SEC 2005-06 Preview
by Ryan Glenn
Some people say that the SEC is in a slump. They may be right, but when you have this much young talent, you are bound to do something right. Kentucky is, as usual, predicted to win the conference. With Patrick Sparks and Rajon Rondo leading the way, there is not much argument against it. Add a possibility of Randolph Morris in that line-up, and you will have a team that is a step above the rest of the conference.
After Kentucky, you have Alabama and LSU. Both are similar teams and should have a very close divisional race. The rest of the SEC could be considered a toss-up. There is so much youth in practically every team that it should produce some very exciting games this season.
The SEC will not be as bad as some are predicting, but that is not saying they will have a great year. The SEC will have some surprises and disappointments as the youth emerges. This may be a statement most will not agree with, but the SEC will have two teams in the Sweet 16 this year. Just looking at the schedules for the SEC teams, you can find so many games that should be very up-tempo. This is going to be a different conference this year of course, but it will produce more talent than expected.
Hoopville’s All-SEC Team
First Team
Rajon Rondo, So. G, Kentucky
Ronnie Brewer, Jr. G, Arkansas
Ronald Steele, So. G, Alabama
Glen Davis, So. F, LSU
Chuck Davis, Sr. F, Alabama
Second Team
Patrick Sparks, Sr. G, Kentucky
Mario Moore, Sr. G, Vanderbilt
Chris Lofton, So. G, Tennessee
Jermareo Davidson, Jr. C, Alabama
Corey Brewer, So. F, Florida
Hoopville’s Preseason Awards
MVP: Glen Davis
Big Baby will have many more opportunities to score with last year’s leading scorer, Brandon Bass, gone. Davis should also play much better after gaining a year of experience.
Freshman of the Year: Tasmin Mitchell
Mitchell, a McDonald’s All-American, will excel in a very youthful league.
Newcomer of the Year: Rekalin Sims
Sims, a 6’8″ transfer to the Wildcats, should put up great numbers if given the opportunity.
Defensive Player of the Year: Rajon Rondo
Rondo’s quickness led him to a league leading 2.6 steals a game in his freshman season. Expect even more from him after he gained more confidence after being thrown in to Kentucky basketball last season.
Coach on the Hot Seat: Billy Donovan
After a disappointing finish to the season last year, Donovan is challenged with a team whose leading returning scorer only averages 7.5 ppg.
SEC East
1. Kentucky Wildcats
28-6 (14-2) first in SEC East
Projected Starters:
G – Rajon Rondo, So.
G – Patrick Sparks, Sr.
G – Joe Crawford, So.
F – Rekalin Sims, Jr.
C – Shagari Alleyne, Jr. (if no Randolph Morris)
Schedule Highlights: vs. North Carolina 12-3, vs. Louisville 12-17, vs. Alabama 1-14, @ LSU 2-11
Projected to win the SEC, Tubby Smith and his Wildcats will still have some work to do along the way. Losing Chuck Hayes’ leadership and leading scorer Kelenna Azubuike will make the Wildcats look like a new team. Randolph Morris, who is back after not being selected in the NBA draft, still has his eligibility in question. As of this writing, no specific date had been set for his return; however, he should be back near the start of the season. Lukasz Obrzut and Shagari Alleyne will be forced to step up and make there presence known in Morris’s absence. Rekalin Sims is the only newcomer to the team that is expected to produce right away. Sims, a JuCo transfer, averaged 19.4 ppg the past two seasons. Rajon Rondo is going to have much of the weight on his shoulders this season. After just a year of experience, Kentucky is going to be expecting Rondo and senior Patrick Sparks to run this offense. Sparks is the only player returning to average over ten points a game. Kentucky will once again have a great amount of talent and depth that should lead them to the SEC crown.
2. Vanderbilt Commodores
20-14 (8-8) third in SEC East
Projected Starters:
G – Mario Moore, Sr.
G – Shan Foster, So.
G – Derrick Byars, Jr.
F – Julian Terrell, Sr.
F – DeMarre Carroll, So.
Schedule Highlights: @ Georgia Tech 1-3, @ Kentucky 1-10, vs. Tennessee 3-4
Vanderbilt seems to be quietly preparing for a possible SEC run. Senior Mario Moore will have his last chance to lead this team to a successful season. Moore, who showed signs of inconsistency last season, is poised to take this team on his shoulders and surprise a few people this season. Julian Terrell will try to make his senior season consistent. Terrell has showed signs of a star player, but has periods of mediocre play. Derrick Byars, a Virginia transfer, should make a great addition as a starting forward. This is Vanderbilt’s best shot for a SEC championship and a run in the post season.
