2016-17 SEC Mens Basketball Projections

[jbcarol]

http://collegebasketball.ap.org/poll/2017/1

Others receiving votes: ..., Florida 18, ... , Mississippi St. 14, Texas A&M 14, ..., Vanderbilt 1

[jbcarol]

Sports Illustrated's Dan Hanner and Luke Winn ranked every team in Division I, from Duke to Florida A&M; from Kaintuck to Mizzou

School     Ranking
Kentucky     No. 3
Florida     No. 31
Texas A&M     No. 37
Vanderbilt     No. 54
Georgia     No. 58
Arkansas     No. 61
Ole Miss     No. 62
Mississippi State     No. 68
South Carolina     No. 77
Auburn     No. 79
Alabama     No. 87
Tennessee     No. 99
LSU     No. 104
Missouri     No. 190

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/BracketguyDave/status/793399184393117696

SEC looks like it might still be a year away from expanding its presence in March.  The league will definitely be better, but will more than three teams make it?  That's a tougher question to answer.

[jbcarol]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

1-seed UK
7-seed A&M
8-seed UF

First Four Out

    Georgia
    Virginia Tech
    Arkansas
    Vanderbilt

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/BracketguyDave/status/794889407186739201

Seed List

3. Kentucky
31. Florida
34. A&M

72. Georgia
75. Vandy
85. Arkansas
91. Ole Miss
92. Miss. St.
96. Bama

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein: 5 incoming recruiting classes to monitor in 2016-17

State: Ben Howland didn't just make a statement with his first recruiting class in Starkville — he put the rest of the SEC on notice.

59-year-old head coach signed seven high school players — Lamar Peters, Tyson Carter, Eli Wright, Mario Kegler, Schnider Herard, Abdul Ado, and E.J. Datcher — along with Louisiana Tech transfer Xavian Stapleton to give Mississippi State its best recruiting class in school history.

The Bulldogs lost four starters from last year's team so the majority of these guys are going to be thrown into the fire out of the gate.

Keep a close eye on Peters, Wright, Carter, Kegler, and Herard, who should all have the chance to put up major numbers during their first year of college basketball.

Growing pains are to be expected when you're relying on newcomers, but Howland has a nucleus in place that should put Mississippi State in contention for a bid to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

[jbcarol]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

1-seed UK
7-seed A&M
8-seed UF

First Four Out

    Georgia
    Virginia Tech
    Arkansas
    Vanderbilt

Kevin Brockway
‏@gatorhoops

Just got off phone w @ESPNLunardi who said he's "bullish" on Florida based on experience, talent returning

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/796846294539128832

"This is a good league with good teams and good players," Arkansas guard Dusty Hannahs said

"It's kind of like we're all the pretty girl with the big winter coat on and no one looks at her until she takes her coat off," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "Well, you guys gotta take a hard look at us and say, 'Hey, you know what? This league might be just as good as some of these other leagues.' "

Right now, no one is saying that.

"The SEC is improving. It's not quite there yet," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. "With Kentucky being separated – and they're separated – it's hard. The other teams in the league have to beat Kentucky to sort of prove to the committee they're legit."

The Wildcats, who've been to four Final Fours, two NCAA title games and won a national championship in seven seasons with John Calipari, are ranked No. 2 to start this season. No other SEC team is in the top 25.

Kentucky has a roster loaded with six former 5-star recruits – the same number as the rest of the league combined: Mustapha Heron at Auburn, Antonio Blakeney at LSU, PJ Dozier at South Carolina, Robert Hubbs at Tennessee, and Kasey Hill and Devin Robinson at Florida.

"Obviously, Kentucky is the best team by far. Or it should be the best team by far, talent-wise," Bilas said, but he likes the Gators, Aggies and Georgia to also make the NCAA Tournament. "The question is who's going to jump in behind, whether it's going to be a team like Arkansas or Vanderbilt or Alabama, and you wind up with five, maybe six NCAA Tournament teams coming from that conference."

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/NotJerryTipton/status/796902395615805440

[jbcarol]

Andy Kennedy's 11th season — the longest tenure of any SEC men's basketball or football coach — begins Friday against UT-Martin (6 p.m., SEC Network+) at The Pavilion.

Rebels at a glance
Starting 5

Cullen Neal, 6-4/191, Jr., 12.3 PPG at New Mexico in 2015-16

Deandre Burnett, 6-2/192, Jr. 7 PPG at Miami in 2015-15

Rasheed Brooks, 6-5/203, Sr., 9.9 PPG in 2015-16

Justas Furmanavicius, 6-7/210, Jr., 12.5 PPG at Three Rivers C.C. in 2015-16

Sebastian Saiz, 6-9/240, Jr., 11.7 PPG in 2015-16
Rotation players

Marcanvis Hymon, 6-7/220, Jr.

