in the 2010 draft. Although just a freshman, he has the speed, athleticism and poise to become an instant impact player, and there's no reason he shouldn't become a star in the league. Wall has great size for the point, and he's virtually unstoppable in transition. Look for him to fill up NBA highlight reels for years to come.

DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky

Key stats: 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds

Draft prediction: Lottery

Cousins is overshadowed by Wall at times, but he is a tremendous talent in his own right. He has great size, solid ball skills and an NBA-ready body. The only thing holding Cousins back is his attitude. He's known to have a quick fuse, and can sometimes lose focus on the floor. However, if he's able to continue to keep his composure and help lead UK on a deep tournament run, he could find himself shaking David Stern's hand not long after Wall.

Scotty Hopson, Tennessee

Key stats: 13. 3 points, 3.7 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late lottery – mid first round

Hopson has great size for a shooting guard, as well as top-notch athleticism and a sweet stroke from the perimeter. However, his production doesn't always match his potential, and there are questions about his drive. If he proves he can lead the Vols this year in the absence of Tyler Smith, look for his stock to skyrocket.

Patrick Patterson

Key stats: 16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late lottery – mid first round

Patterson is no longer having to shoulder such a large load for the Cats this year, and as a result, his game has expanded. Patterson has been able to showcase more of a perimeter game, having made 10 three-pointers this season after making zero in his first two years. With good size, good athleticism and a high basketball IQ, Patterson is likely to become a solid NBA player for the next 10-12 years.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

Key stats: 14.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.3 blocks

Draft prediction: Mid to late first round

Varnado may never be an offensive force, but his defensive ability should keep him in the league for a while. Varnado has great athleticism for his size, and he attacks the glass with an attitude that scouts love. He's willing to do the dirty work, and he could make an instant impact as a defender off the bench. If he continues to put up numbers this year, look for him to land in the first round.

Michael Washington, Arkansas

Key stats: 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks

Draft prediction: Early second round

Washington has intriguing size and athleticism, but he hasn't taken the step forward that scouts wanted to see. He still doesn't take over games the way he should with his skill set, and the Hogs' mediocre record the past two years won't help his case much. As it is, he's likely to draw some interest based solely on potential, but at some point, he's going to have deliver on that potential.

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU

Key stats: 16.9 points, 9.4 rebounds

Draft prediction: Late second round

Mitchell lacks the flash of the rest of the players on this list, and as a fifth-year senior, scouts question how much upside he still has left. But Mitchell is still a versatile player who is closing in on 2,000 career points and he can guard multiple positions because of his size and quickness. He also has a high basketball IQ and his effort will never be questioned. Although he likely will never be more than a role player in the league, he's got a good chance of finding a home somewhere.

Other notables:

Tyler Smith, Tennessee: Dismissed from the Vols for an arrest stemming from gun possession, Smith's legal case has yet to be determined. A borderline first round talent heading into the year, Smith could still find a way into the league, but obviously needs to stay out of trouble first. His stock has obviously gone down, but how far is anyone's best guess.

Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State: Sidney was a highly touted recruit who has yet to play because of eligibility issues. Billed as power forward with three-point range, Sidney has made no secret of the fact that he wants to enter the league as soon as possible. However, with questions surrounding his attitude, conditioning and overall game after taking a year off, his stock is anyone's best guess.

Players to watch for 2011 Draft

Terrico White, Ole Miss: White has the size and strength the play SG at the next level, and he's shown the ability to get to the rim at will. Another year of seasoning could see his stock climb even higher, especially if helps lead the Rebels on a run through the NCAA Tournament.

Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky: Bledsoe is an explosive athlete who thrives in transition and has the ability to score in bunches. Given the chance to run the UK attack after Wall leaves, Bledsoe could play his way into the lottery in 2011.

Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt: Taylor has great athleticism and is developing into an all-around player. He already has the attention of NBA scouts, and if he continues to improve his perimeter game, his stock could continue to rise.

Trey Thompkins, Georgia: Thompkins has two things scouts love – size and toughness. Thompkins' numbers are up across the board after a solid freshman season, and if he continues to improve, he could soon find himself in an NBA frontcourt.

Daniel Orton, Kentucky: Orton is battling Cousins and Patterson for minutes now, but the frontcourt should be all his next year. Orton is a solid defender, and although he's limited offensively, he's demonstrated a great attitude and work ethic, and he should continue to improve.