3. Tennessee Volunteers
14-17 (6-10) 5th in SEC East
Projected Starters:
G – Chris Lofton, So.
G – C.J. Watson, Sr.
G – Stanley Asumnu, Sr.
C – Major Wingate, Jr.
F – Andre Patterson, Sr.
Schedule Highlights: @ Texas 12-17, vs. Vanderbilt 2-1, vs. Kentucky 3-1
In Tennessee, they are hoping that Bruce Pearl is going to help turn this team around after a slump the past few years. Pearl, who took Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the Sweet 16 last season, is going to have his players running the entire game. Expect Tennessee to have a dangerous press. Tennessee is going to be with out Jemere Hendrix, who was dismissed from the team, and top scorers Scooter McFadgon and Brandon Crump. Filling this void will be C.J. Watson and Chris Lofton. Both played big roles last year and will step-up to the next level this season. Ryan Childress should fit nicely into Pearl’s system as he was originally signed by Pearl and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Tennessee’s speed and endurance should allow them to compete with all the teams in the conference.
4. Florida Gators
24-8 (12-4) second in SEC East
Projected Starters:
G – Taurean Green, So.
G – Corey Brewer, So.
G – Lee Humphrey, Jr.
C – Al Horford, So.
F – Chris Richard, Jr.
Schedule Highlights: @ Tennessee 1-21, @ Alabama 2-26, @ Kentucky 3-5
The team with the biggest challenge this year has to be Florida. Losing Matt Walsh, Anthony Roberson, and David Lee all at once could be tough. The trio accounted for 59 percent of the points for the Gators last season and had a great on-court presence. This leaves Al Horford and Corey Brewer to lead this team. Both have been in the shadow but have consistently put up good numbers. Look for them to both have great stats this year when given the opportunity to take over this team. Florida fans might consider this year a downfall, but the experience could come together and make them conference contenders.
5. South Carolina Gamecocks
20-13 (7-9) fourth in SEC East; NIT Champions
Projected Starters:
G – Tre Kelley, Jr.
G – Tarence Kinsey, Sr.
F – Brandon Wallace, Jr.
F – Renaldo Balkman, Jr.
F – Rocky Trice, Sr.
Schedule Highlights: vs. Pittsburgh 12-28, vs. Vanderbilt 2-25, vs. LSU 2-28
They may have lost their leading scorer in Carlos Powell, but last year’s NIT champions have a great deal of experience with their returning players. South Carolina will be going with a smaller starting lineup Rocky Trice will become a starter this year and should make more of an impact than last season coming off the bench. Don’t expect the Gamecocks’ newcomers to produce right away with so many upperclassmen on the roster. Dominique Archie and Ousmane Konate should have some quality playing time that will prepare them a good deal for next season. It would not be a surprise to see South Carolina defending their championship in the NIT.
6. Georgia Bulldogs
8-20 (2-14) sixth in SEC East
Projected Starters:
G – Levi Stukes, Jr.
G – Sundiata Gaines, So.
G – Channing Toney, So.
C – Dave Bliss, So.
F – Steve Newman, Jr.
Schedule Highlights: @ Western Kentucky 11-26, vs. Georgia Tech 12-7, @ Florida 3-1
After a disappointing season, the Bulldogs will bring back all five starters and have also attempted to fix their lack of depth on the roster. Dave Bliss and Steve Newman should put up much better numbers as the teamwork and experience comes together. Levi Stukes, the team’s leading scorer, should produce even more after two years under his belt. Sundiata Gaines should also make a bigger impact this season. Gaines, who averaged 12 points a game, will hit the court with a much larger confidence after a year of college play. Dennis Felton might have more depth this season, but their overall lack of experience will show up in each game.
SEC West
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
24-8 (12-4) Tied for first in SEC West
Projected Starters:
G – Ronald Steele, So.
G – Jean Felix, Sr.
G – Evan Brock, Sr
F – Jermareo Davidson, Jr.
F – Chuck Davis, Sr.
Schedule Highlights: @ Kentucky 1-14, @ LSU 1-21, vs. LSU 2-4, vs. Vanderbilt 2-8
Predicted to finish first in the SEC West, the Crimson Tide are going to have some adjustments to make. Losing Kennedy Winston, the league’s leading scorer last season, and Earnest Shelton have left some big shoes for the newcomers to fill. One of those newcomers is the 6’7″ freshman, Richard Hendrix. Hendrix, after turning down North Carolina and the NBA, should be able to make an instant impact down low. Alabama will also have Preseason First Team All-SEC Players Chuck Davis and Ronald Steele returning. Steele, who averaged 7.9 ppg, is expected to have a much bigger season along will Davis, who is the team’s leading returning scorer. Alabama should have no problem winning the West with this much talent.
