SEC Predictions

Trevor Hass gives us his take on how the SEC will play out this season.

  

(AP Photo/ James Crisp)

   

College basketball is finally here. The SEC looks more formidable and deep than it has in a long time and should have a plethora of teams qualify for the NCAA tournament. The conference alignment is different this year in that all of the teams are in one division, which makes for wild matchups and places extreme importance on certain games. Here are predictions for the 2011-2012 season, with a projected regular season record in parentheses:

1) Kentucky (26-4)-Last year Kentucky was able to make an impressive run to the Final Four. Though they said sayonara to Brandon Knight and Josh Harrellson in the offseason, Darius Miller, Doron Lamb, and Terrence Jones are ready to step up. The Wildcats are both talented and well rounded.

Key games: #2 UK vs. #1 North Carolina (12/3), UK vs. #8 Louisville (12/31)

2) Vanderbilt (23-7)- John Jenkins will aim to lead the Commodores to their most successful season in quite some time. Dealing with the untimely injury of Festus Ezeli will be tough, but Vandy will utilize the leadership of its other four starters to excel.

Key games: #7 Vandy vs. #15 Xavier (11/28), Vandy vs. #10 Florida (2/4)

3) Florida (21-9)- Every year people count the Gators out of national title contention, yet they tend to make a run come March. Billy Donovan’s squad is led by the dynamic duo Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker and will be near the top yet again when it’s all said and done.

Key games: #10 Florida vs. #3 Ohio State (11/15), Florida vs. #5 Syracuse (12/2)

4) Alabama (19-11) -Last year the Tide were deprived of an NCAA berth. This year JaMychal Green is out to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Expect big numbers from the senior forward.

Key games: #17 Alabama vs. Maryland (11/17), Bama vs. Vandy (1/19)

5) Georgia (18-12)- The Bulldogs have four seniors, including guard Gerald Robinson. Robinson averaged 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds per game last year and will be counted on to do even more this season. Coping with the loss of Trey Thompkins will be a menacing task.

Key games: Georgia vs. #24 Cal (11/21), Georgia vs. #22 Cincinnati (12/2)

6) Tennessee (17-13)- Last year was a rebuilding year for Tennessee, as the Bruce Pearl saga curbed the Volunteers’ mojo. This year, the Volunteers will look to regain their form, but doing so could be tough because of the departure of vaunted scorer Scotty Hopson, who signed with Kolossos Rhodes, a Greek team.

Key games: Tenn vs. #6 Duke (11/21), Tenn vs. #9Memphis (1/4)

Projected order of finish, 7-12: Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, LSU, Auburn.

The SEC has a chance to send at least four teams to the NCAA tournament.