AJ Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Ogilvy arrived at Vanderbilt two-and-a-half years ago billed as a future lottery pick. However, after a great freshman year, his numbers have continued to go down and there are some scouts who question his toughness. But, because he’s 6’11 with good ball skills, there’s still a good chance he’ll find a home somewhere in the league

SEC Mid-Season Stock Watch

Jason Brubaker — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:07:39 -0500

The buzz around the SEC this year was how much stronger the conference would be, top-to-bottom, with so many key players returning and new faces ready to make an instant impact. A year after getting only three teams into the NCAA Tournament, this was supposed to be a rebound year, with as many as six or seven teams competing for berths in the Big Dance.

Well, with the non-conference season nearly wrapped up for most teams, it's still hard to get a great read on the overall strength of the conference. Only three teams are currently ranked in the latest AP poll, and of those, only Kentucky looks like a sure bet for a long postseason run. Teams like Georgia and Arkansas have continued to struggle, and the muddled mess in the middle doesn't look to have any teams who will distinguish themselves.

But there's still plenty of basketball to play, so there's a good chance things may change as the season goes on. So here's an SEC Stock Watch as we prepare to enter conference play.

Alabama

Record: 8-4

Quality wins: Michigan, Baylor

Postseason prediction: NIT

The Crimson Tide may have to hang their hat on winning the championship in football this year, because they likely won't be getting a chance to run through the NCAA Tournament. The Tide have some talent, including big man JaMychal Green, but they often don't play smart or disciplined, two traits that were evidenced when they blew a 16-point second half lead against Purdue. New coach Anthony Grant brings a ton of passion to the sidelines, and the Tide have enough talent to scare some teams, but in the end, it's likely they'll struggle to do better than the NIT.

Arkansas

Record: 7-5

Quality wins: None

Postseason prediction: None

The Razorbacks struggled mightily in the conference last year, finishing 2-14, and this year isn't shaping up to be much better. The Hogs give up 72 points per game, shoot 64% percent from the foul line and don't have a player averaging more than seven rebounds per game. The loss of Courtney Fortson robbed the Hogs not only of a terrific scorer, but someone whop provided the team with confidence and swagger. Michael Washington is a talented forward and Rotnei Clarke is as good a shooter as anyone in the country, but that isn't going to be enough this year. Look for the Hogs to finish near the bottom of the SEC West again.

Auburn

Record: 7-6

Quality wins: None

Postseason prediction: None

Speaking of the bottom of the West...meet the 2009-10 Tigers. They shocked many observers last year by finishing second in the West, winning 10 conference games and 24 games overall. Don't look for a repeat. The Tigers don't take great care of the ball, don't shoot particularly well, and are still trying to adequately fill the shoes of departed leaders Kovortney Barber, Quantez Robertson and Rasheem Barrett. Senior DeWayne Reed and Lucas Hargrove are solid players and good leaders, but neither would be described as a star. Expect a long season on The Plains.

Florida

Record: 9-3

Quality wins: Michigan State, Florida State

Postseason prediction: NCAA 1^st round

The Gators have already surprised with their 8-0 start this year, and they certainly have enough talent to make their way back to the Big Dance after two straight years in the NIT. Freshman Kenny Boynton looks to be a future star, and returning players like Alex Tyus, Erving Walker, Chandler Parsons and Dan Werner are experienced enough to keep the Gators in most games. But with shaky depth up front, and a small backcourt, the Gators likely don't have enough to expect a deep postseason run. Look for them to challenge Tennessee for second place in the SEC East.

Georgia

Record: 6-4

Quality wins: Illinois

Postseason prediction: None

First-year coach Mark Fox arrived with plenty of excitement as he hopes to pull the Bulldogs out of the SEC East cellar. Unfortunately, he didn't inherit a roster loaded with talent to match that energy. The Bulldogs have some nice pieces, especially forward Trey Thompkins, but they simply just don't have enough talent to compete this year. They don't have a great backcourt, and outside of Thompkins, they lack a scorer in the post. The 'Dawgs will play hard this year, but their lack of talent will do them in on most nights. While Fox may have the program on the right track, look for another rough year in Athens.

