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Preseason SEC Basketball Power Rankings from The Athletic

Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:03 am
Posted by volfan30
Member since Jun 2010
40949 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:03 am
Via Kyle Tucker who covers Kentucky and SEC hoops for The Athletic

Here are a few snippets from each team

Full Article

1. Tennessee
This roster looks like it could feature the most raw talent and quality depth in Barnes’ six seasons. In a league that figures to break down in two categories next season — teams relying heavily on elite young talent or overachieving veterans — Tennessee should have both, and is thus the clear favorite.

2. Kentucky
If … and this is a big if … Calipari is flexible enough to change his style, adapt to the parts he has and not stubbornly coach like he still has those dominant frontcourts of old, there is more than enough firepower in the backcourt to contend for another SEC title and make a move in March.

3. Florida
With so much uncertainty on other rosters around the SEC, this one appears to be rock solid. It better be, for Mike White’s sake. His honeymoon at Florida is very much over.

4. Arkansas
This feels like the start of something big in Fayetteville, and challenging for an SEC crown in Year 2 under Musselman would further solidify that notion.

5. LSU
Even with leading scorer and All-SEC selection Skylar Mays (16.7 points) out of eligibility and big man Emmitt Williams (13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds) expected to stay in the draft, the cupboard will hardly be bare in Baton Rouge. Depth is a bit of a concern, though, and Watford is the X-factor. If he’s back, LSU will have as talented a starting five as anyone in the league.

6. Alabama
If Petty and Jones are back, that’s six former top-100 recruits on the roster — not to mention Ellis, the top-rated junior-college combo guard in the country. Oats won 59 games his last two season at Buffalo, including a game in the NCAA Tournament each year, and if he keeps stacking talent like this at Alabama, it’s only a matter of time before he wins big in the SEC too.

7. Auburn
Pearl still has some nice pieces to play around with, and with two available scholarships on the roster, he probably isn’t done adding.

8. South Carolina
This is assuming Lawson pulls out of the NBA Draft again. The outlook plunges if he stays in. Martin will miss his 6-11, All-SEC leading rebounder Maik Kotsar, but the return of Keyshawn Bryant (9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds) on the wing and Justin Minaya (7.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) gives South Carolina four of its top six back from this season.

9. Ole Miss
Even with super scorer Breein Tyree (19.7 points) gone, Ole Miss feels like it could sneak up on the SEC again next season. The Rebels have solid 1-2 punches in the backcourt and frontcourt in Devontae Shuler and Blake Hinson (21.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists combined) plus 6-foot-7 K.J. Buffen and 6-10 Khadim Sy (19.1 points, 11.6 rebounds combined).

10. Texas A&M
We should probably have the Aggies higher, given recent overachievement, but there’s still not quite enough high-end talent on the roster. Don’t worry, though, that’s changing too. Williams already has two top-40 recruits committed in the Class of 2021.

11. Missouri
With essentially the entire roster back and an immediate difference-maker coming in, there is really no excuse for finishing at the bottom of the league again. In Dru Smith (12.7 points, 3.9 assists), Pinson (11.1 points), Mark Smith (10.0 points) and Tilmon (10.1 points, 5.9 rebounds in 2019), there’s enough to make a push for a postseason appearance.

12. Georgia
it’s not great to have a likely top-five pick and finish eight games below .500 in the league. It’s not. Nor is posting a combined record of 27-37 in your first two years, as Tom Crean did. However, this was a total rebuild for Crean, and three of his top four scorers this season were freshmen. All told, he played seven freshmen. And sure, star Anthony Edwards took most of the shots and got most of the attention, but rookies Sahvir Wheeler (9.0 points, 4.5 assists), Toumani Camara (6.6 points, 4.3 rebounds) and Christian Brown (3.4 points) also earned some valuable experience.

13. Mississippi State
There has not been much good news this offseason for Ben Howland. In senior Tyson Carter and early NBA entrants Reggie Perry, Nick Weatherspoon and Robert Woodard II, the Bulldogs are most likely losing their top four scorers. Woodard is the only one technically still considering a return to college, but indications are that’s unlikely.

