SEC Preview: Tennessee on top and a lot of parity follows

The college basketball season is right around the corner. On3 is going to go through each of the Power 6 conferences to preview the upcoming 2023-24 season. This week, we are diving into the SEC.

Big Ten Preview | Big 12 Preview | ACC Preview | Big East Preview

When going through the league, the conversation for Tennessee at No. 1 went relatively quickly. They are coming into the season with a talented roster that has experience and depth.

From that point, there is a lot of muddy water. Two through ten could fall in many different orders, with each team in that group having talent as well as questions. The bottom four programs brought in 31 scholarship newcomers between them.

Let’s take a look through the basketball preseason power rankings for the SEC in 2023-24.

*notates a player is currently injured

1. Tennessee

Head Coach Rick Barnes (career 779-406)
2022-23: 25-11 (11-7 fourth in SEC)

PG 5-9 Jr. Zakai Zeigler*
G 6-3 GR Santiago Vescovi
F 6-6 GR Josiah Jordan James
F 6-7 Jr. Dalton Knecht
C 7-0 Jr. Jonas Aidoo

Bench: 6-3 Jr. Jordan Gainey, 6-4 Jr. Jamai Mashack, 6-5 RS-Fr. Freddie Dilione, 6-8 So. Tobe Awaka, 6-9 Fr. Cade Phillips, 6-11 Fr. JP Estrella, 6-5 RS-Fr. DJ Jefferson, 6-5 Fr. Cameron Carr

The Buzz: This team is talented and experienced, and they have depth across multiple positions. The key to the season could be the health of Zakai Zeigler. The Volunteers were a different team after his injury last season. They also return fifth-year guard Santiago Vescovi who has scored over 1,300 career points. Josiah-Jordan James, another fifth-year player who has positional versatility on both ends has 87 career starts. Jonas Aidoo, a 7-footer is a former top-50 recruit who can block shots and stretch the floor. Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht could push for all-league honors after leading the Big Sky in points (20.2) last season. Gainey, Mashack, and Dilione will push for playing time at the guard spots. Awaka will be the backup big. Tennessee could use one of the freshmen Phillips or Estrella to earn minutes up front as well. After a disappointing end to last season, Tennessee has re-tooled its roster in hopes of a deep run.

2. Texas A&M

Head Coach Buzz Williams (career 329-202)
2022-23: 25-10 (15-3, second in SEC)

PG 6-0 Jr. Wade Taylor
G 6-3 GR. Tyrese Radford
G 6-6 Jr. Jace Carter
F 6-8 Sr. Henry Coleman
C 6-9 Sr. Julius Marble

Bench: 6-3 Fr. Bryce Lindsay, 6-5 GR Eli Lawrence, 6-6 Fr. Rob Dockery, 6-11 GR Wildens Leveque, 6-7 Sr. Anderson Garcia, 6-7 So. Solomon Washington, 6-8 Fr. Tyler Ringgold, 6-4 Jr. Manny Obaseki

The Buzz: Texas A&M returns Wade Taylor, a guard that many are predicting for all-league honors after finishing fourth in the SEC in scoring last season (16.3). He is joined in the backcourt by the Aggies’ second-leading scorer Tyrece Radford. Radford also carries a lofty reputation on the defensive end. Henry Coleman is an experienced forward with a physical frame. Julius Marble started 30 games last season. Jace Carter has knocked down 79 career threes while averaging 16.6 points last season. Garcia, Washington, and Obaseki will push for minutes at the wing a forward positions. Leveque brings experience to the post. Lindsay could find his way into some minutes with his deep range. Buzz Peterson plays a physical style of basketball. They return a lot of experience.

3. Arkansas

Head Coach Eric Musselman (career 205-76)
2022-23: 22-14 (8-10, ninth in SEC)

PG 6-3 GR El Ellis
G 6-4 Sr. Davonte Davis
G 6-6 Jr. Tramon Mark
F 6-8 GR Chandler Lawson
C 6-10 RS-So. Trevon Brazile 

Bench: 6-5 GR Khalif Battle, 6-5 So. Joseph Pinion, 6-2 Fr. Layden Blocker, 6-10 Fr. Baye Fall, 6-10 GR Jalen Graham, 6-10 GR Makhi Mitchell, 6-6 GR Jeremiah Davenport, 6-7 Denijay Harris