Continue to Part Two of the SEC Stock Watch

Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi St, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Cheerleader of the Day: Alabama

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:40:40 -0500

Each day (just about), CollegeHoops.net features a Cheerleader (or Dancer) of the Day. Today's picture is courtesy of Icon Sports Media. Check out the archive for more

-- ALABAMA

More Cheerleaders!
>>		>>		>>			..All

- Check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- Also check out the Picture of the Day!

- Watch all of CHN's favorite College Basketball Videos!

SEC Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:28:59 -0500

A new era of Kentucky basketball begins, but will the likes of Mississppi St, Tennesse, or Vanderbilt spoil John Calipari's entrance. Perhaps no league is loaded with NBA talent like the SEC.

Conference Rank: 4th

10 year average: 2nd

SEC Page

All-SEC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	John Wall	Kentucky	Fr
G	Devan Downey	South Carolina	Sr
F	Tyler Smith	Tennessee	Sr
F	Patrick Patterson	Kentucky	Jr
F	Tasmin Mitchell	LSU	Sr
Second Team
G	Terrico White	Ole Miss	So
G	Chris Warren	Ole Miss	Jr
G/F	Jeffrey Taylor	Vanderbilt	So
C	AJ Ogilvy	Vanderbilt	Jr
C	Jarvis Varnado	Mississippi St	Sr

Player of the Year - Devan Downey Freshman of the Year - John Wall
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Devan Downey (2nd Team) Patrick Patterson (2nd) John Wall (2nd) Tyler Smith (3rd) Tasmin Mitchell AJ Ogilvy Jarvis Varnado Terrico White All-Freshman Team Kenny Boynton (1st) John Wall (1st) DeMarcus Cousins (2nd) Eric Bledsoe (3rd) John Jenkins		Points: Devan Downey 19.8 Rebounds: Michael Washington 9.8 Assists: Courtney Fortson 5.9 Team: Tennessee 878.4

SEC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

6	Kentucky	SEC	1	NCAA
9	Tennessee	SEC	2	NCAA
23	Mississippi St	SEC	3	NCAA
30	South Carolina	SEC	4	NCAA
32	Mississippi	SEC	5	NCAA
39	Florida	SEC	6	NCAA
47	Vanderbilt	SEC	7	NCAA
63	LSU	SEC	8	NIT
73	Arkansas	SEC	9	NIT
79	Auburn	SEC	10	NIT
96	Alabama	SEC	11	CBI/CIT
180	Georgia	SEC	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the SEC?

Other SEC Content

SEC Fantasy Stats Preview

SEC 5-Year Ranking

SEC: Top 25 Players

SEC Media Poll & All-Conference Team

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

SEC Basketball: Top 25 Players

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:28:19 -0500

Ranking players is more art then science. How do you compare the potential of freshmen with seniors who have already peaked? How much does physical talent come into play versus intangibles and experience? How big a role do numbers play?

In some situations, the bigger challenge is deciding what position to list a player. College basketball is filled with combo guards, wings who can play from the 2 to 4, centers who are really power forwards, and so on.

All of these questions make lists like this fun and debatable.. if you disagree with CHN's rankings, post what you think below.

SEC

PG
1. Devan Downey - South Carolina
2. John Wall - Kentucky
3. Chris Warren - Ole Miss
4. Courtney Fortson - Arkansas
5. Dee Bost - Mississippi State

SG
1. Terrico White - Ole Miss
2. Kenny Boynton - Florida
3. DeWayne Reed - Auburn
4. Brad Tinsley - Vanderbilt
5. Scotty Hopson - Tennessee

- While Downey is a senior, most of the SEC's top guards are quite young. Wall & Boynton are freshmen, while White, Bost and others are sophomores. Ole Miss has an underrated backcourt now that Warren & Eniel Polynice return from injury to join the improving White.

SF
1. Tyler Smith - Tennessee
2. Jeffrey Taylor - Vanderbilt
3. Dominique Archie - South Carolina
4. Ravern Johnson - Mississippi State
5. Darius Miller - Kentucky

PF
1. Patrick Patterson - Kentucky
2. Tasmin Mitchell - LSU
3. Howard Thompkins - Georgia
4. JaMychal Green - Alabama
5. Michael Washington - Arkansas

C
1. Jarvis Varnado - Mississppi State
2. AJ Ogilvy - Vanderbilt
3. Alex Tyus - Florida
4. Wayne Chism - Tennessee
5. DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky

- The SEC's big man crop is as good as any league out there. Besides the guys listed, you have the potential inclusion of MSU's Renardo Sidney and UK's Daniel Orton. The SF position isn't quite as strong however.