14. Vanderbilt
Jerry Stackhouse is starting to turn things around. Ending that abysmal 26-game SEC losing streak this season, against LSU no less, was a big first step. But he needs Lee back to make a major leap.

Posted by lsudave1
Baton Metairie
Member since Jan 2005
7234 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:08 am to
Not a bad prediction, but saying LSU lacks depth is dumb. We literally are trying to find a way to fit all of our scholarship players on the roster. Should have just said we are a young team instead.
This post was edited on 5/1/20 at 10:09 am
Posted by mistaken4193
Member since Jan 2017
25482 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:12 am to
quote:

if he keeps stacking talent like this at Alabama, it’s only a matter of time before he wins big in the SEC too.



Mmmhmmm.......Bama Stacked= SEC frickED
Posted by Lynxrufus2012
Central Kentucky
Member since Mar 2020
12061 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:17 am to
Look for Kentucky to land another big or two in this class or a transfer in. If not, Cal may go to pure dribble drive next year. Positionless basketball.
Posted by WildcatMike
Lexington, KY
Member since Dec 2005
41528 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:19 am to
quote:

Look for Kentucky to land another big or two in this class or a transfer in. If not, Cal may go to pure dribble drive next year. Positionless basketball.


Sounds like Sarrs of Wake Forest (7 foot center) is ready to transfer to Kentucky. If that happens, watch out...we be runnin.
Posted by volfan30
Member since Jun 2010
40949 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:20 am to
Sounds like he may head to the EuroLeague if the NCAA doesn't approve one time transfers though. Could be a waiting game with him.
Posted by Notherdamnhog
Huntsville, Al
Member since Aug 2010
5935 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 10:29 am to
Good rundown volfan. Thanks for posting.

With Jones and Joe apparently gone it will depend on how quickly Musselman can get the transfers and incoming freshmen to jell as a team as to how good the Hogs will be next year.

There will defiantly be more talent on the roster than we have had in a long time.
Posted by AA7
Birmingham, AL
Member since Nov 2009
26681 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 11:08 am to
quote:

if he keeps stacking talent like this at Alabama, it’s only a matter of time before he wins big in the SEC too.

Bama’s current class ranking: 17
Bama’s average class ranking from 2017-2019: 17.6

Are you guys still acting like talent is your issue?
Posted by boXerrumble
Member since Sep 2011
52279 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 12:52 pm to
quote:

3. Florida
With so much uncertainty on other rosters around the SEC, this one appears to be rock solid. It better be, for Mike White’s sake. His honeymoon at Florida is very much over.


Anither 8-5 or 9-4 OOC start, great start to SEC play, then a long slump midseason, and a scrape to the finish.

20-13 again. White gone.
Posted by Poker_hog
Member since Mar 2019
2919 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 1:00 pm to
quote:

Arkansas
This feels like the start of something big in Fayetteville, and challenging for an SEC crown in Year 2 under Musselman would further solidify that notion




Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 1:10 pm to
quote:

Bama’s current class ranking: 17
Bama’s average class ranking from 2017-2019: 17.6

Are you guys still acting like talent is your issue?



The big part is we aren't going to be forced to rely on most of those guys from that class (outside of Primo) during their freshmen years. That average ranking also doesn't include Quinnerly (a McDonald's All-American) or Bruner. The depth of talent on the roster if Herb and Petty come back will certainly be better than any team we've had since 2012, probably.

Quinnerly will have to prove he can translate his talent into running the show, Gary/Rojas/Primo/Ellis will have to prove they can contribute and Bruner will have to transition to big time CBB.........but for the first time in a long time we will go 10 deep with SEC quality players, many of whom are experienced.

PG - Quinnerly (5-star)
SG - Shackelford (All-Frosh)
SF - Petty (5-star, 2nd team All-SEC)
PF - H. Jones (SEC All-Defensive Team)
C - Bruner (All-Ivy)

G/F - J. Gary
G/F - Ellis
G/F - Primo
F/C - Rojas
F/C - Reese
C - Davis

Not included: Freshmen Miles and Ambrose-Hylton

Aren't forced to rely on kids who aren't ready, quality players, talented unproven players and an inside/outside quality big in Bruner.