The Buzz: Arkansas went back to the drawing board this summer and added seven new players to its roster. El Ellis, a Louisville transfer, averaged 17.7 points and 4.4 assists last season. Tramon Mark, a Houston transfer, built his reputation as a two-way guard after making runs to the Final Four and the Sweet Sixteen with the Cougars. Trevon Brazile was being talked about as a potential first-round NBA Draft pick last season before injuring his knee. Chandler Lawson, a versatile forward, has 44 starts under his belt between Oregon and Memphis. Davonte Davis has played 102 games through his three seasons at Arkansas. He averaged 10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals last season. Battle, the younger brother of Tyus Battle, will earn plenty of minutes off the bench after finishing fourth in the American last season in scoring (17.9). Mitchell and Graham will provide front-court depth. Harris and Davenport will bring depth to the forward spots. Pinion has a reputation as a shooter, and Blocker is a paint-touch guard. This Arkansas team has guards who can touch the paint, wings who can defend, and bigs who can run and jump. There is also depth

4. Kentucky

Head Coach John Calipari (career 832-253)
2022-23: 22-12 (12-6, third in SEC)

PG 6-4 Fr. DJ Wagner
G 6-6 GR Antonio Reeves
F 6-8 Fr. Justin Edwards
F 6-8 So. Adou Thiero
C 6-9 GR Tre Mitchell

Bench: 6-3 Fr. Rob Dillingham, 7-1 Fr. Aaron Bradshaw*, 6-5 GR Brennan Canada, 6-3 Fr. Reed Sheppard, 6-8 Fr. Jordan Burks. 7-0 So. Ugonna Onyenso*, 7-2 Fr. Zvonimir Ivisic

The Buzz: Kentucky brings in an eight-man recruiting class and the Wildcats will need at least half of them to contribute. The headliner of the class is DJ Wagner, the five-star recruit who is the son of former John Calipari guard Dajuan Wagner. DJ is an aggressive, paint-touch guard. Justin Edwards is a glue guy, able to fill in the gaps on both ends while making plays. Antonio Reeves is the team’s leading returning scorer (14.4) after knocking down 39.8 percent of his threes last season. Tre Mitchell was an important late pick-up for the Wildcats. With 92 college starts and almost 1,400 career points under his belt, he should allow Kentucky to play different looks. Adou Thiero, another son of a former Calipari player, is a physically built forward, able to connect the pieces on both ends. Dillingham brings some electricity with his learning curve. Sheppard is a legacy recruit and a McDonald’s All-American. Health will be interesting here, looking at how quickly Bradshaw and Onyenso can get back on the court to help in the frontcourt. They are also waiting on Ivisic. Can Kentucky get steady point guard play and how quickly will the freshmen get acclimated to the college game? This roster has a depth of talent.

5. Alabama

Head Coach Nate Oats (career 188-85)
2022-23: 31-6 (16-2, first in SEC)

PG 6-3 GR Aaron Estrada
G 6-1 Sr. Mark Sears*
G 6-6 So. Rylan Griffen
F 6-9 Fr. Jarin Stevenson
C 6-11 Sr. Grant Nelson

Bench: 6-9 Fr. Kris Parker, 6-5 RS-Fr. Davin Cosby, 6-7 Fr. Mouhamed Dioubate, 6-10 Jr. Mohamed Wague, 6-3 Jr. Latrell Wrightsell, 6-10 Sr. Nick Pringle, 6-9 Fr. Sam Walters

The Buzz: Alabama is coming off a season that saw the most wins in school history. The Crimson Tide lost seven of their top ten scorers off that team, including two first-round NBA Draft picks, Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney. Last season’s second-leading scorer (12.5) Mark Sears returns. He was a calming factor for the team, starting all 37 games played. Grant Nelson and Aaron Estrada were two of the most sought-after players in the 2023 transfer portal. Nelson averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds earning first-team All-Summit last season. Estrada averaged 20.2 points and 4.3 assists last season earning CAA Player of the Year honors. Jarin Stevenson is a four-star recruit that Alabama beat out UNC for. There is a lot of buzz coming out of Tuscaloosa this pre-season with his play. Rylan Griffen has a lot of talent and upside with positional size. Pringle and Wrightsell bring experience and will both push for starter’s minutes. Cosby and Walters provide outside shooting and confidence while Wague brings size depth. Even with losing as much as they did, Nate Oats brought in some experienced talent. How quickly will they gel, and how long will it take the freshmen to get up to speed?

