SEC: Why Are People Still Sleeping on SEC Basketball?
Over the Thanksgiving Holiday the annual Orlando Classic was underway. In the semifinal round the Kansas Jayhawks played against the Tennessee Volunteers.
It was 57-55 game with 9:26 remaining when Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. evaded a double team on the left corner baseline, and found an open Brannen Greene on the wing to make a three-point dagger. The crowd went crazy inside of Orlando.
The Vols then ran a set play, swung the basketball around the perimeter, gave the basketball to forward Dominic Woodson on the block, and he took two dribbles inside of the middle of the paint and shot the basketball with a left-handed layup.
60-57.
The unranked Vols were in the middle of pulling off an upset against the Jayhawks who are one of the best teams in the country. In spite of making it to the Sweet 16 of the 2014 NCAA tournament, the Vols got picked in the preseason to finish 13th in the SEC.
Though the SEC is known for its football acumen, basketball isn’t too far behind. With the beginning of the Big 12/SEC Challenge I ask the question “Why are people sleeping on the SEC?”
My question originally started before the beginning of the college basketball season when I read a story with the title “SEC: The Weakest Major Conference in College Basketball.” A statement that’s truly unjust and unfair. Ask Texas Tech.
They narrowly escaped with a victory over Auburn because of a split decision time out that got called by Tubby Smith right before a turnover occurred when the Red Raiders were down by two on the last possession of the game.
Sure we all know the usually suspects in the SEC, the two powerhouse programs, the Kentucky Wildcats and Florida Gators. Kentucky and Florida are the class of the SEC and between the two schools they have 10 national championships and 31 SEC championships.
One of these two schools have produced first-round picks in every NBA Draft since 2010.
There is nothing anyone can say about the talent of the SEC lacking because as long as these two schools are a part of it, there’s never a talent disparity.
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Recruits go to one of these two schools not only to carry on tradition of playing for one of these dominant programs but also because of the level of competition within the SEC.
Even the Washington Wizards all-star starting point guard, John Wall, often talks about his Kentucky days to other players in the league such as the Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons. The standout from Florida, Parsons, has even received trash talk about how Wall went undefeated against Florida before he left to the NBA.
Wall has always represented his Kentucky Wildcats everywhere he’s gone and shouts them out all the time. When Wall and teammate shooting guard Bradley Beal, another Florida standout, watch Kentucky & Florida play they even engage in friendly wagers.
That’s passion, and passion is what the SEC is all about. Playing in the SEC is deeper than just playing for a school, it’s love.
Love and passion are the same reasons why Auburn coach Bruce Pearl found himself back inside of the SEC. It’s the same reason Alabama’s coach Anthony Grant is thriving in the SEC. Also, its same reason why Arkansas and LSU look like they are going to make the 2015 NCAA tournament.
But let’s take a closer look at everyone not named Kentucky and Florida, shall we? As of today the SEC has seven teams with one loss or fewer.
One of those teams is the aforementioned Arkansas Razorbacks, who are led by SEC Player of the Year candidate sophomore Bobby Portis (one of the 25 best players in college), and junior Michael Qualls. The Razorbacks are in a prime position to make the 2015 NCAA tournament and play bracket buster to a major college program.
Or how about Texas A&M, who has one of the best point guards in the country in junior Alex Caruso, who’s averaging 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals a game in less than 28 minutes a game.
We could even talk about Levi Randolph who is off to a blazing start averaging 19.5 points on 53 percent shooting, 41 percent from the three-point line, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals a game.
If we want to talk about pro potential then just take a look at the prospects of the 2015 NBA Draft. There are as many as nine players from the SEC who could get selected in the first round.
There’s also a myth that the SEC doesn’t recruit well. How about we dispel that rumor.
The No. 1 player in the country, Ben Simmons, is committed to LSU, while two other two top 15 recruits signed with Kentucky. Also Texas A&M could potentially have the best recruiting class in the country as they have four four-star commitments.
With that being said the SEC has been talented in basketball for a long time. The numbers don’t lie. Even in the 2014 NCAA tournament the SEC only received three bids, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. Their combined record against the field was 12-3, which was the highest win percentage (.800) among all conferences.
There’s much more than meets the eye when it comes to SEC basketball. Though the SEC fans love their football religiously, more eyes need to pay attention when it comes to the SEC and basketball.
The SEC isn’t far away from these other conferences, as many people like to think it is. This conference is for real.
The Big 12 is in for a handful during the challenge.