CBS Sports: Conference Catchup on SEC Basketball

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TEAM COMMENTARY IN 140 CHARACTERS OR LESS

Alabama: Anthony Grant has made just one NCAA Tournament in five years at Alabama, which is why he'll enter this season under pressure.

Arkansas: Mike Anderson has the pieces to make his first NCAA Tournament at Arkansas thanks, in part, to the return of in-state big Bobby Portis.

Auburn: The arrival of Bruce Pearl has energized Auburn's program and will almost certainly make the Tigers relevant on and off of the court.

Florida: Billy Donovan has turned into one of the sport's most consistent coaches, and he'll probably make a fifth straight Elite Eight this season.

Georgia: The majority of the team that finished tied with Kentucky in the SEC last season is back, meaning Mark Fox should make the NCAA Tournament.

Kentucky: Kentucky won't go undefeated, probably. But the Wildcats will have a better shot to do it this season than they ever did last season.

LSU: The return of Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin should give Johnny Jones a great chance to make his first NCAA Tournament at LSU.

Ole Miss: The post-Marshall-Henderson era at Ole Miss is now officially underway. Who knows how it'll go? But it'll surely be quieter.

Mississippi State: Rick Ray knew he had a tough job when he took it, and he's still in a total rebuilding mode that's going to take time.

Missouri: Losing Frank Haith to Tulsa probably won't hurt Mizzou as much as losing Jabari Brown and Jordan Clarkson to the NBA Draft will hurt Mizzou.

South Carolina: Frank Martin enters his third season at South Carolina still looking for his first postseason appearance since leaving Kansas State.

Tennessee: I'm not saying Donnie Tyndall is Bruce Pearl, but he's the closest thing to BP that UT could've possibly hired when Cuonzo Martin left.

Texas A&M: Things haven't been going well at Texas A&M under Billy Kennedy, and the loss of Jamal Jones certainly won't help reverse the trend.

Vanderbilt: Kevin Stallings lost two assistants this offseason, but that's nothing compared to all of the players he lost before last season.

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EARLY GUESS AT THE TOP FIVE IN THE LEAGUE

1. Kentucky
2. Florida
3. Arkansas
4. Georgia
5. LSU

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EARLY GUESS AT THE ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

G: Andrew Harrison (Kentucky)
G: Aaron Harrison (Kentucky)
F: Charles Mann (Georgia)
F: Jordan Mickey (LSU)
F: Bobby Portis (Arkansas)

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