Just how good is the SEC this year ?

[Runt#1969]

It seems to me that, after having the greatest season the conference collectively ever had in last year's historic 14 bid season, the conference has taken a step back. OF Course, Captain Obvious, says my inner gremlin. Riddle me this though, Batman...

What's the lowest seed an SEC regular season and or SECT champion ever got out of doing that ?
#2 seed.... #3 seed at the worst ? For me, right now, Florida ;looks to be at least a 2, maybe 3 seed, UK a 4.... or 5 ? And that's being very concervative, escpecially if it actually comes down to the last game of the in conference regular season, and both are still standing there. Toe to Toe. So you tell me.....

Florida is at the top of the conference at this point of the season for many reasons. They are proving they belong there again this year. Kentucky is right there and both control the future of where this goes from here.Both look to me to be at least top 3, 4 seeds at this point of the season, yet we're only really looking at what *so far* people would say is a #4 seed for Florida and #6 for Kentucky, at best, out of the SEC ???

Something has got to give.

In NCAA tournament metrics, the top two seeds out of the SEC are Florida and Kentucky. So I don't know - nor really care - how they want to justify spreading a bunch of lower tier seeds out to the SEC this year but say, maybe squeeze ten teams in for the conference .... that just doesn't sound or look right to me at this point.

The SEC is still better than what everyone has thought, in my estimation. Your opinion may vary, but surely it isn't as lowly as some think.

Thoughts ?

 

[storm1507]

It seems to me that, after having the greatest season the conference collectively ever had in last year's historic 14 bid season, the conference has taken a step back. OF Course, Captain Obvious, says my inner gremlin. Riddle me this though, Batman...

What's the lowest seed an SEC regular season and or SECT champion ever got out of doing that ?
#2 seed.... #3 seed at the worst ? For me, right now, Florida ;looks to be at least a 2, maybe 3 seed, UK a 4.... or 5 ? And that's being very concervative, escpecially if it actually comes down to the last game of the in conference regular season, and both are still standing there. Toe to Toe. So you tell me.....

Florida is at the top of the conference at this point of the season for many reasons. They are proving they belong there again this year. Kentucky is right there and both control the future of where this goes from here.Both look to me to be at least top 3, 4 seeds at this point of the season, yet we're only really looking at what *so far* people would say is a #4 seed for Florida and #6 for Kentucky, at best, out of the SEC ???

Something has got to give.

In NCAA tournament metrics, the top two seeds out of the SEC are Florida and Kentucky. So I don't know - nor really care - how they want to justify spreading a bunch of lower tier seeds out to the SEC this year but say, maybe squeeze ten teams in for the conference .... that just doesn't sound or look right to me at this point.

The SEC is still better than what everyone has thought, in my estimation. Your opinion may vary, but surely it isn't as lowly as some think.

Thoughts ?

I think when it all shakes out the SEC champ will have a pretty high seed.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Its one of the few lingering issues I have with this team, thats otherwise doing a great job of improving despite the injuries: I just don't know how good the SEC is this year. Of course they were going to take a step back from last year, but it just feels like a down year for the SEC.

Vandy just had a head scratching loss at hom, and were blown out. We've been very inconsistent, but improving, TAM played nobody in OOC. I wouldnt be shocked if thie years elite8 didnt have a single SEC team, and I could even see a S16 where theres only 1 or 2 SEC teams.

Last years team in THIS SEC, might go with just 1 or 2 losses. This year's team in LAST years SEC might be like 1-9 right now. Its a huge difference.

 

[deputy assistant]

I say it every year… I don’t believe in any SEC schools except UK and UF until proven otherwise. It amazes me how year after year we get experts and fans fawning over Tenn, Auburn, Alabama, aTm, Arkansas, and whoever else gets hot.

The Cats vs Gators series this year will be epic. I’m expecting each team to win one game, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if either team swept the series. If you are a basketball fan, I don’t know how you don’t get hyped up for it.

I’ll say this about your Cats… if you want to beat them, you better put them away early. If it’s a close score late in the game, you aren’t beating UK.

 

[MyotisG]

Well, last year was a outlier for sure, but for 30+ years, I did well on office pools with this rule: Never take any SEC team not named Kentucky or Arkansas past the sweet sixteen, no matter what their record or ranking. Sure, it wasn't 100% foolproof, but it was solid. Certainly as reliable as any other basis for making picks I ever had. I've seen way too many SEC teams choke in the big dance.

 

[megablue]

It is very balanced, but not top-level good.

 

[CrimsonCats_rivals]

I know it’s not always perfect for evaluating an individual team’s resume, but I think KenPom is pretty helpful for a rough guide for comparing who’s playing well. Last year was always going to be tough to repeat with 4 teams in the top 10 (all of whom made at least the Elite 8 and included the national champion) and 7 in the top 20. This year is a definite drop off though. Only Florida is currently in the top 10 and isn’t even quite getting credit for that yet resume wise because of how many close games they lost early season. After them, there’s 4 in the top 20, with a few more in the 20-40 range. We’ll still get quite a few teams in the tournament, but I really only see one who’s a legitimate threat this time unlike last year, so I think the perception of the league not having any top seeds is pretty accurate right now.

