With just some video games left within the common season, the SEC stays one of many nation’s strongest conferences, and although no clear front-runner has emerged, do not be stunned if half of the convention (or extra) makes the boys’s NCAA Match subject and a few of these groups make deep runs.
The Athletic at the moment predicts eight SEC groups will make the event, just one behind the Huge 12 and two greater than anybody else. Sure, that is greater than conventional basketball-heavy conferences just like the Huge Ten, Huge East and ACC, that are predicted to have six, six and 5 groups, respectively.
A part of the SEC’s robust exhibiting is because of the groups on the high of the convention, that are at the moment Alabama and Tennessee. The rivals face off on Saturday, a sport positive to draw nationwide consideration given its championship implications.
Tennessee, a contender for a high seed, might have blasted Alabama by 20 after they confronted off in January, however a Tide win makes issues very tough for Tennessee’s common season SEC title hopes. Even with a loss, Alabama is not out of competition, as Tennessee has to face ranked opponents Kentucky and South Carolina, each of that are additionally anticipated to be seeded within the high half of the NCAA bracket.
Talking of Kentucky, it dominated Alabama, an anticipated No. 3 seed, by 22 factors on Saturday, exhibiting the Wildcats are not any slouch, both. The Athletic has the Wildcats as a No. 6 seed, whereas ESPN has them at a No. 5.
The Gamecocks led the SEC earlier this 12 months, although they’re at the moment a sport again of Tennessee and Alabama. Even when they fail to win the SEC common season title, they will nonetheless make some noise in March. The Athletic has them pegged as a No. 7 seed, whereas ESPN put them at a No. 6. It’s miles from unusual to see a seed like that make a deep run within the NCAA Match.
Auburn, predicted as a No. 4 seed by each projections, can be arrange for achievement in March, and do not depend out the Florida Gators. ESPN has the Gators as a No. 6 seed, whereas The Athletic has them at a No. 8.
Mississippi State could possibly be a No. 8 or No. 9 seed, and The Athletic has Texas A&M as a No. 12 seed. ESPN did not embody the Aggies within the bracket, however they don’t seem to be far off: They’re anticipated to be within the first 4 out.Â
In case you’ve been maintaining together with your math, that’s all eight groups the SEC is anticipated to ship to the event, however the convention is not fairly executed but.
Additionally on the bubble is Ole Miss, which is within the first 4 out for The Athletic and the subsequent 4 out for ESPN. If the Rebels do sufficient, that might give the SEC 9 groups within the event, tied for many amongst anyone.
In fact, that is all preliminary, and a lot can change within the subsequent couple of weeks. But when issues proceed as they have been going, it could possibly be an SEC staff, not one from the Huge Ten or ACC, that brings residence the {hardware} come event time.