It's a good roster and it's a deep roster that will allow us to play the way the coach wants to play. We'll see how it works out, but the talent level from 1-10 is absolutely better than it has been in a long time (and fit to the system).
This post was edited on 5/1/20 at 1:14 pm
Posted by sand mountainDvalues
Member since Oct 2018
8718 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 1:24 pm to
quote:

3. Florida
With so much uncertainty on other rosters around the SEC, this one appears to be rock solid. It better be, for Mike White’s sake. His honeymoon at Florida is very much over.


are we doing this again
Posted by Serraneaux
South of 30a
Member since Mar 2014
19602 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 1:39 pm to
COT DAMN....VOLS OWNIN' EEERYBODY
Posted by Mithridates6
Member since Oct 2019
8220 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 1:44 pm to
Auburn really need Jalen Greene huh?
Posted by thunderbird1100
GSU Eagles fan
Member since Oct 2007
68289 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 1:51 pm to
quote:

5. LSU
Even with leading scorer and All-SEC selection Skylar Mays (16.7 points) out of eligibility and big man Emmitt Williams (13.3 points, 6.6 rebounds) expected to stay in the draft, the cupboard will hardly be bare in Baton Rouge. Depth is a bit of a concern, though, and Watford is the X-factor. If he’s back, LSU will have as talented a starting five as anyone in the league.


Pretty spot on except depth is really of no concern, especially if we add another big man to close out the class (Cisse). We'll have a full scholarship 13 and the very grand majority of those guys (9-10) are ready to go. I guess things could be a bit different if O'Neal cant go as a transfer.

Instead of depth, I probably would say experience/chemistry since it'll be 9 new players on the roster.
This post was edited on 5/1/20 at 1:55 pm
Posted by volfan30
Member since Jun 2010
40949 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 6:13 pm to
Depth I think is referring to the frontcourt if Watford leaves and O'Neal is ineligible along with LeBlanc (for the first semester). Agreed though that it could have been worded better.
Posted by Hugh McElroy
Member since Sep 2013
17330 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 6:22 pm to
quote:

10. Texas A&M
We should probably have the Aggies higher, given recent overachievement, but there’s still not quite enough high-end talent on the roster. Don’t worry, though, that’s changing too. Williams already has two top-40 recruits committed in the Class of 2021.


Perfect. That's exactly right.
Posted by GatorsGators
Member since Oct 2012
13454 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 6:32 pm to
We are pretty loaded

Appleby
Locke
Lewis
Keyontae
Payne

And Nembhard/Mann (whichever returns), Glover, Duruji, and Ruzhentsev for depth
Posted by mikeboss550
Member since Apr 2013
10670 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 6:38 pm to
quote:


8. South Carolina
This is assuming Lawson pulls out of the NBA Draft again. The outlook plunges if he stays in. Martin will miss his 6-11, All-SEC leading rebounder Maik Kotsar, but the return of Keyshawn Bryant (9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds) on the wing and Justin Minaya (7.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) gives South Carolina four of its top six back from this season.


Martin will as usual lose WTF games in ooc then have the team back on the bubble only to fall apart at the end of the season, just like always.
Posted by ALA2262
Cumming, GA
Member since Jun 2016
1683 posts
Posted on 5/1/20 at 7:32 pm to
Jeff Goodman's Preseason Top 50 for 2020-21 - Stadium
Did your school make the cut?

18. Alabama
Last season: 16-15, 8-10 in SEC
Lose (3): G James “Beetle” Bolden (8.5 ppg), G Jaylen Forbes (Transferred, 2.7 ppg), PF Raymond Hawkins (Transferred, 0.0 ppg – 6 games)
Declared, Likely Gone (1): PG Kira Lewis Jr.*, (18.5 ppg, 5.2 apg)
Declared for the Draft, Flip of the Coin (1): John Petty Jr.
Declared, Expected Back (1): Herbert Jones
Starters Back (4): G Jaden Shackelford (Soph., 15.0 ppg), SG John Petty Jr., (Sr., 14.5 ppg), F Alex Reese (Sr., 8.8 ppg), F Herbert Jones (Sr., 7.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
Other Returners (2): F Javian Davis (RS Soph., 6.0 ppg), F Galin Smith (Sr., 3.1 ppg)
Redshirted (2): SF Juwan Gary (RS Fr., DNP – Injury), PF James Rojas (RS Jr., DNP – Injury)
Eligible Transfers (2): PG Jahvon Quinerly (Villanova, RS Soph., 3.2 ppg), C Jordan Bruner (Yale, 10.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg)
Add (4): F Keon Ambrose-Hylton, PG Josh Primo, SF Darius Miles, G Keon Ellis

