SEC Tournament preview: Kentucky looks to fight off large middle-of-the-pack


By Justin Parmer
The SEC tournament tips Tuesday in Nashville, Tn. Below is a comprehensive look at each team’s recap, x-factor, and what they’re playing for as play begins at Bridgestone Arena.
No. 9 Alabama
Record: 17-15
SEC Record: 8-10
Status: 
NIT:(Joe Lunardi)
NIT:( (Jerry Palm)
18% of making the tournament (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 
Alabama has been as consistent as a dish washer: hot and cold cycles galore. Although if recent trends have showed anything Alabama has been on a massive cold cycle losing three of their last four games this season. Bama has racked up three impressive quad one victories against the likes of LSU and Auburn, while also receiving five quadrant three/four losses on the year including a loss last Tuesday to Vanderbilt at home. This means it’s going to be tough to determine where the Crimson Tide stack up against the rest of the competition. 
X-factor: Kira Lewis Jr.
What they’re playing for: NCAA Tourney Bid.
The tourney may be out of the question thanks to a horrendous March thus far, but Alabama could sneak back into the conversation on Selection Sunday without winning the tournament on Sunday. They need a lot of help from the remaining mid-majors taking care of business and for some bubble teams to go out early, but the Tide can drastically increase their chances by beating both Tennessee on Thursday and Kentucky on Friday. Even then it’s a long shot but the Tide only need a spark to light the bracket ablaze.
#11 Arkansas
Record: 19-12, SEC Record: 7-11
Status:
Next Four Out (Joe Lunardi)
Next Four Out (Jerry Palm)
18% of making the tournament (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 
Cupcakes. Lots and lots of cupcakes. Cupcakes as the eye can see. Why the cupcakes, it’s because that was all Arkansas bothered to play for the first two months of the season. Their best win during that stretch: a 19-12 Indiana who also feasted on cupcakes in the Non-conference schedule. That 12-1 entering SEC play had a huge asterisk marked next to the Razorbacks. What has followed has been a whooping by the SEC elites. The only win by Arkansas to come out of the top half of the conference came in game at home against LSU. A 19-12 record has gotten the Razorbacks a date with the Commodores on Wednesday. 
X-factor: Mason Jones
What they’re playing for: NCAA Tourney Bid 
It is no secret that the Razorback’s hopes of making the dance are dwindling by the day thanks to the combination of surprise conference tournament winners and surprise early exits by teams who will be dancing regardless of their conference tournament performances. Had Arkansas received the bye winning one game would satisfy the committees thirst for a quality win. Now the Razorbacks need to go out and at the very minimum make it to Friday in the tournament in convincing fashion. Razorback fans don’t want to be heading to the NIT for the second year in a row on the dreaded bubble but that is exactly what Arkansas is heading towards. Arkansas will need all of the help it can get in the next week to make sure they secure a spot at the dance. 
No. 2 Auburn
Record: 25-6
SEC Record: 12-6
Status:
5-seed (Joe Lunardi)
5-seed (Jerry Palm)
3-seed (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: Auburn started off the year white hot going into conference play undefeated. The Tigers then proceeded to crush the likes of the SEC lightweights before being dethroned by their archrivals on the road. From their visit to the Crimson Tide the Tigers have won in bulk and loss in pairs. They split the series with the Wildcats and went 0-1 against the. Missouri Tigers 
X-factor: Austin Wiley.
What they’re playing for: Top 4 seeding.
Auburn’s objective is to avoid the 5 vs 12/ 6 vs 11 trap many teams before them have ran into. With the craziest season of College in recent memory, facing a mid-major this season could mean the fall of multiple Power 6 teams. Auburn knows this all too well. New Mexico State anyone. If the Tigers want to avoid teams like the New Mexico State, they need to at least play on Selection Sunday. That would include facing one of two SEC teams (Missouri and Texas A&M), who the Tigers have yet to win against on Friday and a likely date with LSU. Should the Auburn Tigers go all the way in the SEC tournament, a top-four seed is all but guaranteed. 
No. 5 Florida 
Record: 19-12, SEC Record: 11-7
Status:
9-seed (Joe Lunardi)
9-seed (Jerry Palm)
8-seed (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 14 quadrant one games. That’s how many quality teams Florida had to face throughout the duration of their 2019-2020 basketball season. Florida has held their own against the NCAA elite going 5-9 against quadrant one teams including victories against Xavier and Auburn. However, losses to Missouri, Ole Miss and blowing an 18-point lead at home to Kentucky raises concerns about the legitimacy of the Gators going into a potential NCAA Tournament bid.
X-factor: Keyontae Johnson
What they’re playing for: NCAA tournament appearance.
It may be a simple proposition considering all networks have the Gators relatively safe from any bubble danger, but with the amount of bubble busters lurking across the country, Florida fans should remain on high alert. Florida will have a bye going into the SEC tournament and will face the winner of the Ole Miss vs Georgia game taking place on Wednesdays. All the Gators have to do in Greensville is beat the winner of that game. They take care of business on Thursday; the Gators will be playing with house money the rest of the way. Should the Gators fail however then their spot in the dance might be revoked.
No. 13 Georgia 
Record:15-16 
SEC Record: 5-13
Status:
No tournament (Joe Lunardi)
No tournament (Jerry Palm)
No tournament (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap:  
Despite having future NBA lottery pick Anthony Edwards, the Bulldogs have been unable to gain any traction from last season. The Bulldogs went down two back to back four game losing streaks during the middle of conference play and losing three of their last four games. The Bulldogs did manage to pick up quality wins against the likes of Memphis and Auburn but failed to find good wins beyond that. 
X-factor: Anthony Edwards
What they’re playing for: NIT 
With the star of Anthony Edwards on the Bulldogs roster, the Bulldogs need to at least make the NIT for this season. Any other result for Georgia would be nothing short of a colossal failure. That’s going to be an uphill battle as the Bulldogs would need to go at least .500. That means wins against Ole Miss and Florida must be acquired before bowing out to the Bulldogs in the west. It will be a daunting tasks for Georgia to achieve this and they will need more than just Anthony Edwards to get the Bulldogs dancing in the NIT 
No. 1 Kentucky
Record: 25-6
SEC Record: 15-3
Status:
2-seed (Joe Lunardi)
4-seed (Jerry Palm)
3-seed (Team Ranking Brackets)
 