SEC Basketball: Fantasy Preview

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:10:21 -0500

This is the 5th of six fantasy stats projections for BCS conference starters. One of my favorite series of the year, and a helpful guide when drafting for fantasy college basketball leagues. For an idea of whether I know what I'm talking about, check out last year's SEC Stats Projection (SEC happened to be by far my worst predictions overall). As always, some teams were nailed better then others.. Tennessee was decent, Vanderbilt was particularly bad.

Keep in mind stats are highly dependent on minutes, and freshmen are obviously the hardest to predict. I try to note places below where other starters not listed may emerge or where competition for major minutes exist. Stats are listed by ppg, rpg, and then apg.

SEC

ALABAMA

G Mikhail Torrance - 12, 3, 4
G Senario Hillman - 15, 3, 3
F Tony Mitchell - 10, 6, 2
F JaMychal Green - 14, 8, 1
C Justin Knox - 7, 6, 1

Notes: Hillman improved substantially last season, and could lead the team in scoring this year. Mitchell is a freshman who will contribute immediately. Demetrius Johnson will add productive minutes behind Knox.

ARKANSAS

G Courtney Fortson - 14, 5, 7
G Stefan Welsh - 10, 3, 3
G Rotnei Clarke - 15, 3, 1
F Michael Sanchez - 6, 6, 1
F Michael Washington - 15, 11, 1

Notes: Washington was a pleasant surprise last year, almost doubling my projected 8 ppg. Clarke has the ability to light it up from deep and Arkansas would be better off he took more shots away from Fortson.

AUBURN

G DeWayne Reed - 15, 3, 4
G Tay Waller - 11, 3, 2
G Frankie Sullivan - 11, 3, 2

F Lucas Hargrove - 9, 7, 2

F Kenny Gabriel - 6, 4, 1

Notes: As usual, Auburn is a guard-heavy team. Reed took a big step up last year and expect Sullivan to be this year's most improved player after averaging 7.6 ppg last year. Gabriel, a freshman, will battle other newcomers like Rob Chubb for minutes up front.

FLORIDA
G Erving Walker - 9, 3, 2
G Kenny Boynton - 14, 4, 3
F Chandler Parsons - 11, 6, 2
F Dan Werner - 8, 6, 2
F Alex Tyus - 14, 8, 1

Notes: I expected a bigger year from Parsons last year, who has more talent then he's shown. Boynton is a big-time scorer who will be one of the league's most productive newcomers. Vernon Macklin, a Georgetown transfer, will also see important minutes and could add 5 ppg and 5 rpg a game.

GEORGIA
G Dustin Ware - 8, 3, 4

G Travis Leslie - 11, 4, 1
G DeMario Mayfield - 7, 3, 1

F Albert Jackson - 6, 6, 1
F Howard (Trey) Thompkins - 17, 9, 1

Notes: Thompkins is the lone SEC-quality player on the roster and should have opportunity to fill up the stat-sheet. Mayfield is a freshman, and probably the best of weak options on the wing. Leslie has potential to be a minor surprise.

KENTUCKY

G Eric Bledsoe - 9, 4, 4

G John Wall - 16, 5, 6
F Darius Miller - 10, 5, 3
F DeMarcus Cousins - 11, 7, 1
F Patrick Patterson - 19, 10, 2

Notes: Miller's #'s were disappointing as a freshman, but he should thrive with so many weapons around him. Wall, Bledsoe, and Cousins are all freshman. Last year, Perry Stevenson saw 28 mpg, but his time will be severely reduced due to all the newcomers.

LSU

G Bo Spencer - 13, 3, 4
G Chris Bass - 6, 3, 3
G Aaron Dotson - 8, 3, 2
F Tasmin Mitchell - 19, 9, 2
C Storm Warren - 8, 6, 1

Notes: Mitchell and Spencer are the only players on the roster with any real experience. Dotson is a freshman who might be the 3rd most talented player on the team, but will take time to develop. Senior Alex Farrer may get minutes over Bass, but don't expect much production from him.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

G Dee Bost - 14, 5, 5
G Barry Stewart - 13, 4, 2
G Phil Turner - 10, 6, 2

F Ravern Johnson - 11, 4, 1
C Jarvis Varnado - 15, 10, 1

Notes: Besides the #'s listed, Varnado also blocks a ton of shots and shoots a high % from the floor. Renardo Sidney is awaiting his NCAA fate, but would be expected to see 25+ mpg if eligibile. Kodi Augustus is a highly efficient reserve forward who would probably score double-digits ppg if he was on a team like LSU.