6. Auburn

Head Coach Bruce Pearl (career 418-210)
2022-23: 21-13 (10-8, seventh in SEC)

PG 6-1 Fr. Aden Holloway
G 6-3 So. Tre Donaldson
F 6-4 Jr. Denver Jones
F 6-8 GR Jaylin Williams
C 6-10 Jr. Johni Broome

Bench: 6-0 Sr. KD Johnson, 6-6 Sr. Chris Moore, 6-7 Jr. Chad Baker-Mazara, 6-2 So. CJ Williams, 6-7 Jr. Chaney Johnson, 6-11 Sr. Dylan Cardwell

The Buzz: Auburn returns five of its top seven scorers off a 21-win team last season. The centerpiece of the season will be Johni Broome, who should push for all-league-type honors. Broome led the Tigers in points (14.2), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (2.4) last season. Auburn adds McDonald’s All-American Aden Holloway who has deep range and a a crafty handle. Tre Donaldson, a former football player, should provide a steady presence at the guard spot. Jaylin Williams is a fill-in-the-gaps forward. Denver Jones averaged 20.1 points and shot 37.1 percent from three at FIU last season. Johnson will bring a spark to the backcourt. Moore, Johnson, and Baker-Mazara will push for minutes at the wing/forward positions. Cardwell brings experience and an understanding of his role to the front court. While centered around Broome, this Auburn team brings more shooting to the table. They have confident ball handlers and length on the wings. Will the transfers live up to their lofty billing and how quickly can the freshmen get up to speed?

7. Florida

Head Coach Todd Golden (career 73-53)
2022-23: 16-17 (9-9, eighth in SEC)

PG 6-2 Jr. Walter Clayton Jr.
G 6-5 So. Riley Kugel
G 6-4 Jr. Will Richard
F 6-10 GR Tyrese Samuel
C 7-1 So. Micah Handlogten

Bench: 6-4 GR Zion Pullin, 6-9 Fr. Thomas Haugh, 6-5 So. Denzel Aberdeen, 6-11 Fr. Alex Condon, 6-5 GR Julian Rishwain

The Buzz: Florida went to work in the transfer portal this off-season, bringing in four players who should contribute heavy minutes to this team. Walter Clayton, the reigning MAAC Player of the Year, averaged 16.8 points and 3.2 assists at Iona last season. Micah Handlogten had one of the country’s best freshmen years for a big. He finished top-20 in Division 1 in rebounds (9.8) and blocks (2.3). Riley Kugel is being looked at as a potential breakout sophomore after averaging almost 15 points in the last third of the season. Will Richard averaged 10.4 points on 39.8 percent shooting from three last season. Tyrese Samuel started 33 games and averaged 11.0 points and 5.9 rebounds at Seton Hall. Pullin, Aberdeen, and Rishwain will provide guard depth. The Gators will need Condon and Haugh to get up to speed quickly. Florida’s guards are very good, is the talent enough to take a step forward from last season’s .500 league finish?

8. Missouri 

Head Coach Dennis Gates (career 75-50)
2022-23: 25-10 (11-7, fourth in SEC)

PG 5-10 GR Nick Honor
G 6-3 GR Caleb Grill
G 6-5 Jr. Tamar Bates
F 6-6 GR John Tonje
C 7-4 GR Connor Vanover

Bench: 6-8 So. Aidan Shaw, 6-6 GR Noah Carter, 7-2 Sr. Mabor Majak, 6-3 GR Sean East, 7-0 Fr. Jordan Butler, 6-7 Jr. Kaleb Brown, 6-5 Jr. Curt Lewis, 6-8 Fr. Trent Pierce, 6-2 Fr. Anthony Robinson, 

The Buzz: Dennis Gates exceeded all expectations in year one, and he went out to build a roster to compete in year two. Missouri brings in eight new players as they build depth. John Tonje averaged 14.6 points on 38.9 percent shooting from three at Colorado State last. Season. Speaking of shooting, Caleb Grill knocked in 2.1 threes per game at Iowa State last season. Tamar Bates shot 37.4 percent from three at Indiana last season. Even 7-foot-4 Connor Vanover knocked down 1.4 threes last season at Oral Roberts while blocking 3.2 shots per game. Nick Honor, a 39.9 percent shooter from three last season, returns his steady hand at point guard after finishing the year with almost a three-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. Shaw, Carter, and Marting bring length and/or experience to the forward spot. East and Lewis will bring minutes to the guards. Majak is lengthy. How quickly can Butler and Pierce get up to speed? While this team does not have any headlining players, they have quality depth, and experience. The shooting should be upgraded, now can each of these players take a needed step forward?