 

[mash_24]

Florida has a chance to make another run. That’s the only contender I really see. The Big 12 seems to be clearly a cut above this year.

 

[deputy assistant]

Florida has a chance to make another run. That’s the only contender I really see. The Big 12 seems to be clearly a cut above this year.

Maybe they are the only contender, but I don’t really know what my Gators are until I see them play at Rupp. That is always our toughest game of the season. The Aberdeen drama is going to make this personal for both sides!

I like the grit I’m seeing from Kentucky. They are a scary team. It’s at the point now where opposing teams probably get the yips when it’s a close game late in the clock. The pressure builds as they know UK is a team that knows how to close.

 

[peterpiper09]

Its one of the few lingering issues I have with this team, thats otherwise doing a great job of improving despite the injuries: I just don't know how good the SEC is this year. Of course they were going to take a step back from last year, but it just feels like a down year for the SEC.

Vandy just had a head scratching loss at hom, and were blown out. We've been very inconsistent, but improving, TAM played nobody in OOC. I wouldnt be shocked if thie years elite8 didnt have a single SEC team, and I could even see a S16 where theres only 1 or 2 SEC teams.

Last years team in THIS SEC, might go with just 1 or 2 losses. This year's team in LAST years SEC might be like 1-9 right now. Its a huge difference.

Disagree about that last paragraph 100%

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Disagree about that last paragraph 100%

How do you see it playing out? The SEC was markedly better last year and I dont think this year's team could afford the slow starts against last years competition.

This years team is for sure not beating last years Florida, not beating Bama or Auburn. Not beating Tennessee. Honestly I only feel good about them beating Oklahoma abd maybe Vandy.

Now thats not just because last years UK team was better.. it really is because the SEC was that much of a powerhouse last year. We ended the season with 4 teams in the top6 of kenpom. This year we have none. With just Florida as the sole top10 team.

 

[Anon1751335390]

There are lots of good and solid teams. The worst teams in the conference aren't horrendous.

There aren't many elite teams. There's Florida and then a slew of teams in that 15-40 range.

 

[megablue]

There are lots of good and solid teams. The worst teams in the conference aren't horrendous.

There aren't many elite teams. There's Florida and then a slew of teams in that 15-40 range.

100% ^^^

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

It seems to me that, after having the greatest season the conference collectively ever had in last year's historic 14 bid season, the conference has taken a step back. OF Course, Captain Obvious, says my inner gremlin. Riddle me this though, Batman...

What's the lowest seed an SEC regular season and or SECT champion ever got out of doing that ?
#2 seed.... #3 seed at the worst ? For me, right now, Florida ;looks to be at least a 2, maybe 3 seed, UK a 4.... or 5 ? And that's being very concervative, escpecially if it actually comes down to the last game of the in conference regular season, and both are still standing there. Toe to Toe. So you tell me.....

Florida is at the top of the conference at this point of the season for many reasons. They are proving they belong there again this year. Kentucky is right there and both control the future of where this goes from here.Both look to me to be at least top 3, 4 seeds at this point of the season, yet we're only really looking at what *so far* people would say is a #4 seed for Florida and #6 for Kentucky, at best, out of the SEC ???

Something has got to give.

In NCAA tournament metrics, the top two seeds out of the SEC are Florida and Kentucky. So I don't know - nor really care - how they want to justify spreading a bunch of lower tier seeds out to the SEC this year but say, maybe squeeze ten teams in for the conference .... that just doesn't sound or look right to me at this point.

The SEC is still better than what everyone has thought, in my estimation. Your opinion may vary, but surely it isn't as lowly as some think.

Thoughts ?

SEC teams do only have a .500 record in conference this year.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Good. Not great.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

It seems to me that, after having the greatest season the conference collectively ever had in last year's historic 14 bid season, the conference has taken a step back. OF Course, Captain Obvious, says my inner gremlin. Riddle me this though, Batman...

What's the lowest seed an SEC regular season and or SECT champion ever got out of doing that ?
#2 seed.... #3 seed at the worst ? For me, right now, Florida ;looks to be at least a 2, maybe 3 seed, UK a 4.... or 5 ? And that's being very concervative, escpecially if it actually comes down to the last game of the in conference regular season, and both are still standing there. Toe to Toe. So you tell me.....

Florida is at the top of the conference at this point of the season for many reasons. They are proving they belong there again this year. Kentucky is right there and both control the future of where this goes from here.Both look to me to be at least top 3, 4 seeds at this point of the season, yet we're only really looking at what *so far* people would say is a #4 seed for Florida and #6 for Kentucky, at best, out of the SEC ???

Something has got to give.

In NCAA tournament metrics, the top two seeds out of the SEC are Florida and Kentucky. So I don't know - nor really care - how they want to justify spreading a bunch of lower tier seeds out to the SEC this year but say, maybe squeeze ten teams in for the conference .... that just doesn't sound or look right to me at this point.

The SEC is still better than what everyone has thought, in my estimation. Your opinion may vary, but surely it isn't as lowly as some think.

