SEC Conference Preview
The Southeastern Conference enters its 72nd season with an influx of new talent, one new coach and several teams looking to unseat the powers at the top. Unfortunately for these teams, Kentucky again looks to be at the head of the class.
The Eastern division crown should be the Wildcats’ for the taking. Despite losing five seniors from last year’s team, Tubby Smith should once again be able to rally the troops into continuing their dominance over Florida and the rest of the division. The only teams that are capable of contending with UK are Florida and Tennessee. Billy Donovan’s Gators certainly have enough talent to win the division and both teams return all five starters, but the Vols are more likely to play the kind of tough, team basketball it takes to win in the SEC. South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Georgia are still teams capable of beating anyone on any given night, but do not have the talent to contend with the other three this year.
Out West, it looks like Mississippi State is going to ride Lawrence Roberts as far as he takes them, and, again, that will be to first place in the SEC West. LSU and Alabama are going to make sure that they do not walk to the title, but in the end MSU will be on top. As far as the rest of the division goes, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Auburn should be in a three way battle of different sorts. All three will battle it out for last place in the division. New coach Jeff Lebo inherits a bare cupboard at Auburn so the Tigers are early favorites to be the cellar-dwellers, while Ole Miss will deeply hurt from the loss of Justin Reed. Arkansas should be slightly better after another year under Stan Heath, but not enough to make any noise in this deep conference.
So in the end, look for the East to continue to dominate the West and expect the Kentucky Wildcats to again win the conference tournament crown. In a talented conference, expect Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State, LSU and Alabama to make NCAA tournament appearances with Vandy and South Carolina squeaking in as well or being NIT favorites.
1st Team All-SEC
Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State F 6-9 240 Sr.
Scooter McFadgon, Tennessee G 6-5 207 Sr.
Chuck Hayes, Kentucky F 6-6 247 Sr.
Anthony Roberson, Florida G 6-1 180 Jr.
Kennedy Winston, Alabama F 6-6 205 Jr.
Player of the Year
Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State
It’s nearly impossible to name anyone else the SEC’s player of the year considering what Roberts is returning to build on. After shunning the NBA for his senior season, Roberts should continue to improve on his averages of 16.9 ppg and 10.1 rpg while leading MSU to the SEC’s western division crown.
Coach of the Year
Buzz Peterson, Tennessee
Peterson will finally have his breakthrough with the experienced Vols, making a deep run into both the SEC and NCAA tournament. After this season, it will be impossible to mention the top SEC coaches with out mentioning Michael Jordan’s college roommate.
Defensive Player of the Year
Chuck Hayes, Kentucky
Hayes again figures to be the inside presence for the ‘Cats, whose defense again figures to be the conference’s best. The versatile Hayes, standing 6-6, can bang inside with the SEC’s biggest or step out and provide solid perimeter defense on the conference’s quickest. Hayes is the glue that will hold everything together for UK’s defense.
Newcomer of the Year
Anyone from the University of Kentucky’s incoming class
When your freshman class includes three McDonald’s All-Americans (center Randolph Morris and guards Joe Crawford and Rajon Rondo), a New York high school stud (guard Ramel Bradley) and a former first team All-Sun Belt point guard (Patrick Sparks), you have a lot to smile about. Tubby Smith expects to rely heavily on his newcomers and any of themcould emerge as the conference’s best newcomer. The 6-11 Morris is the early favorite to win. Watch out for LSU’s 6-9 Glenn Davis, though.
Coach on the Hot Seat
Billy Donovan, Florida
Donovan will find himself searching for more W’s and less turmoil this season. After two seasons of highs (reaching No. 1 in the polls) and lows (early tournament exits) Donovan needs to prove something to antsy Gator fans or else he could be following football coach Ron Zook out of Gainesville. The Gators are talented enough for Donovan stick around, but he has to prove that he can coach as well as recruit before that talent produces.
Eastern Division
1. Kentucky Wildcats
27-5 (13-3), 1st in Eastern Division, SEC tournament champs
Returning Starters: C/F Chuck Hayes, G/F Kelenna Azubuike
The Wildcats lose 5 seniors off the SEC tournament championship teams and have only two seniors on the 2004-2005 roster. That should not be a problem, thanks to Tubby Smith and Chuck Hayes. Hayes, an undersized center will move to forward as he plays with a center for the first time in his UK career. 6-11 freshman Randolph Morris, the gem of UK’s number 1 recruiting class, will be UK’s first legitimate inside player since Jamal Magloire. Scoring duties should fall squarely into the burly arms of Junior Kelenna Azubuike, a prolific scorer who averaged 40 ppg in high school. Freshman Rajon Rondo and Ramel Bradley will compete with Western Kentucky transfer Patrick Sparks for the point guard job. In the end, look for Tubby Smith’s troops to band together and make a deep tournament run, one that could end in a national championship.