OLE MISS

G Chris Warren - 17, 3, 5
G Terrico White - 17, 5, 3
G Eniel Polynice - 10, 5, 5
F Reginald Buckner - 8, 6, 1
F Murphy Holloway - 9, 8, 1

Notes: Ole Miss has 3 other contributing front-line players in Zach Graham, Terrance Henry, and DeAngelo Riley. Graham averaged 26 mpg last year. White averaged 13.7 ppg as a freshman and will only get better.

SOUTH CAROLINA

G Devan Downey - 21, 4, 5
G Brandis Raley-Ross - 10, 3, 2
F Dominique Archie - 13, 7, 1
F Sam Muldrow - 7, 6, 0
F Mike Holmes - 10, 9, 0

Notes: The Gamecocks return 4 of 5 starters, and Raley-Ross (the new starter) played 25 mpg last year as well, so we know what to expect from these guys. Evaldas Baniulis averaged 6 ppg as a sharp-shooter off the bench and could score 10 ppg if given enough minutes.

TENNESSEE

G Bobby Maze - 10, 3, 3
G Scotty Hopson - 13, 4, 2
G JP Prince - 12, 5, 5
F Tyler Smith - 15, 8, 3
F Wayne Chism - 15, 9, 1

Notes: All of these guys are holdovers from last year. Hopson, who had a rather blah freshman year (9.2 ppg on 42.8% shooting), has the best chance to take a noticeable step up. Brian Williams is a servicable reserve forward who should contribute 7 ppg and 6 rpg.

VANDERBILT

G Jermaine Beal - 11, 3, 4
G Brad Tinsley - 10, 3, 3
F Andre Walker - 8, 6, 1
F Jeffrey Taylor - 15, 7, 2
F AJ Ogilvy - 18, 9, 2

Notes: A deep squad, Vanderbilt has 3 other players worth noting. John Jenkins is a heralded freshman who will see 20+ mpg in the backcourt. Lance Goulbourne is a wing with talent, and Festus Ezeli will see 15+ mpg when Vandy wants to play big.

Projected SEC Leaders

Top PPG
1) Devan Downey (21)
2) Tasmin Mitchell (19)
3) Patrick Patterson (19)

Top RPG
1) Mike Washinton (11)
2) Jarvis Varnado (10)

3) Patrick Patterson (10)

Top APG
1) Courtney Fortson (7)
2) John Wall (6)

3) Bost/Downey/Polynice/Prince/Warren (5)

Fantasy Stats Preview Archive

- ACC

- Big 12

- Big East

- Big Ten

- Pac-10

SEC Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:03:46 -0500

SEC 5-YEAR STANDINGS

CHN's annual 5-year ranking answers a simple question is in a simple manner: Who has been the best team in the SEC over the last five years?

Teams get points for league wins, making the postseason (NIT or NCAA) and winning games in the Big Dance. NIT wins are meaningless here, as are non-conference wins. Also, league tournaments wins are not taken into account. (An original trial-scoring system included points for conference tourney wins. But the flukish nature of these tourney's did more harm than hurt: ie, 2008 Georgia, 2006 Syracuse, and 2004 Maryland ended up getting too much credit despite the reality that they were mediocre to sub-par teams.)

100 total points is set up to be the equivalent of batting .300 in baseball.. anything above and beyond is all-world stuff. 50 points is mediocre and you only start to get bad below 40 points.