Thoughts ?

Definitely a few notches below but probably the third best conference this year. I would say Big 12/B1G/SEC just slightly worse this year overall.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Maybe they are the only contender, but I don’t really know what my Gators are until I see them play at Rupp. That is always our toughest game of the season. The Aberdeen drama is going to make this personal for both sides!

I like the grit I’m seeing from Kentucky. They are a scary team. It’s at the point now where opposing teams probably get the yips when it’s a close game late in the clock. The pressure builds as they know UK is a team that knows how to close.

I’m hoping Aberdeen can provide some much needed insight to how they play and how to guard them. They play similar to last year because of the front court but they can’t shoot this year.

 

[Jaime Chitwood]

Only one team with the metrics to reach the FF.

 

[Runt#1969]

Michigan is the class of the BIG10
Arizona and Houston are the class of the Big12

there's no question about that.

dUKe and UConn can be beat, but they are the best from the ACC and Big East. The Big East, outside of St. John's and UConn, has had a pitiful year. I'm not sold that UConn or dUKe (even though they both beat the gators earlier this season ) are that much better. The gators are within a seed line of both of those teams at the least.

The Gators should be seen as a top tier team once again this year, and with a lot of big games left, they will probably solidify a 2 seed if they finish anywhere near strong. even a slip or 2 along the way, at least it should be..... for them.

How you can look at Kentucky and Bracket Matrix sits us at a 7 seed? Ugh, surely it needs to be better than that ??? Most everyone else clearly sees them as no worse than a 6 seed now. If we stay near the top of the SEC, we will earn anywhere from a 3 seed, and we could crap the bed and finish with that 7 seed ( or worse ?) ... it's a curious situation.

For me, I see the SEC shaking out like this : SEC 11 bids ( 11 bids for Big 10, 7 or 8 seeds max for the Big12, 3 for Big East, 8 ACC )

2 Florida
3 Vanderbilt
4 Kentucky
5 Tennessee
5 Texas A&M
6 Alabama
6 Arkansas
8 Auburn
9 Georgia
10 Missouri
11 Texas

but right now, bracket matrix has it like this :

4 Vandy
4 Florida
5 Alabama
5 Tennessee
6 Arkansas
7 Kentucky
7 Auburn
8 Texas A&M
9 Georgia
11 Texas

For my tastes, that is undervaluing the SEC conference a little *too much* this year. It took a step back as a whole from last year, but last year was the outlier greatest season ever for a conference. The SEC didn't fall off that far this year.

I think the SEC will do alright come tournament time. A sneaky suspicion, against the grain of seeing the SEC flop so many times in the past and the only one left standing was Kentucky....

We shall see !

Go Big Blue !

 

[Drogon]

Deep, but only 1 possibly great team(Florida) and they have lost 6 games this season. The 2nd place team is 6th in SEC in the NET rankings. 10 teams are in the top 39 of NET.

 

[BigBlueGuru]

Hard to say but the early season results point to the SEC being way down. Hardly any key matchups that went the SEC's way. I know teams improve as the season goes on but so do the teams of the other conferences. Florida is the cream of the crop at this point.

 

[Anon1751335390]

The SEC is far better this year than it has been on average from post-Florida repeat to now. There were some weak SEC seasons early in Cal’s tenure. It took a turn after 2018 or so.

 

[peterpiper09]

How do you see it playing out? The SEC was markedly better last year and I dont think this year's team could afford the slow starts against last years competition.

This years team is for sure not beating last years Florida, not beating Bama or Auburn. Not beating Tennessee. Honestly I only feel good about them beating Oklahoma abd maybe Vandy.

Now thats not just because last years UK team was better.. it really is because the SEC was that much of a powerhouse last year. We ended the season with 4 teams in the top6 of kenpom. This year we have none. With just Florida as the sole top10 team.

I don’t think the SEC is much different from last year. I know you hear that a lot on TV but I’m not convinced. We beat Florida last year. Some teams are a little better some are a little worse, but nothing drastic.

 

[GoneFishin916]

Maybe they are the only contender, but I don’t really know what my Gators are until I see them play at Rupp. That is always our toughest game of the season. The Aberdeen drama is going to make this personal for both sides!

I like the grit I’m seeing from Kentucky. They are a scary team. It’s at the point now where opposing teams probably get the yips when it’s a close game late in the clock. The pressure builds as they know UK is a team that knows how to close.

Thing with Kentucky is, they get down early, trailing by 10-15 points at half. If it's more than that, they will get blown out (Gonzaga, Vandy, Michigan State - all were ahead by 17+). Florida struggles from three, but when you can rebound 40% of your misses, it matters a lot less. Florida has the best frontcourt in the nation, but can their guards play up? WCJ was a special one. Kentucky will (hopefully) give Florida some challenges inside, unlike the last three games. I still think Florida wins by a lot in Gainesville, but it might be close in Lexington. Matchups matter; Florida posed a terrible matchup to Alabama/A&M and would beat those teams 95% of the time. Will the same be the case against Kentucky? Who knows. I give Florida 30% chance to repeat.