2. Tennessee Volunteers
15-14 (7-9), 5th in Eastern Division
Returning Starters: G Dane Bradshaw, G C.J. Watson, C Major Wingate, F Brandon Crump, G Scooter McFadgon
With all five starters returning from an NIT team, this could be the year that Buzz Peterson gets recognized for his coaching skills and not just for being Michael Jordan’s college roommate. Scooter McFadgon will again carry the scoring load with Brandon Crump providing the inside muscle. C.J. Watson will team up with McFadgon to form arguably the SEC’s best backcourt. Add freshman Chris Lofton, 2004 Mr. Kentucky basketball, to the mix and this is a very formidable team. The Vols will return all five of their starters, and one thing the SEC has proven over the years is that there is no substitute for experience. Look for big things from this year’s squad, including a NCAA bid, and maybe even a deep run in the tournament.
3. Florida Gators
20-11 (9-7), 2nd in Eastern Division
Returning Starters: G Lee Humphrey, F David Lee, F Adrian Moss, F Matt Walsh, G Anthony Roberson
With its top three players returning in Lee, Roberson and Walsh, big things will be expected in Gainesville, not to say it hasn’t in the past. If the Gators experience another early round flameout in the NCAA tournament, Billy Donovan and his slick recruiting skills could be given his walking papers. It’s hard to see that happening though this year when Donovan has, possibly, his most experienced team yet. No early departures ensured that the starting give returns and with the addition of new assistant coach Larry Shyatt, the Gators should see some improvement in the toughness and defense departments. If the Gators toughen up and figure out how to play up to their ability every night, they could be a VERY scary team.
4. South Carolina Gamecocks
23-11 (8-8), 3rd in Eastern Division
Returning Starters: G Josh Gonner, G Tarence Kinsey, F Carlos Powell
Dave Odom’s 2004-2005 South Carolina Gamecocks should be very similar to the previous version. Despite the loss of Relando Howell, the Gamecocks should remain a threat every night out on the court with the return of Carlos Powell and the growth of Tre Kelley and Brandon Wallace, who have spent the summer playing on an All-Star team. Powell could be a dark horse for first team all-conference awards, but it will be tough for him to get votes on a team that gets so little attention. A NCAA bid might not be out of the question, but the NIT is a more likely destination.
5. Vanderbilt Commodores
23-10 (8-8), 3rd in Eastern Division
Returning Starters: G Jason Holwerda, G Mario Moore, F Corey Smith, C Dawid Przybyszewski
OK Vandy fans, don’t throw in the towel just yet. Sure, Matt Freije is gone and he was the heart and soul of the team for the past two years but Kevin Stallings returns. Stallings, another up-and-coming coach in the SEC, returns to Nashville after flirting with the Ohio State job. He has steadily improved Vanderbilt every year, but they might step back a bit this year. The Commodores are returning four starters but if they do not take a major step backwards, its going to be because of what “The Chef” is cooking. Dawid Przybyszewski (pronounced Shiv-uh-chef-ski), a 7-2 center proved late in the year last year that he was a dependable offensive option. The Chef is the most underrated player in the SEC and should garner second or third team All-Conference honors.
6. Georgia Bulldogs
16-14 (7-9), 5th in Eastern Division
Returning Starters: G Levi Stukes
Year two of the Dennis Felton salvaging program begins this year with a fairly inexperienced cast of players. Sophomore guard Levi Stukes should carry most of the load, but the Bulldogs talent is not near the top tier of the conference like it has been the past few years. The pre-NCAA talent is gone now with little incoming help in sight. With that being said, it might be another year or so until the Bulldogs can compete with teams using their basketball skills. Look for the physical thuggery to continue for one more year, until Felton can bring in and develop more talent. At least there aren’t any more Harricks around to mess things up.