Season recap: 
Let’s go back to November 12th, 2019. Kentucky is riding back to Rupp Arena sky high after beating the preseason #1 ranked team in the country Michigan. What proceeded on that night was nothing short of pure hysteria coming out of the college basketball landscape. The University of Kentucky losses to Evansville University, on their own home floor. Hard to believe that happened this season. Kentucky however wants you to forget about that night; they’ve gone on to claim the #1 seed in the SEC to prove a point. Other than that, on glorious night it has been the status quo for the Wildcats only losing to South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee during their campaign.   
X-factor: Tyrese Maxey
 
What they’re playing for: 1-seed
Kentucky has been knocking on the doorstep of a number one seed for quite some time but hasn’t been able to reach the top of the ladder since their tumble to Evansville. Yet, the Wildcats have a straight path towards the #1 seed and a trip to Saint Louis; win the SEC Tournament. If the Wildcats add on to their 27 SEC titles, they will need to do what they’ve been doing throughout the year: play as a team.
No. 3 LSU
Record:21-10
SEC Record:12-6
Status:
8-seed (Joe Lunardi)
10-seed (Jerry Palm)
7-seed (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 
LSU has been a team that has hung on the top 25 for a few weeks now. While the Purple Tigers haven’t been able to take down the duo at the top of the conference, the Tigers have done is keep those games competitive. That could be very useful for LSU should the Tigers make it to the weekend. Concerns should also be raised about the Tigers legitimacy as they losses far too many they should have won such as VCU, Vanderbilt and Arkansas. 
X-factor: Emmitt Williams
 
