The 2016-17 SEC basketball season is finally here.
While it may take a while for everyone’s enthusiasm to jump through the roof, mine’s already there.
I’ll once again be covering SEC basketball (and general college basketball) for various publications this season, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to disagree with my opinions.
For those that don’t, your check is in the mail.
But with the season set to get underway, here’s 28 random thoughts and tidbits on how things could unfold in the SEC this year.
1. Kentucky is really, really good
The 156-63 exhibition win over Asbury College meant nothing from a competition standpoint. However, it’s clear that the Wildcats are loaded with talent.
There’s a reason why John Calipari has hinted at this being his best overall team from top to bottom in Lexington.
I can’t see anyone challenging them for the SEC regular season crown.
2. Avery Johnson is the man
No one expects Alabama to contend for an SEC championship this season, but the Crimson Tide are much closer than you think.
There’s enough talent on the roster this year to surprise some people, and his recruiting efforts are creating a bright future in Tuscaloosa.
2017 commits John Petty and Collin Sexton are huge gets for this program.
3. Riley LaChance will bounce back from his sophomore slump
LaChance regressed in year two at Vanderbilt, which few people saw coming.
The good news is that shooters always work through confidence issues, and with a new head coach, LaChance will play a big role in Vandy’s offense this season.
I wrote about him more in-depth back in July.
4. Georgia and Arkansas feel very similar
Both teams have lethal inside-out combos. The question is, will there be enough around them to make a run at an NCAA tournament bid?
The Bulldogs feel like they’re in a better place to do that, but Arkansas does have depth thanks to several talented transfers.
ESPN SEC Network analyst Pat Bradley and I discussed the Razorbacks’ chances on Episode 3 of Southeast Hoops.
5. It’s all about to come together at Auburn
Bruce Pearl’s team will make significant progress this season and beyond.
Pearl has compiled one of the best 2017 recruiting classes in the country, so it’s just a matter of time before he has the Tigers as a yearly SEC title contender.
I’m higher on them this season than most, but frontcourt concerns limit their ceiling.
6. Ole Miss will probably find a way to win 20 games yet again
Although Andy Kennedy’s resume at Ole Miss lacks important NCAA tournament wins, he’s won 20 games in eight out of 10 seasons there.
He knows he doesn’t have a Stefan Moody or Marshall Henderson, but what he does have is balance and an underrated talent in big man Sebastian Saiz.
7. Braxton Key is Alabama’s most versatile player
This goes back to what Avery Johnson told me at SEC Media Day (full Media Day column for those interested):
“He’s a guy we can put anywhere on the floor except for the 5-position. He has an NBA 3-man type of body, and he gives us a lot of versatility.”
Key has had excellent coaching throughout his high school career, and he’s a natural fit for where Alabama’s program is headed.
8. How many SEC teams could make the NCAA tournament?
In my mind, there’s seven teams with NCAA potential: Kentucky, Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Arkansas, and Alabama.
How many will actually make it? Four, if I had to make a guess today.
9. Lack of pressure could help LSU
Antonio Blakeney said at SEC Media Day that the Tigers definitely felt less pressure than last season. That tends to happen when you lose your superstar and had Top 10 expectations.
There’s enough talent on this roster to win games, but on the flip side…..
10. Everyone’s confidence in Johnny Jones is at an all-time low
What confidence LSU fans had in their head coach went out the door with the 71-38 obliteration at the hands of Texas A&M in the SEC tournament semifinal.
Not sure I’ve ever seen a team with that much talent lose a game the way that they did.
It’s hard to see LSU finishing any higher than 10th, so it’ll be interesting to see what Jones’ future holds in Baton Rouge.
11. Missouri has to improve, right?
The improvement may not show via the final standings (it’s hard to see the Tigers finishing anywhere but last unless LSU and Tennessee really regress), but this team must be better.
Kim Anderson is another coach with an uncertain future, although I still think it’s ludicrous that Frank Haith has a job.
12. Detrick Mostella will be Tennessee’s playmaker
It’s tough to lose a player like Kevin Punter. Luckily, Rick Barnes has a talented junior in Detrick Mostella that will pick up the slack.
I loved Mostella’s finish to last season, and if he plays with that type of tenacity and confidence, the Vols could be interesting with decent help around him.
13. The team that has the best chance of finishing lower than expected is…..
Probably Texas A&M due to how much they lost from last season (Danuel House, Jalen Jones, Alex Caruso, Anthony Collins).
But I’m in no way confident about that choice.
14. The team that has the best chance of finishing higher than expected is…..
I’ll cheat and say both Alabama and Auburn.
Both fan bases can love and hate my prediction equally since I know they aren’t the best of friends.
15. South Carolina is the great unknown
I’ve seen the Gamecocks picked high, I’ve seen the Gamecocks picked low. In other words, it’s just another season for Frank Martin and company.
They probably aren’t winning 25 games again, but you just never know.
16. If I had to start a program from scratch, the SEC head coach I’d take would be…..
Avery Johnson. Yes, I realize Calipari would be the obvious choice for most of you.
I just think Johnson would be the best fit for turning nothing into something special.
17. Everyone will learn to love Yante Maten
Although his opponents probably won’t. Maten was the talk of the town at SEC Media Day, with coaches like Ben Howland and Andy Kennedy giving the Georgia forward high praise.
Howland called him the most underrated player in the SEC. Kennedy said he’d be his preseason Player of the Year choice if it wasn’t Kingsley.
Simply put, Maten will be outstanding.
18. What on earth will Mississippi State look like?
Speaking of Howland, he has a ridiculously talented team. The problem is that the Bulldogs are one of the youngest teams in college basketball.
If the talent outplays the youth (and I.J. Ready provides the leadership needed for these youngsters), here’s yet another team to keep an eye on.
19. The most improved player in the SEC will be…..
Texas A&M center Tyler Davis. And that’s a scary thought.
20. The best shooter in the SEC will be…..
Let Arkansas guard Dusty Hannahs and Vandy guard Matthew Fisher-Davis have a three-point shootout, and then I’ll give you my answer.
21. How hot is Mark Fox’s seat at Georgia?
I’m not buying into this one. It may be lukewarm if the Bulldogs miss the NCAA tournament, but he’s not going anywhere.
22. The player that finishes with the most blocked shots will be…..
Vandy center Luke Kornet. He’s really tall.
23. The most intriguing non-conference game will be……
Plenty of ways you could go here, but I’ll take Florida vs. Duke at Madison Square Garden on December 6.
This game will tell us a lot about whether the Gators can challenge Kentucky.
24. Isaiah Briscoe’s progression will be intriguing to watch
He’ll be the leader on the floor for the Wildcats.
His shooting obviously has to improve for his NBA stock to rise, and I think it will.
25. The player you don’t know yet but will soon enough…..
Ole Miss guard Deandre Burnett. Andy Kennedy loves his scoring ability, and the Miami transfer will add a lot of points for the Rebels.
26. The most exciting player to watch in the SEC this season will be….
Georgia guard J.J. Frazier. Or put the names of the Kentucky freshmen in a hat and draw one.
27. The one number that you need to know heading into the season…..
8. That’s how many current SEC coaches have led their teams to Sweet 16 appearances during their career.
These guys are good, and it’s just a matter of time before some of these programs with newer coaches turn things around.
28. Is Kentucky good enough to win the national championship?
You already know the answer.
Blake Lovell has worked in sports media for over 10 years. He currently covers SEC football and basketball for various publications.