Pos.	Was	Team	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	Wins	Gms.	Points

1	1	Florida	12	10	13	8	9	52	80	65	Win %
			2nd Round	Champs	Champs	NIT	NIT			30	Post Pts.
										95

2	2	Kentucky	14	9	9	12	8	52	80	65	Win %
			Elite 8	2nd Round	2nd Round	1st Round	NIT			19	Post Pts.
										84

3	3	Tennessee	6	12	10	14	10	52	80	65	Win %
			X	2nd Round	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	1st Round			17	Post Pts.
										82

4	6	LSU	12	14	5	6	13	50	80	63	Win %
			1st Round	Final Four	X	X	2nd Round			16	Post Pts.
										79

5	4	Miss. St	9	5	8	12	9	43	80	54	Win %
			2nd Round	X	NIT	2nd Round	1st Round			11	Post Pts.
										65

6	5	Vanderbilt	8	7	10	10	8	43	80	54	Win %
			NIT	NIT	Sweet 16	1st Round	X			10	Post Pts.
										64

7	7	Alabama	12	10	7	4	7	40	80	50	Win %
			1st Round	2nd Round	NIT	X	X			7	Post Pts.
										57

8	8	Arkansas	6	10	7	9	2	34	80	43	Win %
			X	1st Round	1st Round	2nd Round	X			8	Post Pts.
										51

9	9	So. Carolina	7	6	4	5	10	32	80	40	Win %
			NIT	NIT	X	X	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										43

10	10	Ole Miss	4	4	8	7	7	30	80	38	Win %
			X	X	NIT	NIT	X			2	Post Pts.
										40

11	12	Auburn	5	4	4	7	10	30	80	38	Win %
			X	X	X	X	NIT			1	Post Pts.
										39

12	11	Georgia	2	5	8	4	3	22	80	28	Win %
			X	NIT	X	1st Round	X			3	Post Pts.
										31

-Ties are broken by favoring conference winning %

SEC Thoughts

- LSU, despite inconsistency, has won 50 leagues games, surprisingly only 2 behind Florida & Tennessee.

- Vanderbilt was a rare 8-win SEC team that didn't even get an invite to the NIT.

- Not one SEC team has advanced beyond the Sweet Sixteen in the last two years, allowing the likes of Florida/Tennessee/UK to remain at the top despite disappointing years.

Postseason Points

NIT = 1

NCAA 1st Round = 2

NCAA 2nd Round = 4

Sweet = 6

Elite 8 = 8

Final Four = 10

Final = 11

Champs = 12

Other 5-Year Rankings

ACC

Big 12

Big East

Big Ten

Pac-10

.. All

Preseason All-SEC: Coaches

Press Release — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:21:50 -0500

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conference unveiled its sixth annual men’s basketball coaches preseason All-SEC first and second teams Monday, tipping off another great season of SEC men’s basketball.

Twenty-seven different players received votes for the teams and Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee led all schools with two selections each. Six of the eight first team selections were unanimous picks. South Carolina’s Devan Downey, LSU’s Tasmin Mitchell, Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson, Tennessee’s Tyler Smith, Mississippi State’s Jarvis Varnado and Ole Miss’ Terrico White were each unanimous picks.

The coaches preseason All-SEC first and second teams consist of a minimum of eight players on each squad, voted on by the SEC Head Men’s Basketball Coaches. No ties were broken and no predicted order of finish was made.

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC       Pos         Ht           Wt          Cl            Hometown

Devan Downey, South Carolina#               G             5-9          175         Sr.           Chester, S.C.

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU#    F              6-7          235         Sr.           Denham Springs, La.

A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt    C             6-11       250         Jr.           Sydney, Australia

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky#     F              6-9          235         Jr.           Huntington, W.Va.

Tyler Smith, Tennessee#              G/F        6-7          215         Sr.           Pulaski, Tenn.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State#            F              6-9          230         Sr.           Brownsville, Tenn.

Michael Washington, Arkansas F              6-9          239         Sr.           McGehee, Ark.

Terrico White, Ole Miss#              G             6-5          211         So.          Memphis, Tenn.

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC Pos         Ht           Wt          Cl            Hometown

Dominique Archie, South Carolina            F              6-7          200         Sr.           Augusta, Ga.

Wayne Chism, Tennessee            F/C         6-9          246         Sr.           Jackson, Tenn.

JaMychal Green, Alabama           F              6-9          220         So.          Montgomery, Ala.

DeWayne Reed, Auburn               G             6-1          175         Sr.           Houston, Texas

Trey Thompkins, Georgia             F              6-10       247         So.          Lithonia, Ga.

Alex Tyus, Florida             F              6-8          220         Jr.           St. Louis, Mo.

John Wall, Kentucky       G             6-4          195         Fr.           Raleigh, N.C.

Chris Warren, Ole Miss G             5-10       165         Jr.           Orlando, Fla.

#-Unanimous Selection

Ties are not broken