9. Ole Miss

Head Coach Chris Beard (career 171-73)
2022-23: Year 1 as Ole Miss head coach

PG 6-2 So. Austin Nunez
G 6-4 Sr. Matthew Murrell
G 6-6 Sr. Allen Flanigan
F 6-8 Sr. Jaemyn Brakefield
C 7-5 Sr. Jamarion Sharp

Bench: 6-8 Fr. Rashaud Marshall, 6-9 Fr. Cameron Barnes, 6-4 RS-Fr. Robert Cowherd, 5-11 Jr. Jaylen Murray, 6-4 So. TJ Caldwell

**Ole Miss is still awaiting the NCAA’s ruling on Brandon Murray and Moussa Cisse with the two-time transfer waiver.

The Buzz: The big question looming with Ole Miss heading into the season is what will the NCAA do with Brandon Murray and Moussa Cisse and their two-time transfer appeal. They are both talented, and experienced, and bring added depth to the roster. Jamarion Sharp led Division 1 in blocked shots last season. Jaemyn Brakefield is a versatile and explosive forward. Allen Flanigan has started 69 games in his career. Matthew Murrell could make a run at the SEC scoring title. Austin Nunez was a four-star recruit out of Texas. Marshall is very strong. Caldwell and Cowherd bring added depth to the guard/wing. This roster has talent, does it have the depth?

10. Mississippi State

Head Coach Chris Jans (career 164-57)
2022-23: 21-13 (8-10, ninth in SEC)

PG 6-2 GR Dashawn Davis
G 6-1 Sr. Shakeel Moore
G 6-2 GR Andrew Taylor
F 6-7 GR DJ Jeffries
C 6-11 GR Tolu Smith*

Bench: 6-10 GR Jimmy Bell Jr., 5-10 Fr. Josh Hubbard, 6-7 Sr. Cameron Matthews, 6-6 Fr. Adrian Myers, 6-5 So. Shawn Jones, 6-4 Jr. Trey Fort, 6-10 RS-So. KeShawn Murphy, 6-2 So. Martavious Russell, 6-8 Jr. Jaquan Scott, 6-2 RS-Jr. Trey Jackson

The Buzz: This Mississippi State roster has length and athleticism. They should have no problem playing physically. Shakeel Moore is an explosive guard with a reputation as a point-of-attack defender. Dashawn Davis has 50 career starts in his two college seasons and averages 9.7 points. Andrew Taylor scored over 1,600 career points at Marshall. DJ Jeffries has started 65 games in his two seasons at Mississippi State. Bell provides added weight on the block. Russell, Jackson, and Hubbard should push for guard depth. Murphy is injured, like Smith. Matthews should continue to get opportunity. Tolu Smith’s injury is a setback, especially with the talk of a possible January return. But Chris Jans has some depth on the roster. 

11. LSU

Head Coach Matt McMahon (career 168-86)
2022-23: 14-19 (2-16, 14th in SEC)

PG 6-1 Jr. Carlos Stewart
G 6-6 So. Tyrell Ward
G 6-6 GR Jordan Wright
F 6-9 Jr. Daimion Collins
C 7-0 GR Will Baker

Bench: 6-2 GR Trae Hannibal, 6-3 Fr. Mike Williams, 6-8 Fr. Corey Chest, 6-10 GR Hunter Dean, 6-10 So. Jalen Reed, 6-10 Sr. Derek Fountain

**LSU is still awaiting the NCAA’s ruling on Jalen Cook with the two-time transfer waiver.

The Buzz: After a disappointing first season, Matt McMahon went out into the transfer portal and brought in some new players. Carlos Stewart averaged 15.2 points and earned first-team All-WCC honors. Daimion Collins is an explosive Kentucky transfer who is a former McDonald’s All-American. Will Baker is a lefty who can stretch the floor with legitimate size. Jordan Wright has scored 1,182 career points. Tyrell Ward is a high-upside former four-star recruit. Dean, Reed, and Fountain bring experience and size to the frontcourt. Hannibal is entering his fifth season of college basketball. He is very strong with some positional versatility. Can the Tigers take a step forward in a league that seems like everyone has taken a step forward?

