The bloggers invloved in the SEC Hoops Power Poll conducted a roundtable discussion recently about the state of play in the best conference in the southeast. This year,A Bulldog in Exile is hosting and below are this Gamecocks blog’s answers…
1. What teams are locks, probables and bubble teams for the NCAA tournament? Why?
Locks: Florida, Vandy, Kentucky
Florida, Vandy and Kentucky are the best teams in the SEC. Hands down they are in.
Probables: Alabama, Georgia
These two teams seemed poised to close out the season in good shape and if they don’t flop in the SEC tourney then they could make it
Bubble: Tennessee
This team is bi-polar. They have the RPI and SOS but just cannot back it up with quality wins at the right time.
2. What is your story of the year for the conference?
Got to say Alabama and the way that Coach Grant has positioned them for success. He has done an excellent coaching job and one could say the West is weak but he has done a great job this season in getting it done for Bama.
I hope USC’s Coach Horn is looking at Coach Grant as the “bar setter” and ready to step it up in his own program.
3. Who is your player of the year? Why?
John Jenkins. He is Vandy basketball this season and has carried the team on the 2011 journey. Gets his 20+ points a game, shoots excellent from the FT line and the 3 ball arch.
4. Who is the coach of the year? Why?
Anthony Grant. He has taken Bama basketball out from underneath the Saban shadow in 2011.
5. What SEC team will go furthest in the NCAA tournament? In one of the other post season tourneys?
Kentucky will go the deepest. They have all the right tools and seem to be getting better as the season is wrapping up. Coach Cal will have his troops ready as long as they end up in a good region.
Watch what MSU does in the NIT. They could make a run.
Bonus question: Does any team not currently in your NCAA tournament discussion have a team that could win the SEC tournament?
Yes, Mississippi State could surprise and sneak up on someone if they are not careful.
