Poor man's SEC Tournament Preview: Part II

Kentucky, E2 (18-11, 12-4) How they got here: Refusal to lose, refusal to quit, general badassedness. Other than that, I have no idea. Motivation: No matter what an ESPN haircut might say, Kentucky should have a dance ticket already punched. Still, a loss on Friday could be doom as nobody really knows how the conference tournament season will shake out, and nobody really knows what goes on in that committe board room...oh wait, we do? Also, Billy Clyde will tell the players he hates them if they lose. Outlook: This team should not be able to win this tournament...but you have that feeling in your gut like it's completely possible. With only 2 proven, consistent scorers, the Cats must continue to see valued production from the likes of Harris, Stevenson, and Jasper. If Bradley and Crawford get hot, and stay hot, Kentucky's got a good shot at the finals. Somehow. Odds: 15/1 Mississippi State, W1 (21-9, 12-4) How they got here: Well, someone had to win the SEC West. Motivation:Although they've been atop their division all season, State has struggled to gather much national merit. This could partly be due to the fact nobody wants to go to Starkville to watch them play, but also because they really don't have any defining wins. This would be their chance. Outlook: The Bulldogs certainly won't need an ill-timed Sheray Thomas lane violation to win a game this year. Jamont Gordon is capable of taking over, and the front-court is imposing. There is plenty of talent on this team, but I'd invest in cassette tapes before I'd invest in a Rick Stansbury coached team. Odds: 10/1 Ole Miss, W3 (21-9, 7-9) How they got here: Early season surge met mid-season slump. We knew that sexy 17-0 pre-conference record was misleading, but the Rebs beat some decent teams in that stretch. I am a big Andy Kennedy fan, but how can you drop 2 to Auburn? Motivation: They'll need to win at least 1 to make the dance. Outlook: As Kennedy has displayed during his brief time in Oxford, it's that he can absolutely get his team ready to play for certain games. As for an entire season, that remains to be seen, but one only need look back to a year ago, when a similarly talented band of Rebs crashed the SEC Finals. With Curtis grazing in the post and Warren handling the ball, it wouldn't be a complete shock to see them back this year. They have a pretty good draw, but also lost to Auburn twice. Odds: 20-1 Florida, E4 (21-10, 8-8) How they got here: Carpooled in mom's minivans. Motivation: Defend 2 championships. Outlook: No longer an impenetrable force, the Gators are still a team nobody wants to play. Donovan is that good, and the freshman, although dorky and ultimately hateable in a Limp Bizkit sort of way, can play some ball. This will be their first crack at the postseason, and likely, their least successful. Outlook: 20/1 Alabama, W5 (16-15, 5-11) How they got here: Ronald Steele's 8th season being put on hold was a deadly blow. Even with one of the nation's top power forwards, the Tide were without a leader and ball handler, and Mark Gottfried has always been without a clue. Motivation: Try to steal a headline in the local paper away from Saban. Like he would let that happen... Outlook: Hendrix will dominate the post, but there's really not much else. Sure, there's athletes galore on the roster, and about three of them know how to play basketball. Odds: 50/1 Georgia, E6 (13-16, 4-12) How they got here: Down to something like 6 or 7 scholarship players at one point, UGA never really had much of a chance this season. Motivation: Um, please the hometown fan(s)? Outlook: Felton's rugby-like tactics make the Bulldogs an unpleasant out. Sundiata Gaines is capable of putting up some points, but not 80 of them. Odds: 100/1