20. Tennessee
Last Season: 17-14, 9-9 in SEC
Lose (3): G Jordan Bowden* (13.7 ppg), G Lamonte Turner (12.3 ppg), G Jalen Johnson (Transferred to ETSU, 3.5 ppg)
Starters Back (4): F John Fulkerson (Sr., 13.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg), SF Yves Pons (Sr., 10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Santiago Vescovi (Soph., 10.7 ppg), G Josiah-Jordan James (Soph., 7.4 ppg)
Other Returners (4): F Olivier Nkamhoua (Soph., 3.3 ppg), F Uros Plavsic (RS Soph., 2.6 ppg), G Davonte Gaines (Soph., 2.5 ppg), F Drew Pember (Soph., 1.3 ppg)
Eligible Transfers (2): G Victor Bailey (Oregon, RS Jr., 7.0 ppg), PF E.J. Anosike (Sacred Heart, Grad, 15.7 ppg, 11.6 rpg)
Add (3): SG Jaden Springer (No. 16), SF Keon Johnson (No. 26), PF Corey Walker (No. 73)

21. Florida
Last Season: 19-12, 11-7 in SEC
Lose (3): PF Kerry Blackshear Jr.*, (12.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), F Dontay Bassett (transferred to Weber State, 1.2 ppg), C Gorjok Gak (transferred to Cal Baptist, 0.0 ppg – 2 games)
Expected to Declare for the Draft (1): PG Andrew Nembhard
Starters Back (4): F Keyontae Johnson (Jr., 14.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg), PG Andrew Nembhard (Jr., 11.2 ppg, 5.6 apg), G Noah Locke (Jr., 10.6 ppg), SF Scottie Lewis (Soph., 8.5 ppg)
Other Returners (4): G Tre Mann (Soph., 5.3 ppg), G Ques Glover (Soph., 4.4 ppg), F Omar Payne (Soph., 3.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg), C Jason Jitoboh (Soph., 1.7 ppg)
Eligible Transfers (2): PG Tyree Appleby (RS Jr., Cleveland State, 17.2 ppg, 5.6 apg), F Anthony Duruji (RS Jr., Louisiana Tech, 12.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
Add (3): SF Samson Ruzhentsev (No. 53), G Niels Lane, F Osayi Osifo

23. Kentucky
Last Season: 25-6, 15-3 in SEC
Lose (8): G Immanuel Quickley* (NBA Draft, 16.1 ppg), G Tyrese Maxey* (NBA Draft, 14.0 ppg), PF Nick Richards* (NBA Draft, 14.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg), PG Ashton Hagans* (NBA Draft, 11.5 ppg), PF EJ Montgomery* (NBA Draft, 6.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), C Nate Sestina (5.8 ppg), F Kahlil Whitney (NBA Draft, 3.3 ppg), SG Johnny Juzang (transferred to UCLA, 2.9 ppg)
Starters Back: None
Other Returners (1): F Keion Brooks Jr. (Soph., 4.5 ppg)
Redshirted (1): G Dontaie Allen (RS Fr.)
Eligible Transfers (1): G Davion Mintz (Creighton, Grad, DNP)
Potential Sit-Out Transfers (1): Jacob Toppin (URI, Soph., 5.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Add (6): SG-SF BJ Boston (No. 6), SG-SF Terrence Clarke (No. 8), PG Devin Askew (No. 25), PF Isaiah Jackson (No. 30), PF Lance Ware (No. 40), SF Cam’Ron Fletcher (No. 58)

27. Arkansas
33. Auburn
43. LSU
49. UofSC
50. Ole Miss.

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