Terence Davis, 6-4/201, So.

Donte Fitzpatrick-Dorsey, 6-4/191, So.

Karlis Silins, 6-11/245, Fr.
Five games to watch

Dec. 3 - Memphis

The Tigers were picked to finish fifth in the AAC preseason poll and will be under the leadership of new coach Tubby Smith.

Dec. 11 - At Virginia Tech

This will be Ole Miss' first true road game of the season and it'll come against ACC foe Virginia Tech, which went 20-15 last season.

Dec. 29 - Kentucky

The Rebels open SEC play with a home game against the Wildcats, who will begin the season ranked fourth in the USA Today coaches poll and second in the Associated Press' rankings.

Jan. 28 - Baylor

The game against the Bears is part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and will be Ole Miss' last non-conference matchup of the season.

Jan. 31 - Mississippi State

The Rebels and Bulldogs split their first two meetings last season and this will be their first matchup of the season.
Best-case scenario

Ole Miss withstands the loss of Stefan Moody with balanced scoring from guards Cullen Neal and Deandre Burnett, while receiving scoring in the post from Sebastian Saiz, which helps the Rebels post another 20-win season under Andy Kennedy and outperform their projected ninth-place finish in the SEC.
Worst-case scenario

The Rebels don't find a consistent top scoring option and they experience growing pains as the newcomers take time to develop a rapport with one another, which causes Ole Miss to finish in the bottom half of the SEC standings after finishing sixth in the 14-team league a year ago.

[jbcarol]

http://www.bracketwag.com   Bracketologist for USA Today
11/07/2016

1-seed UK
9-seed A&M
10-seed UF
11-seed MS
11-seed Bama (first four)

First 1 out - Georgia

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/798226149914484738

Others receiving votes: ... Florida 38, ... Texas A&M 16, ... Mississippi State 4

[jbcarol]

ESPN College BBall ‏@ESPNCBB 7h7 hours ago

It's never too early for Bracketology.

The season's first bracket from @ESPNLunardi has arrived. Where's your team? http://es.pn/2eKeTXy

1-seed UK
6-seed UF
8-seed A&M

2nd among First Four out

Arkansas

3rd among Next Four out

Georgia

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/AP_Top25/status/800750255574839296

Others receiving votes: California 56, Maryland 55, Miami 44, Cincinnati 39, Wichita St. 36, Florida 34, ...

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/801587019243720704

"Oh boy. Obviously, extremely proud of our guys. Michigan is an unbelievably good basketball team. Michigan is a heck of a basketball team. Here is what was really neat about today's basketball game. ... Those guys did exactly what they said they need to do to win the game.

"The way we have always guarded. If you came and watched us my first year here, we guarded people. We had no rim protection. ... People couldn't run their offense against us, but the beat us on the glass. ... Now, we've got bigger guys. ... We had attention to detail. We were very good on player personnel. ...  At the end of the day, we made them play one-on-one and that is what our defense is designed to do."

Gamecocks should move up after home win.

[jbcarol]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Updated: November 24, 2016 | Autobid awarded to league champion or highest seed remaining

1-seed Kentucky
5-seed Florida
11-seed A&M

First Four Out include

Arkansas
South Carolina

Next Four out includes

Georgia


Joe Lunardi ‏@ESPNLunardi 22m22 minutes ago Drexel Hill, PA

Joe Lunardi Retweeted Chris Forman

Steady, folks. Boilers are No. 4 (South), not TCU. Some kind of Tryptophan error.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/BracketguyDave/status/801787413190283264

1. Kentucky
26. Florida
42. South Carolina
44. A&M
75. Georgia
82. Arkansas (14th team out)

[jbcarol]

 Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN 19h19 hours ago

Texas A&M's frontline so talented. Tyler Davis known commodity, D.J. Hogg long, makes shots; 6-9 FR Robert Williams may be best NBA prospect

[jbcarol]

 John Hayes ‏@johnP_hayes 9h9 hours ago

"Florida is very good. I think they're in for a special year" - Mark Few with @ESPNAndyKatz postgame


Few would know more

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/syrbasketball/status/802664707731681281

Most transparent SID ever?

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 2h2 hours ago

Mike White and Florida conclude a productive weekend in Orlando with a win over Miami. Gators are now 6-1 overall and trending upward.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/801587019243720704

Gamecocks should move up after home win.

