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SEC basketball: Preseason poll released ahead of the season

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•10/19/21•

Jonathan Wagner

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Stacy Revere via Getty Images.

The SEC preseason basketball poll has been released ahead of the 2021-2022 season. After Alabama dominated the conference with a 16-2 SEC record last season, a new team finds itself in the top spot entering the year.

Preseason SEC basketball poll

  1. Kentucky
  2. Alabama
  3. Arkansas
  4. Tennessee
  5. Auburn
  6. LSU
  7. Florida
  8. Mississippi State
  9. Ole Miss
  10. Missouri
  11. South Carolina
  12. Texas A&M
  13. Vanderbilt
  14. Georgia

Kentucky leads the way after a down season last year

The Kentucky Wildcats struggled to a 9-16 overall record and an 8-9 mark in the SEC last season. Despite that, John Calipari has built a strong record and a rebound should be expected this season. Behind Kentucky, Arkansas added talent through the NCAA Transfer Portal while Tennessee and Alabama added talent through their recruiting classes.

Mississippi State returns its top scorer in Iverson Molinar from last year’s team that lost in the NIT Championship game. Some transfer additions could help the Bulldogs fight their way back into the NCAA Tournament. LSU came just a shot away from winning the SEC Championship last season, but a lot of talent was lost in the offseason.

Florida also lost talented players to the NBA in Scottie Lewis and Tre Mann. Missouri doesn’t bring in a lot in this year’s recruiting class, while Ole Miss brings in its first McDonald’s All-American in Daeshun Ruffin.

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South Carolina only won a single game after the initial week of February last season. After a disappointing 6-15 season, expectations aren’t high for the Gamecocks. Vanderbilt returns Scotty Pippen Jr., but the Commodores are just 12-58 SEC record over the last four seasons.

Alabama leads the way with two First Team All-SEC preseason selections in Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly. Colin Castleton (Florida), Sahvir Wheeler (Kentucky), Molinar, and Pippen Jr. round out the first team. Kentucky also has three players on the preseason Second All-SEC team.

The 2021 season gets underway on November 9. Kentucky begins the season with a top 25 matchup against Duke.