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Five SEC teams in early preseason basketball ranking
Posted on 5/26/17 at 1:39 am
Posted on 5/26/17 at 1:39 am
Fox Top 25
24. Texas A&M
22. Arkansas
16. Alabama
12. Florida
3. Kentucky
24. Texas A&M
quote:
From the second the off-season began the Aggies were one of the sport’s biggest winners, courtesy of Robert Williams' decision to return to school. Williams had been projected by most as a Top 15 pick and when coupled with the return of leading scorer and rebounder Tyler Davis and sharp-shooter D.J. Hogg the Aggies could be a dark horse SEC title contender. And since our initial “Way Too Early Top 25” in April things have only gotten better in College Station, as A&M has added Marquette transfer Duane Wilson. He will be eligible to play right away.
22. Arkansas
quote:
Things were already trending upwards for Razorbacks hoops (a third place finish in the SEC regular season, a trip to the conference tourney title game, a near upset of eventual national champion North Carolina in the second round of the tournament) and they were made even better when second- and third-leading scorers Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford both withdrew their names from the NBA Draft a few weeks ago. Add them in with a loaded recruiting class and the Razorbacks should get back to the second round of the NCAA Tournament — and possibly beyond.
16. Alabama
quote:
We had Alabama higher than virtually any other outlet in our “Way Too Early Top 25” after the Final Four, and after watching five-star signee Collin Sexton dominate for a week at the Ball Is Life All-American Game (where he earned MVP honors) we might not have had them high enough. Sexton is truly a game-changing talent and future lottery pick, who combined with returnees like Braxton Key and Donta Hall, as well as fellow freshman John Petty, could push Alabama not only to the NCAA Tournament, but potentially into the second weekend.
12. Florida
quote:
The Gators were a few short minutes away from the Final Four this season and return most of their key players in Mike White's third season in Gainesville. That includes leading scorer KeVaughn Allen, guard Chris Chiozza and John Egbunu, who will be back after suffering a torn ACL towards the end of the season. The Gators did lose production on the wing from Canyon Barry and Devin Robinson (who declared for, and stayed in the draft) but replaced them nicely with the addition of transfer Egor Koulechov. The Ukrainian-born forward averaged 18 points per game at Rice last season and is eligible to play right away.
3. Kentucky
quote:
John Calipari never disappoints on the recruiting trail, but even by the insane standard he has set in Lexington, it was not only a banner year, but a banner last few weeks specifically. First, came the surprise commitment of five-star forward Kevin Knox in early May (fittingly on the day of the Kentucky Derby), who unexpectedly chose the Wildcats over a host of schools, including Duke and North Carolina. More importantly, Kentucky got the best possible news at the NBA Draft deadline, when Hamidou Diallo — who enrolled for the second semester this season but did not play — decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to Lexington. Those two are part of a recruiting class which features six of the Top 25 high players in America, meaning that while Kentucky will be insanely young next year, they’ll be insanely talented as well.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 2:29 am to GatorsGators
No LSU...the list is shite!
Posted on 5/26/17 at 2:43 am to GatorsGators
Here come the Mizzou fans. I've posted this before and they laugh, but I'm not convinced they make the tourney.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 3:37 am to TigahJay
quote:
Here come the Mizzou fans. I've posted this before and they laugh, but I'm not convinced they make the tourney.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 6:37 am to GatorsGators
Bama ranked ahead of Arkansas? Interesting.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 6:49 am to TigahJay
quote:
Here come the Mizzou fans. I've posted this before and they laugh, but I'm not convinced they make the tourney.
But they'll chime in Vegas has them a 20-1 odd favorites to win it all doe.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 6:52 am to TT9
Bama should be the 3rd highest SEC team in predictions. They had a solid team last year and added major talent at their weakest positions.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 7:01 am to GatorsGators
I wish we were in the 20-25 range, instead of setting expectations so high for Sexton and Petty. No doubt they're game changers, but I'd wait until we see how well they transition to the college level. Plus Sexton wants to play at light speed and always push the ball up court, without getting the offense set.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 7:22 am to Gary Busey
Avery needs to let my boy, Lawson, eat!
Posted on 5/26/17 at 8:03 am to GatorsGators
jon rothstein has a slightly different take.
