If the season ended today, the SEC would be represented by Florida, South Carolina, LSU, and Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, meaning that for the first time since 1991, the Kentucky Wildcats would not be hearing their names called for the Big Dance.
It has been without question a down year in the SEC for basketball, even on the women’s side as Tennessee is going into tomorrow’s game against Kentucky losing seven of their last nine games, including a loss to #7 Duke on Monday night in Knoxville.
So it’s been tough on both sides of the aisles.
While it was no telling that Tennessee and Florida would get into the Big Dance, South Carolina and LSU has been a surprise so far this season.
With Trent Johnson taking over in Baton Rouge, the Bayou Bengals are leading the SEC West going into their matchup with Arkansas tonight and in position to win their first SEC title since Glen Davis and company did it back in 2006.
The Gamecocks, who still haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 1973, are in a good position along with Tennessee and Florida to win the SEC East. Recently, the Gamecocks have provided several heart-stopping moments for their fans including game-winning shots against Kentucky and Florida and many heart patients to increase their dosage for their medicine.
For teams like Kentucky, Mississippi State, and dare should I say, Vanderbilt, the final three weeks of the regular season is a huge test to see where they could end up coming March.
Kentucky has a couple of nice wins against West Virginia and Tennessee in Knoxville but hardly anything else worth even noting except maybe their win against Kansas State, who could find themselves in the NIT with the Wildcats as well.
Mississippi State’s resume is pretty much shaky as well. With an RPI of 85 and only one quality win coming against Kentucky in Lexington, the Bulldogs need to do a lot of work beginning tonight as they take on South Carolina in Starkville.
For Vanderbilt, an RPI of 100 and strength of schedule at 107 may not bode well enough for the ‘Dores to make it into the Big Dance. Although the Commodores did beat Kentucky Tuesday and Ole Miss on Feb. 7th, there’s very little there for the Selection Committee to consider.
So what does this all mean? Judging from the three teams I threw out there, Kentucky could sneak in as one of the last four teams in, the same way that Baylor snuck in last season.
Their RPI is a respectable 59, the strength of schedule is a bit questionable at 80, and they’re fighting with Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina for the SEC East lead.
So why not?