Western Division
1. Mississippi State Bulldogs
26-4 (14-2), 1st in Western Division
Returning Starters: G Winsome Frazier, F Lawrence Roberts, G Shane Power
Mississippi State will have enormous expectations this year after having such a successful campaign a year ago. Coach Rick Stansbury has begun to emerge as one of the top coaches in the country with 48 wins over the past two years. This is the year they hope that their tournament dreams come to reality. These hopes will rest squarely on the broad shoulders of Lawrence Roberts, who withdrew from the NBA draft this summer. Roberts, a pre-season Wooden Award candidate, should carry the Bulldogs far, but unless someone else steps up, mainly sophomore guard Gary Ervin, another NCAA flameout is likely. Last year’s team might have been Stansbury’s best chance to make a run in the tournament. Without Roberts, this team is only in the middle of the SEC pack.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
20-13 (8-8), 2nd in Western Division
Returning Starters: C Jermareo Dawson, F Chuck Davis, F Kennedy Winston, G Earnest Shelton
There will be two tough tasks for the Crimson Tide this year. The first is filling the shoes of Antoine Pettway, who provided solid leadership last year and steadily commanded the ship into the Elite Eight. The second major task at Alabama is finding a way to keep Mark Gottfried in town after this year. Gottfried is going to start receiving phone calls from bigger schools after another solid year (maybe even Florida if Billy Donovan tanks again). This year’s team should have a much better conference record, thanks to the all-around play of Kennedy Winston, a Pre-Season Wooden Award candidate. The four returning starters alone should provide enough experience and leadership to will the Tide to several wins. Whether or not they can let last season’s postseason success carry into this year is yet to be seen. They could be the Mississippi State of this season if they can.
3. LSU Tigers
18-11 (8-8), 2nd in Western Division
Returning Starters: F Brandon Bass, G Antonio Hudson, G Xavier Whipple, G Darrel Mitchell
The Tigers will once again rely on inside presence and muscle to keep them in games. Although they lost MVP Jaime Lloreda to graduation, Brandon Bass will return a year older and a year stronger. He will team inside with McDonald’s All-American Glen Davis whose 6’9″ 310 pound body will bang with anyone in the country. The Tigers, like Alabama, could threaten Mississippi State’s reign in this division. The most likely scenario, however, is that the Tigers have a solid season full of physical inside play and get a bid to the NCAA tournament.
4. Arkansas Razorbacks
12-16 (4-12), 6th in Western Division
Returning Starters: G Ronnie Brewer, G Eric Ferguson, G/F Jonathon Modica, G/F Olu Famutimi
Stan Heath, not the Razorback team, has been the real loser in since he arrived in Fayetteville. Heath has not had a chance to show his coaching skills due to a lack of talent and cannot get attention to his program with former coach Nolan Richardson and his dramas still dominating the news. Unfortunately for Heath, his team again will only go as far as talented youngsters Ronnie Brewer and Jonathon Modica will take it. In this conference, that will not be too far. This team might press its way to enough wins to squeeze into the NIT, but don’t hold your breath. Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman where have you gone?
5. Ole Miss Rebels
13-15 (5-11), 4th in Western Division
Returning Starters: G Justin Johnson, G Todd Abernathy, F/C Tommie Eddie
There will be two enormous pairs of shoes to fill in Oxford this fall when the basketball season starts. Justin Reed and Aaron Harper were the emotional and statistical leaders of Ole Miss last year and both are gone. Ole Miss’ team this year will be one with a lot of questions and holes to fill but one thing is for sure. Rod Barnes will have his players coming out every night to play, as they have in his previous six years at the school. Unfortunately for Barnes, without any talent, all that heart and hard work is not going to mean any W’s. Ole Miss can be thankful for one thing: at least Auburn is in their division.
6. Auburn Tigers
14-14 (5-11), 4th in Western Division
Returning Starters: G Nathan Watson, G Ian Young
New coach Jeff Lebo’s version of the Auburn Tigers will look drastically different after two top players transferred to Indiana University. Lewis Monroe announced that he would follow Marco Killingsworth to Bloomington, making the 2004-2005 Tigers more likely to purr than roar. Don’t expect anything but several blowouts and a cellar finish. No post-season at all for the Tigers. It’s no wonder Lebo named his dad an assistant coach. He is going to need daddy’s shoulder to cry on many times this year.
Once again, the SEC East should dominate over the West and Kentucky should run away with the conference championships. Look for the NCAA tournament to start with no less than six SEC representatives, all capable of stringing together enough of a hot streak to push to the Final Four. In the end, the SEC should continue to challenge the ACC as the nation’s most dominant conference and Lawrence Roberts should coast to the player of the year award.
