First off, We all know that the SEC as a basketball conference was down last year and the detractors didn't waste any time pouncing on the oppurtunities to label them dead and insignificant, but this is a new year. This year the SEC has 6 teams in the top 64 of the RPI ratings.(www.realtimerpi.com) Only the Big 12 (8) and the Big East (10) boost more than the SEC. The league also has some very good wins over teams such as North Carolina, Louisville, UConn, Missourri, Kansas, Michigan St, Florida St, Geogia Tech, Illinois, Kansas St, Baylor, and Virginia. The biggest case you can make for the improvement of the SEC would be Kentucky in most peoples minds, but not here. Georgia, a team that most expected to do little to nothing coming into the season holds wins over Georgia Tech and Illinois not to mention beating Tennessee at home. Auburn a team that most have low expectations for like Georgia holds a win over a Virginia team that is sitting atop the ACC standings. That win against Baylor is owned by Alabama. The biggest improvement for the SEC can be defined by the teams that aren't expected to go anywhere this year, but can beat a top 15 team on any given night. On the other hand, Kentucky can not be overlooked.
On this very day Kentucky has earned the no.1 ranking in the country. North Carolina, Louisville, and UConn are just 3 of the teams that have fell to a young and talented squad for Kentucky. I can remember years ago watching the "Fab Five" with there black socks and young excitable attitudes and play as they gathered both support and hate from the country, but attention. With less than 30 days away from the beginning of March and the madness that comes with it the Wildcats are once again capturing the attention of the nation, which brings attention to the entire league. Kentucky is not that Michigan team. Michigan didn't have the depth coming off the bench that Kentucky has, nor did they have a veteran player like Patrick Patterson that some have as a early first round to lottery pick. Neither did Michigan have the charismatic figure of Coach Cal at the helm. No matter what you think about the guy, rather you love him or you are with Bob Knight, or somewhere in between, far off left, or right, the guy wins and brings a lot of attention wherever he goes, but that does not mean that he or his teams are untouchable, especially not in a league as good as this.
There are those that think that Kentucky has a chance to run the table in the SEC but I say not a chance. I say ask Kansas if they think Kentucky will run the tables in the SEC, ask Michigan St, Florida St, Illinois, Georgia Tech, and Kansas State. Kentucky's last 4 road games come against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt on a Saturday and a Tuesday within a 3 day span and against Tennessee and Georgia on a Saturday and a Wednesday before going back home to end the season. If I were a betting man I would say that Kentucky suffers atleast 2 losses in the month of February, oops I am.
Finally, there is the Big East, Big 12, then maybe 4 leagues, the Big 10, Acc, Atlantic 10, and the SEC. With wins over then #1 Kansas and then #2 Michigan State to top things off, the SEC can boost some of the best wins and now the best team in college basketball. Choose to believe or not believe but the SEC is back and definitely far from fade material. March is coming!
On this very day Kentucky has earned the no.1 ranking in the country. North Carolina, Louisville, and UConn are just 3 of the teams that have fell to a young and talented squad for Kentucky. I can remember years ago watching the "Fab Five" with there black socks and young excitable attitudes and play as they gathered both support and hate from the country, but attention. With less than 30 days away from the beginning of March and the madness that comes with it the Wildcats are once again capturing the attention of the nation, which brings attention to the entire league. Kentucky is not that Michigan team. Michigan didn't have the depth coming off the bench that Kentucky has, nor did they have a veteran player like Patrick Patterson that some have as a early first round to lottery pick. Neither did Michigan have the charismatic figure of Coach Cal at the helm. No matter what you think about the guy, rather you love him or you are with Bob Knight, or somewhere in between, far off left, or right, the guy wins and brings a lot of attention wherever he goes, but that does not mean that he or his teams are untouchable, especially not in a league as good as this.
There are those that think that Kentucky has a chance to run the table in the SEC but I say not a chance. I say ask Kansas if they think Kentucky will run the tables in the SEC, ask Michigan St, Florida St, Illinois, Georgia Tech, and Kansas State. Kentucky's last 4 road games come against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt on a Saturday and a Tuesday within a 3 day span and against Tennessee and Georgia on a Saturday and a Wednesday before going back home to end the season. If I were a betting man I would say that Kentucky suffers atleast 2 losses in the month of February, oops I am.
Finally, there is the Big East, Big 12, then maybe 4 leagues, the Big 10, Acc, Atlantic 10, and the SEC. With wins over then #1 Kansas and then #2 Michigan State to top things off, the SEC can boost some of the best wins and now the best team in college basketball. Choose to believe or not believe but the SEC is back and definitely far from fade material. March is coming!
