The SEC Hoops Power Poll is convening one last time this season for a year-end roundtable. It was an interesting year with lots to discuss about each team and what the future holds. Hope you enjoy our answers to the questions, check out the other blogs for their responses and make sure to look out for the final synopsis of roundtable answers over at GABA.
Here are our answers to the questions:
Let’s talk post-season awards. Who deserves SEC Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, and why?
I’m going to go blue on this one and say Brandon Knight and John Calipari. Knight was impressive and as just a freshman did some special things on the court. He will have a bright future and was the best player in the SEC this past year. Knight, a 6-3 guard from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., led the team and ranked fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game. His 4.2 assist average was second in the SEC. He set the UK freshman scoring record, scoring 657 points, and also broke the UK freshman 3-point record with 87 3s.
A Freshman All-American, Knight was also named the NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player as well as fifth-team All-America by FoxSports.com.
Coach Cal gets the nod due to his ability to take a team with lots of questions marks entering the season to oh so close to a NCAA crown. Some may not like his tactics or recruiting but you must give him credit when it comes to coaching talent. My honorable mention in the coaching award is Anthony Grant. Alabama has a gem of a coach in Grant and he will have the Tide at or near the top of the SEC West for many years to come.
Which program was the most pleasant surprise? Why?
Georgia. Coach Fox did a super job in getting the most out of this team. They had a great year in a tough division and an early NCAA exit. He has the ‘Dawgs poised for good things in the future as long as he can get the recruits in. For 2010, I did not give UGa enough credit and honestly thought USC would have a better year than them but we saw how that ended up. UGa surprised me.
Which program had the most disappointing season? Why?
Quite a few teams could go here but I am going to go with Vandy. I really thought they would win the East in 2010 as they had all the right parts to make a run at it. Not sure what was at fault in the team dynamics but it seems they could never find a consistent rhythm in their style of play as one game they would be impressive then the next outing look like a church basketball team.
Which coach’s seat is hottest going into 2011-2012? Will he survive to see another season?
Darrin Horn is on the hot seat. Yes, he is building a program but the way he has done it is not sitting well with the fan base. On top of that, results are not helping him. He has to make it to the NIT or NCAA in 2011-12 or it could fuel the cry for Hyman to write the check no matter how big it is. Horn has a solid recruiting class coming in so maybe improvements can be made over last season’s mess.
The league will have two new coaches next year: Arkansas’s Mike Anderson and Tennessee’s Cuonzo Martin. What do you see in their futures?
Anderson is a dream hire for Arkansas as he will get Arky back in the mix as an elite SEC team. Give him some time and he will have even Nolan Richardson smiling.
Martin is in a tough spot. He likely will not overcome the odds and not prove a success in Rocky Top. He could be a gap filler to ride out the sanctions, not ruin the program and give it up to someone of a bigger name in 3-4 years.
There you have it, my thoughts on what was SEC Basketball in 2010-2011. Wait til next year, right?
