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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- LSU
- Florida
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Auburn
- South Carolina
- Ole Miss
- Missouri
- Texas A&M
- Mississippi State
- Georgia
- Vanderbilt
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE 1ST TEAM:
-John Petty – SR G – Alabama
-Keyontae Johnson – JR F – Florida
-Brandon Boston – FR G – Kentucky
-Trendon Watford – SO F – LSU
-John Fulkerson – SR F – Tennessee
MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL CONFERENCE 2ND TEAM:
-Olivier Sarr – SR F – Kentucky
-Javonte Smart – JR G – LSU
-Dru Smith – SR G – Missouri
-AJ Lawson – JR G – South Carolina
-Yves Pons – SR G/F – Tennessee
-Savion Flagg – SR G/F – Texas A&M
COMMENTS FROM DAVID:
-There are a lot of reasons to be excited about this year’s Tennessee team. Two years ago they were a top-5 caliber team and while they took a step back last year, they are once again looking at being a potential top-10 team this year who has a good chance of winning the SEC, earning a protected seed, and perhaps challenging for the Final Four. Four guys who saw significant minutes are back this year, they have some really good newcomers going in, they will likely be able to go deep into their bench, and are solid in both the frontcourt and the backcourt.
-Kentucky has obviously been the class of the league, and it once again appears that they have a deep and talented team, will be high in the rankings, will contend for the SEC title, and have a good shot at a protected seed. If that ever changes we will let you know. All five starters are gone from a year ago, but this is a team that just reloads with top-notch talent every year. They replace NBA caliber players with NBA caliber players. While it may take them a while to gel as it does every year, but the end of the year they will likely have as good a shot as anyone at making the Final Four.
-Florida had a solid year last year, but it was nowhere near as strong as what most were expecting. It was, for the most part, a young team and now that the Gators have a little more maturity we could see them surpass expectations and surprise some people. I think this is a team that we will see in the rankings before it’s all said and done.
-There is reason to be excited in Tuscaloosa with four starters back. Head coach Nate Oats is entering his second season and it could be one where the Tide really break out. They did lose Kira Lewis, who was perhaps their best player, but all the other starters are back along with some very impressive looking newcomers.
-LSU has some off the court issues hanging over the program, but they are once again expected to do well in the conference and will most likely be dancing this March (pending no NCAA sanctions). They did lose three starters, but they have a lot of key players back, appear to have a really strong backcourt, and have some guys that can step in to new roles.
-I kinda like this South Carolina team. They are not getting a whole lot of preseason love, but four starters are back and they seemed to be playing pretty well down the stretch last year. They’re my dark horse pick in this conference. Frank Martin is a phenomenal coach who is good at developing talent, and it would not shock me at all to see this team dancing in March.
-Eric Musselman is a solid coach who I expect to do well at Arkansas, but I also think this is a bit of a rebuilding year and that they still have a long ways to go. It appears as though they have ten new players, and with that much roster turnover we have more uncertainties than certainties in regards to how good they are likely to be.
-Auburn is also rebuilding after two straight very solid years. I don’t think it will be too long before we see the Tigers back in the top-25, but I do not think this is the year for them. A lot of returning players did not see significant minutes last year. They do have some good looking newcomers, but it may take some time for them to click.
-Kermit Davis is entering his third year at Ole Miss, and while I do think he’ll get the Rebs program going eventually, I don’t think this is the year. They were .500-ish last year and were a really unimpressive 6-12 in SEC play. I think they will be better this year, but not so much better that I think we will see them inside the bubble.
-I keep waiting for Missouri to be good. They have a good coach in Cuonzo Martin, but they cannot seem to become a regular NCAA Tournament caliber program. Four starters are back this year including Dru Smith who is a very good all-around player, so that experience could lead to more wins this year, but I do not think we will see them dancing this March.
-Texas A&M had an exciting start to the season last year, but that excitement did not last long. If we know anything about Buzz Williams is that he can build and he can coach. He will get this program to a very high level before he is through, but this will not be the year.
-Mississippi State lost a lot of key pieces from last year, and appears to be in rebuilding mode.
-Tom Crean might be down to his last strike at Georgia, and all signs seem to be that a finish near the bottom of the league is likely.
-Vanderbilt has had some good teams in the past, but right now it feels like it is going to be a long time before we see them have another one.