What they’re playing for: Securing a ticket to the dance.
The biggest thing for the Tigers heading into the SEC tournament is to receive a quality win that would legitimize their ticket to the dance. Else you can easily do this thanks to ooh how the seating turned out and should the Tigers get past South Carolina that will be enough in the eyes of the community to make it pass the opening in round in Dayton.  
However, an unexpected loss to South Carolina were and the other team that Alice you may face during the third round of conference play could move the Tigers my answer the bubble during the 11th hour of the season. And with main teams in the SEC vying for tournament spots this season, a bad loss for the purple Tigers in Baton Rouge could spell the end for or the team being investigated by the FBI. 
No. 12 Ole Miss 
Record:15-16
SEC Record: 6-12
Status:
No tournament (Joe Lunardi)
No tournament (Jerry Palm)
No tournament (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: In a year of absolute chaos and anarchy in the world of college basketball, almost seems to be the only normal team out there in the country. Unlike most Rebels, the the Ole Miss Rebels outcomes this season have been predictable and tame. The Rebels, only game worth noting was a blowout win against their Mississippi counterparts almost as if all of the imbalance of Ole Miss’s season was wadded up in that one outing. Ole Miss fans should be grateful just to have beaten the Bulldogs once this season. the Bulldogs in response Gave the Rebels an extra day stay in Nashville as the 12 seed in the SEC tournament. 
X-factor: Breein Tyre
What they’re playing for: Pride
The record for the rebels may indicate an outside shy at the NIT, but what Ole Miss lacks is it quality waiting on the year. Sure, all miss was able to go on a 3-game win streak against the likes of South Carolina Florida and Mississippi State but other than those three games what have the rebels really done to earn any shot at NIT bid. The biggest thing for the rebels is to build upon what they have right now and look to play spoiler for her teams like Florida and quite frankly possibly in Kentucky. They’ll have to get by the Georgia Bulldogs who still have an outside shot NIT bid but all Ole Miss is really playing for is momentum and pride for the 2020 season. 
No. 4 Mississippi State 
Record:20-11
SEC Record: 11-7
Status:
Next Four out (Joe Lunardi)
First Four out (Jerry Palm)
Round of 68 (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 
Mississippi State has not yet recovered from their loss to Liberty in the round of 64 last season. The Bulldogs have struggled to find a quality win this season with their biggest wind coming against Florida on the road back in January. since that victory it’ been two wins forward and one win back. addition losses to teams like Oklahoma Villanova and New Mexico State University do not bode well for any postseason chances Mississippi State might have. 
X-factor: Reggie Perry
What they’re playing for: NCAA Tournament Bid
Mississippi State’s predicament heading into the SEC tournament is one of questioning. on one hand, The Bulldogs entered tournament play as the fourth seed in the SEC and had the double by going into the tournament. On the other hand, The Bulldogs benefited from one of the easiest SEC schedules out there playing in Ole Miss, Mizzou, Alabama, and Arkansas twice each. when you look at the resume of Mississippi State the one thing, you’ll notice is a lack of a quality win. Games like Florida make you a respectable team but Mississippi state’s missing that one game that sets him apart from the rest of the bubble teams. And the Bulldogs want to make it off of Jerry Palm and Joe Lunardi’s first 4 out, you going to they will need to receive at least one quality win in the tournament which will most likely have to send from the Florida game. From there anything that Bulldogs do is extremely helpful to their reputation. If Mississippi State can advance to the semifinals beat number one ranked Kentucky, then you will see the Bulldogs dancing in March Madness.
No. 10 Missouri
Record:15-16
SEC Record:7-11
Status:
No tournament (Joe Lunardi)
No tournament (Jerry Palm)
No tournament (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 
Missouri is a team that came in both excite you and frustrate you at the same exact time. one day they’re competing extremely close to the likes of Xavier an LSU the next day they’ll lose to Charleston southern and the day after that just when you think they’re done they’ll go out and be over by 10. Missouri struggled heavily during the first half of the SEC play and I’m like most teams in the SEC they struggle in the first part of the regular season as well. Once again, we make the argument of losing to Charleston southern 68-80 is going to haunt Cuonzo Martin squad for a very long time. the Tiger say get better in the second half of SEC play however whatever the Tigers put into the second half of the season was only able to grant them a buy into Thursday. 
X-factor: Xavier Pinson 
What they’re playing for: NIT Bid
Call a long shot but the Tigers bode well in the in the SEC tournament thanks to their seeding. the Tigers will play Texas in A&M on Thursday, and team that has bested Missouri twice throughout the season. that may sound like doom and gloom, however both games that the Tigers loss were games that were extremely competitive. It is very rare for a team to be swept 3-0 in conference play. Should the Tigers get past the Aggies, they will square off against the Auburn Tigers who they beat in Columbia. If the Tigers are able to get lightning the strike twice against the team going to the dance, they may be able to snatch and then NIT by going .500 overall on the year. 
No. 6 South Carolina 
Record: 18-13
SEC Record: 10-8 
Status: 
NIT (Joe Lunardi)
NIT (Jerry Palm)
4% to make the tournament (Team Ranking Brackets)
 
Season recap: 
South Carolina should be a shoo in for the SEC tournament. They have the quality wins against Kentucky And Virginia. they went 18 and 13 in the regular season. They managed to keep games against teams there making the tournament such as Northern Iowa, Auburn, LSU, and Florida respectable. They were even taking care of SEC teams that they should have been in January. Keyword here is January. That’s what leads to the Gamecocks bubble predicament. South Carolina has lost four of its last six games to close out the regular season. Losses to Mississippi State and now as you may not be bad on the surface but combine that with losses to Alabama and Vanderbilt and you could see where Columbia SC might have a problem. Oh, and that little loss to Stenson University all the way back in December. That may or may not have and the impact on whether or not the Gamecocks make the tournament or not.
 
