KSR's seven things to watch for at SEC Media Day

Talking season is quickly starting to wrap up ahead of the 2024-25 college basketball season, coaches trading out microphones for whistles with exhibition games now rolling and the real stuff set to begin in early November. A grand finale of sorts is taking place in Birmingham this week with SEC Tipoff ’25 scheduled from October 15-16, the men getting things rolling on Tuesday followed by the women on Wednesday.

Unlike football’s week-long marathon, basketball is more of a sprint, the SEC rolling through all 16 teams within the conference from 10 AM ET to 7 PM ET — one coach and two players per squad. For Kentucky, it will be Mark Pope‘s debut at Media Day in blue and white, joined by super seniors Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler. The head coach will speak at the podium at 12 PM ET, followed by Robinson and Butler at 12:45-1:05 PM ET — all on the SEC Network.

KSR has boots on the ground in Birmingham ready to provide updates throughout the day and the rest of the week. What are we keeping a close eye on at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook?

Mark Pope introduces himself to the SEC

Jack Pilgrim:

The obvious answer, what you guys all care about. Pope has crushed every media appearance and PR opportunity since he arrived on campus, and now, he’ll get his shot on the national stage as arguably the hottest topic in Birmingham. What are his thoughts on Kentucky entering the season ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll or being picked to finish eighth in the SEC, arguably the nation’s strongest conference top to bottom? How does that align with his championship aspirations in year one with the Wildcats?

Pope will be asked about scrambling to put together a competitive roster almost entirely through the portal, a nine-man group consisting of seven super seniors and two additional pieces with multiple years of eligibility remaining. The floor is undoubtedly high as one of the most experienced teams in the country, but how will they mesh? Is the top-end talent enough to compete for a league title? The Kentucky head coach will make his case.

John Calipari trades out blue for red

Jack Pilgrim:

The only reason why Pope’s debut is arguably the hottest topic in Birmingham is because a very familiar face will also be in attendance making his own debut — this time in red. Coach Cal swapped out a Wildcat logo for a Slobberin’ Hog, bringing six scholarship players and most of his staff with him from Lexington to Fayetteville. The Hall of Fame coach will always have his larger-than-life personality and NBA success, but how will he adjust without the sport’s biggest brand backing him up? Will tempered expectations at Arkansas take the pressure off to win a national championship every year the way it weighed him down at Kentucky?

Projected to finish fourth in the league, the Razorbacks will be led by Jonas Aidoo and Johnell Davis as All-SEC Second Team selections with the help of friends-turned-foes Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner, Zvonimir Ivisic, Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond.

Catching up with Adou Thiero

Zack Geoghegan:

Adou Thiero will join John Calipari in Birmingham as one of two Arkansas player representatives. After two seasons in Lexington, Thiero followed Calipari to Fayetteville through the transfer portal over the summer. Slow-played as a freshman, the still-growing Thiero (now listed at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds by Arkansas’ team website) jumped onto the scene as a sophomore at UK. Injuries hurt his consistency, but he still averaged 7.2 points and five rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game on 49.2 percent overall shooting. It always felt like a breakout season was on the way for Thiero. Will that happen in year three?

Accompanying Thiero on the stage today will be Tennessee transfer center Jonas Aidoo. So we’ll have Adou and Aidoo answering questions, which surely won’t lead to any confusion.

Alabama enters as king of the conference

Zack Geoghegan:

Nate Oats has Alabama in cruise control. After a Final Four run last season, the Crimson Tide checked in as the AP’s No. 2 overall preseason team and the projected favorite to win the Southeastern Conference. Mark Sears is back for a fifth college season as the league’s Preseason Player of the Year and a candidate to win National Player of the Year. Grant Nelson is back too as a Preseason All-SEC Second Team member.

The SEC is a deep conference this season, especially with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma, but the top of the standings runs through Alabama. Can the Tide make it a third straight Sweet 16? Everyone will be chasing Oats’ team until proven otherwise.

Texas and Oklahoma join the party

Jack Pilgrim:

Welcome to the show, Rodney Terry and Porter Moser! We’re starting to get used to seeing Texas and Oklahoma in the SEC thanks to football Saturdays, but their hardwood debuts are coming. They introduce themselves to the conference today.

The Longhorns added a trio of transfer standouts in Jordan Pope (17.6 PPG at Oregon State), Tramont Mark (16.2 PPG at Arkansas) and Arthur Kaluma (14.4 PPG at Kansas State) to go with top-five recruit Tre Johnson, who committed to Texas over Baylor and Kentucky. They’re picked to finish seventh in the SEC with Mark named to the All-SEC Third Team.

Oklahoma was picked to finish second-worst in the SEC, but is still ranked inside the top 40 in the initial 2025 KenPom Ratings — ahead of Kentucky, in fact. Otega Oweh‘s move from Norman to Lexington gives us an easy familiarity storyline with the Sooners, as well.

Mark Byington replaces Jerry Stackhouse

Zack Geoghegan:

The Jerry Stackhouse era at Vanderbilt flamed out in year five. A 9-23 (4-14 SEC) overall record in 2023-24 was the final straw. Stackhouse finished his time coaching the Commodores with a 70-92 mark including a 28-60 record in the SEC. Vandy had two NIT appearances in those five seasons and won over 20 games just once (2022-23). His replacement? Mark Byington.

Byington just led James Madison to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament — the program’s best finish in over 30 years. He holds a coaching record of 213-133 across 11 seasons at James Madison and Georgia Southern. The 48-year-old has his work cut out for him at Vanderbilt though. The ‘Dores are projected to finish last in the SEC this season. He’s bringing veterans AJ Hoggard and Tyler Nickel to Birmingham with him.

How many SEC teams make the NCAA Tournament?

Jack Pilgrim:

The league is strong, maybe the strongest it’s ever been. Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and Arkansas are the early media darlings, but Texas A&M, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and maybe even South Carolina could make NCAA Tournament pushes to give the SEC as many 11 teams in the field.

Kentucky entering the year picked to finish eighth isn’t a knock on the Wildcats, but rather, a compliment to the conference as one sure to eat itself alive throughout the season. Parity is very real — as we saw with every team in the SEC finishing with at least four losses in the league a year ago with a four-way tie for second place. Vanderbilt and Missouri were the only schools you could consider pushovers a year ago, everyone else capable of beating you on any given Tuesday or Saturday.

Expect more of the same this go-round.