2. LSU Tigers
20-10 (12-4) Tied for first in SEC West
Projected Starters:
G – Darrel Mitchell, Jr.
G – Ben Voogd, Fr.
G – Alex Farrer, Fr.
F – Glen Davis, So.
F – Tasmin Mitchell, Fr.
Schedule Highlights: vs. Cincinnati (in Las Vegas) 12-23, @ Alabama 2-4, vs. Kentucky 2-25
Though LSU lost two big players in Brandon Bass and Antonio Hudson, the Tigers still have the look of what could be a great team. Tasmin Mitchell, who will join Glen Davis down-low, is the highly-touted freshman that is expected to produce right away. Mitchell averaged 27 points and 10 rebounds in his senior season and will have a great shot at claming SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Another loss for the Tigers is the suspension of Tack Minor for an academic-related infraction of the University’s Code of Student Conduct. Minor will not be able to play until the fall semester ends in December. Expect to see less playing time from Minor if any of the newcomers are playing well. The Tigers will compete for the division title, but could have problems if nobody else steps up.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks
18-12 (6-10) fourth in SEC West
Projected Starters:
G – Ronnie Brewer, Jr.
G – Eric Ferguson, Sr.
F – Darian Townes
F – Charles Thomas, So.
C – Steven Hill, So.
Schedule Highlights: vs. UConn (in Maui) 11-21, @ Alabama 1-18
With four starters returning, Coach Stan Heath is confident that the Razorbacks are going to be a team to watch out for this season. With Olu Famutimi gone, Arkansas has been trying to fill that hole quickly. As of now, it looks like freshman Sean McCurdy will take over. McCurdy missed his senior season of high school with a broken foot, but has fully recovered. Arkansas is a well-balanced team and uses their bench often. Last season, the Razorbacks had eight players who averaged fifteen minutes or more each game. Look for them to wear down opponents with their rotation and surprise a few teams in the SEC.
4. Ole Miss Rebels
14-17 (4-12) Tied for fifth in SEC West
Projected Starters:
G – Bam Doyne, Jr.
G – Brandon Patterson, So.
G – Todd Abernethy, Jr.
F – Londrick Nolen, Sr.
C – Dwayne Curtis, So.
Schedule Highlights: vs. Memphis 12-17, @ Tennessee 2-4, @ LSU 3-4
The Rebels come into this season with four new starters and an overall lack of experience. Landrick Nolen, the only returning starter and lone senior, will be looking to improve his 9.8 points a game as he touches the ball more. With a majority of the team being either freshmen or sophomores, the Rebels will be looking for a couple of people to rise above the rest and become a key player. Todd Abernethy, a consistent scorer since his freshman year, will once again take the point guard position. He averages 8.3 points a game and should raise that this season. The NIT would be considered an achievement for the Rebels.
5. Mississippi State Bulldogs
23-11 (9-7) third in SEC West
Projected Starters:
G – Dietric Slater, Jr.
G – Jamont Gordan, Fr.
G – Richard Delk, Fr.
F – Charles Rhodes, So.
C – Wesley Morgan, Sr.
Schedule Highlights: vs. Ole Miss 2-18, vs. Alabama 3-04
Rick Stansbury could have a long season ahead of him. Losing all five starters and the top six scoring and rebounding leaders is enough to wipe out any team. Despite all of this, Stansbury has some talent left and some newcomers that should fit in nicely. Jamall Edmondson will have the ball in his hands and be expected to produce much more than last season. Wesley Morgan will be taking over the center position, and will have to adjust quickly after averaging just 7.8 minutes per game last season. The Bulldogs are going to be counting on their newcomers to keep them competitive. Jamont Gordon is expected to make an instant impact along with twin brothers Reginald and Richard Delk. If the Bulldogs can bring all this talent together, there will be nothing but good things for this team.
6. Auburn Tigers
14-17 (4-12) Tied for fifth in SEC West
Projected Starters:
G – Daniel Hayles, So.
G – Michael Woodard, Jr.
G – Ronny LeMelle, Sr.
F Frank Tolbert, So.
F – Korvotney Barber, Fr.
Schedule Highlights: @ Tennessee 2-15, vs. Alabama 3-1
Jeff Lobo has a challenge this season after losing four starters. Daniel Hayles is going to have to show his leadership abilities as he is the lone returnee. Over the off-season, the Tigers have abandoned their small line-up for a big roster with more height. Michael Woodard, the JuCo transfer from California, will take over point guard duties after averaging 16.2 ppg in his junior college league. Auburn has the talent to be a surprise team, but their lack of experience looks to be a major roadblock. Though they are a major rebuilding project, the Tigers are already looking much better.