X-factor: Jermaine Couisnar
 
What are you playing for: NCAA Tournament Bid
 
Yes even with a 4% chance the Gamecocks could still make noise in the SEC loud enough for the committee that here. The Gamecocks don’t have any opponents lined up just yet, for they will have to wait the winner of Vanderbilt versus Arkansas, but the Gamecocks can avenged their loss should they play a Commodores on Thursday if they meet. When against the Razorbacks also wouldn’t hurt South Carolina but they will have to win comfortably do you have an impact on their reputation heading into the tournament. From there the Gamecocks true test lies ahead South Carolina can make a huge statement to the committee by beating I was you on Friday Hank is even in advanced their status further by beating over on Saturday. If South Carolina where to surprise the SEC landscape by making it to the Sunday match against most likely Kentucky , then their efforts to get to Sunday’s matchup might just sneak South Carolina back into the dance of 68. 
No. 8 Tennessee  
Record:17-14
SEC Record:11-6
Status:
NIT (Joe Lunardi)
NIT (Jerry Palm)
NIT (Team Ranking Brackets)
 
Season recap:
Oh, how the mighty Vols have fallen. After starting the college basketball landscape last season by making the Sweet 16 camera The Tennessee volunteers have fallen off the cliff. That may be in part to having faced our full strength Memphis, Wisconsin, Kansas all during the non-conference portion of the season. Their conference schedule was not much easier having to go up against the likes of Auburn and Kentucky twice in the final ten games of the regular season. Although the Vols have gotten a win against Kentucky, their 17-14 overall record will not be doing them any favors in the eyes of the committee.  
X-factor: Jordan Bowden
What they’re playing for: High NIT Bid.
Wow the Tennessee Vols may not be able to reach the tournament outside of winning the tournament, the Vols can put themselves in a position where they can earn a higher seed in the NIT tournament. To achieve this, they will first need to beat Alabama on Thursday. They play well against the Crimson Tide and they might find themselves to be the host of a few an ID games. Tennessee can also do the rest of the conference a favor by beating Kentucky on Friday. Well not may not benefit Tennessee getting into the NCAA tournament that might be enough to push them closer to I’m number one or two seed in the NIT. 
No. 7 Texas A&M
Record: 16-14
SEC Record: 10-8
Status:
NIT (Joe Lunardi)
NIT (Jerry Palm)
NIT (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 
Who would have ever thought The Aggies to not only get a bye on the first day of the SEC tournament but to be above .500 in SEC play. The Aggies had the worst possible start to their season an SEC team could have. with losses to Temple, Fairfield camera In Texas, there seemed to be no way the Aggies click roll to a plus .500 record in the SEC. Ever since mid-January, the Aggies have been a nascence to the rest of the SEC. They even shocked Auburn on their final road trip of the season. If the Aggies continue to heat up, now would be the perfect time for them to make a deep push into the tournament. 
X-factor: Josh Nebo
What they’re playing for: High NIT Bid
Like the Vols, the Aggies well look to wreak havoc on the rest of the SEC by playing the spoiler role. They’ll first have to get through the Missouri Tigers who they beat twice this season. Should they sweep the Tigers for the third time this season then the Aggies can trying to play spoiler to the Auburn Tigers once again. However long The Aggies remain in the tournament camera the higher their NIT bid will be. keep an eye out for this team if they get to Friday in the tournament.  
No. 14 Vanderbilt 
Record: 11-20
SEC Record: 3-15
Status:
No tournament (Joe Lunardi)
No tournament (Jerry Palm)
No tournament (Team Ranking Brackets)
Season recap: 
Also now Vanderbilt is trying to win. Well it might be a little too little well too late. Vanderbilt only one eight games outside of the SEC. Eight games. What transpired next is traditional band about basketball; rusty, forgettable, and deprived of all life. What came as a result of their one win in January to LSU, seventh straight losses in conference play. At least The Commodores are making a valiant attempt to be relevant in the SEC tournament by winning in two of their last three games but this team will be going nowhere barring a miracle this season. 
X-factor: Aaron Nesmith
What they’re playing for: Pride 
unlike every other team in the SEC tournament this year Vanderbilt cannot lose. Why ain’t can’t they lose you might ask? Because they can’t lose what they don’t already have. to even win one game in the SEC tournament and should be by all accounts a successful defense of the Homeland before being destroyed by the Gamecocks. If you’re a Vanderbilt fan all you are looking for is momentum going into next season which will probably be more of the same because this is Vanderbilt basketball. 
 Prediction: On paper the SEC tournament looks to be a battle between Auburn and Kentucky 4 the other Mac bailed into the NCA tournament. However, it wouldn’t surprise any of us that an outside team word this will be a name get the automatic bid for themselves. And what the college basketball has been and the upset meter reaching an 11 on the scale it’s impossible to tell who will come out on top. But if I had to make a. prediction, I would choose the Tigers out of LSU to shock the conference and when the SEC tournament. Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers or the Kentucky Wildcats for my jinxing of LSU and your conference title to go along with it. 

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