12. Georgia

Head Coach Mike White (career 259-144)
2022-23: 16-16 (6-12, 11th in SEC)

PG 6-5 Fr. Silas Demary
G 6-4 GR. Noah Thomassson
F 6-7 Jr. RJ Melendez
F 6-8 GR RJ Sunahara
C 6-9 Jr. Jalen DeLoach

Bench: 6-0 Sr. Justin Hill, 6-5 Fr. Blue Cain, 6-6 Fr. Mari Jordan, 6-8 Sr. Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, 6-9 Fr. Dylan James, 7-0 GR Russel Tchewa, 6-10 Sr. Frank Anselem, 6-8 Sr. Jabri Abdur-Rahim

The Buzz: One thing this roster has is a lot of guys who have won a lot of games. RJ Sunahara was the Division II National Player of the Year last year after going 36-0 last season. Jalen Deloach started 32 games for VCU, the No. 1 team in the A10. Over his last three seasons of high school, four-star point guard Silas Demary is 81-8. RJ Melendez has played in an NCAA Tournament in both of his years in college. Noah Thomasson averaged 19.5 points and 3.5 assists last season. Moncrieffe, Abdur-Rahim, Hill, and Anselem bring college experience to the depth chart. Early returns from Cain and James are very positive. This Georgia team upgraded its talent from last year. Without any headliners, how quickly they can gel could play a large role in the SEC’s wide-open middle of the pack.

13. Vanderbilt

Head Coach Jerry Stackhouse (career 61-69)
2022-23: 22-15 (11-7, fourth in SEC)

PG 6-0 GR Ezra Manjon
G 6-4 Sr. Tyrin Lawrence
G 6-6 GR Evan Taylor
F 6-8 So. Ven-Allen Lubin
F 6-8 GR Tasos Kamateros

Bench: 6-2 So. Paul Lewis, 6-8 So. Colin Smith, 6-2 Fr. Isaiah West, 6-6 Fr. Malik Presley, 6-9 Fr. Carter Lang, 6-3 RS-So. Jordan Williams, 6-8 Fr. JQ Roberts, 6-6 Fr. Jason Rivera-Torres, 6-10 So. Lee Dort

The Buzz: Last season was Vanderbilt’s best in quite some time. They return Tyrin Lawrence, last year’s second-leading scorer as well as starting point guard Ezra Majon. The pair have 151 combined college starts between them. Lawrence should make a push toward All-League honors while Manjon will try to finish among the league leaders in assists per game. Ven-Allen Lubin is a former four-star recruit from Notre Dame. Tasos Kamateros has scored almost 1,000 points and grabbed almost 500 rebounds at South Dakota. Evan Taylor averaged 14.2 points while shooting 43.0 percent from three at Lehigh last season. The starting five is a solid group for the Commodores. They are going to need transfers to step up with the loss of Liam Robbins and they are going to need some players from the bench to step up and provide quality depth.

14. South Carolina

Head Coach Lamont Paris (career 98-93)
2022-23: 11-21 (4-14, 12th in SEC)

PG 6-4 GR Ta’Lon Cooper
G 6-2 Jr. Meechie Johnson
F 6-6 Jr. Myles Stute
F 6-8 GR BJ Mack
C 6-8 GR Stephen Clark

Bench: 6-7 Fr. Collin Murray-Boyles, 6-2 Sr. Jacobi Wright, 6-7 So. Zach Davis, 6-7 Fr. Arden Conyers, 6-9 RS-Sr. Benjamin Bozmans-Verdonk, 7-0 Sr. Josh Gray, 6-5 RS-Sr. Ebrima Dibba

The Buzz: Lamont Paris upgraded the roster in the off-season, the thing is, so did the rest of the SEC. Meechie Johnson will step into the featured role of this Gamecock team after averaging 12.7 points last season. Ta’Lon Cooper has scored 1,077 points and issued 603 assists in his college career. Myles Stute averaged 8.4 points and shot 36.1 from three for Vanderbilt last season. BJ Mack (16.6) and Stephen Clark (16.3) finished second and third in the SoCon in scoring last season. They also finished No. 8 (Clark/6.5) and No. 11 (Mack/5.6) in rebounding in the league. Murray-Boyles is a productive forward. Gray and Bossmans-Verdonk provide depth up front. Davis has a lot of upside. Wright brings a steady hand to the point.