LINK
4. KENTUCKY
Key Newcomers: Hamidou Diallo, Nick Richards, P.J. Washington, Quade Green, Jarred Vanderbilt, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Knox
Key Losses: De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Isaiah Briscoe, Isaac Humphries
Projected Starting Five:
PG Quade Green
SG Hamidou Diallo
SF Kevin Knox
PF P.J. Washington
C Nick Richards
Projected Bench: Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
12. FLORIDA
Key Losses: Canyon Barry, Kasey Hill, Justin Leon, Devin Robinson, Eric Hester
Key Newcomers: Jalen Hudson (transfer), Isaiah Stokes, DeAundre Ballard, Chase Johnson, Egor Koulechov
Projected Starting Five:
PG Chris Chiozza
SG KeVaughn Allen
SF Jalen Hudson
PF Keith Stone
C John Egbunu
Projected Bench: Isaiah Stokes, DeAundre Ballard, Chase Johnson, Kevarrius Hayes, Gorjok Gak, Egor Koulechov
20. TEXAS A&M
Key Losses: None
Key Newcomers: J.J. Caldwell, Jay Jay Chandler, Savion Flagg, Duane Wilson
Projected Starting Five:
PG J.J. Caldwell
SG Admon Gilder
SF D.J. Hogg
PF Robert Williams
C Tyler Davis
Projected Bench: Tonny Trocha-Morelos, Jay Jay Chandler, Savion Flagg, Duane Wilson
24. ALABAMA
Key Losses: Shannon Hale, Jimmie Taylor
Key Newcomers: Collin Sexton, John Petty, Alex Reese, Herb Jones, Daniel Giddens (transfer)
Projected Starting Five:
PG Dazon Ingram
SG Collin Sexton
SF John Petty
PF Braxton Key
C Daniel Giddens
Projected Bench: Riley Norris, Ar’Mond Davis, Avery Johnson Jr., Alex Reese, Herb Jones, Donta Hall
LINK
4. KENTUCKY
Key Newcomers: Hamidou Diallo, Nick Richards, P.J. Washington, Quade Green, Jarred Vanderbilt, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Knox
Key Losses: De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Isaiah Briscoe, Isaac Humphries
Projected Starting Five:
PG Quade Green
SG Hamidou Diallo
SF Kevin Knox
PF P.J. Washington
C Nick Richards
Projected Bench: Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
12. FLORIDA
Key Losses: Canyon Barry, Kasey Hill, Justin Leon, Devin Robinson, Eric Hester
Key Newcomers: Jalen Hudson (transfer), Isaiah Stokes, DeAundre Ballard, Chase Johnson, Egor Koulechov
Projected Starting Five:
PG Chris Chiozza
SG KeVaughn Allen
SF Jalen Hudson
PF Keith Stone
C John Egbunu
Projected Bench: Isaiah Stokes, DeAundre Ballard, Chase Johnson, Kevarrius Hayes, Gorjok Gak, Egor Koulechov
20. TEXAS A&M
Key Losses: None
Key Newcomers: J.J. Caldwell, Jay Jay Chandler, Savion Flagg, Duane Wilson
Projected Starting Five:
PG J.J. Caldwell
SG Admon Gilder
SF D.J. Hogg
PF Robert Williams
C Tyler Davis
Projected Bench: Tonny Trocha-Morelos, Jay Jay Chandler, Savion Flagg, Duane Wilson
24. ALABAMA
Key Losses: Shannon Hale, Jimmie Taylor
Key Newcomers: Collin Sexton, John Petty, Alex Reese, Herb Jones, Daniel Giddens (transfer)
Projected Starting Five:
PG Dazon Ingram
SG Collin Sexton
SF John Petty
PF Braxton Key
C Daniel Giddens
Projected Bench: Riley Norris, Ar’Mond Davis, Avery Johnson Jr., Alex Reese, Herb Jones, Donta Hall
Posted on 5/26/17 at 8:17 am to Uncle Gunnysack
I know you will be bad in football next year but to be looking forward to basketball season already
I do not think that is even happening in Lexington
I do not think that is even happening in Lexington
Posted on 5/26/17 at 8:38 am to TigahJay
MU is not going to win the natty or even the SEC for that matter this year, but, one thing is for sure: they will finally have division 1 type talent on the court this coming season. The days of marking an easy W on your schedule are over. The conference as a whole is making tremendous strides in basketball and it should be an awesome season for all of us to enjoy.
This post was edited on 5/26/17 at 8:57 am
Posted on 5/26/17 at 8:43 am to The Anointed One
psshh...and you dont think lsu fans go straight into baseball mode once football is over?
Posted on 5/26/17 at 9:01 am to Uncle Gunnysack
At least make it to an Elite 8 first before you act like you have had some success in basketball
Posted on 5/26/17 at 9:10 am to The Anointed One
nice, obscure benchmark for success (that i never even implied). not sure what your problem is, but ill bet its hard to pronounce.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 9:16 am to Uncle Gunnysack
quote:
not sure what your problem is
It was this
Posted on 5/26/17 at 9:28 am to Uncle Gunnysack
You acted like A&M is a much better program than LSU in basketball
Face the facts LSU dick slaps A&M in all 3 of the major sports
You should be use to it by now after all the years the Longhorns abused you
Face the facts LSU dick slaps A&M in all 3 of the major sports
You should be use to it by now after all the years the Longhorns abused you
Posted on 5/26/17 at 9:32 am to TT9
quote:
Bama ranked ahead of Arkansas? Interesting.
We shall see about that.
Posted on 5/26/17 at 9:47 am to The Anointed One
quote:first off, at "three" major sports. baseball isnt a major sport. but lets just assume that it is, even though it isnt:
Face the facts LSU dick slaps A&M in all 3 of the major sports
a&m is 7-4 against LSU in basketball since we joined the SEC
a&m has taken 3 out of the 5 series against LSU since we joined the SEC
This post was edited on 5/26/17 at 9:48 am
Posted on 5/26/17 at 10:23 am to TigahJay
Do preseason polls mean anything anyway? Let's see how it plays out.
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