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/802924051224207360

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN 35m35 minutes ago

It wasn't easy choosing between Kentucky, Villanova and UNC. New edition of ESPN's College Hoop Power Rankings:

1. Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 6-0
Last week's ranking: 2
The competition hasn't been great, but UK has been blowing teams out. In fact, the Wildcats have won their first six games by at least 21 points. It's just the third time in school history that has happened. The past two wins -- over Cleveland State and UT Martin -- have come without Isaiah [Zay] Briscoe (b[utt] injury).

16. South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 6-0
Last week's ranking: NR
Frank Martin's Gamecocks posted back-to-back wins over top-25 teams for the first time since 2008-09 after beating Michigan and Syracuse. South Carolina held Michigan to 46 points and Syracuse to 50.

17. Florida Gators
Record: 6-1
Last week's ranking: 19
Gators were just 2-of-19 from 3 in the loss to Gonzaga. They are shooting a putrid 29 percent from beyond the arc this season.

https://twitter.com/brodskyme/status/803258814250237952

[jbcarol]

AP Top 25: 3 SEC teams ranked in Week 4

Another week, another poll with Kentucky at the top.

Bigger news to SEC fans is the inclusion of South Carolina (6-0) and Florida (6-1) in the latest poll at No. 20 and No. 24, respectively.

The Gamecocks catapulted into the rankings after a big week, which included victories against Michigan and Syracuse.

Florida had a busy, yet productive week with wins against Belmont, Seton Hall and Miami with a close loss to Gonzaga.

[jbcarol]

http://www.bracketwag.com 
Official Bracketologist for http://www.usatoday.com , http://Indystar.com , http://collegeinsider.com

1 UK
6 UF
6 SC
9 A&M

Multi bid conferences - ACC (10), Big 10 (9), PAC 12 (7), Big 12 (6), Big East (4), SEC (4), ...

[jbcarol]

 Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops 8h8 hours ago

Kevin Brockway Retweeted NCAA March Madness

Notice how tweet differenciates South Carolina and USC, that's how it's done.


https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/804182116120530944

[jbcarol]

Joe Lunardi ‏@ESPNLunardi Nov 28

New seed list as a very full week begins (CAPS=AQ): 01-NOVA 02-Unc 03-UK

16-Flor 17-WISC 18-Wvu 19-Cuse 20-But 21-Zona 22-IaSt 23-ORE 24-Uri 25-CINC 26-NDame 27-SoCar

40-Okla 41-TexA&M 42-FlaSt

FIRST FOUR OUT: Texas Tech, Utah, Minnesota, Arkansas.

Difference between Seed List and my earlier T25: Seed List is what we think Committee would do (not how yours truly would vote).

[jbcarol]

Joe Lunardi ‏@ESPNLunardi 18h18 hours ago Drexel Hill, PA

Selection Sunday is in exactly 100 days (but who's counting...)

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology  Updated: December 1, 2016

1 UK
4 UF
6 SC
11 A&M

Last Four In  A&M
First Four Out  Arkansas

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/805474065440002048

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN 4h4 hours ago

There are 11 undefeated teams left: Notre Dame, Baylor, TCU, Butler, Villanova, Creighton, UCLA, USC, South Carolina, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's.

[jbcarol]

College basketball rankings, Week 5

No. 6    Kentucky
No. 19    South Carolina
No. 21    Florida

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/AuburnMBB/status/806196505375895552

[jbcarol]

Jacob Varner
‏@jacobvarner14

Florida (4), South Carolina (12), Arkansas (19), Auburn (21), and Kentucky (22) are the only SEC teams in the RPI top 25 currently.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/spiderpig60/status/806700106875543552

https://twitter.com/ESPNLunardi/status/806740087291592704

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/ESPNLunardi/status/806927344577363968

Last team in: Arkansas

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/807068192417992705

NCAA's RPI stat is somewhat flawed, but five conference teams rank in the top 25 of the rankings: Florida, South Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas and Kentucky. Ole Miss is just one spot out at No. 26.

In addition to No. 6 Kentucky, No. 21 Florida and No. 19 South Carolina have also forced their way into the AP Top 25.

There's still a brutal bottom, with four teams ranked outside of the top 150 in RPI, including former powerhouse Missouri. But regardless, the conference should be able to slide more than three teams into the NCAA tournament this year. ESPN's Bracketology currently projects five SEC teams in the tournament: Kentucky as a two-seed, Florida as a four-seed, South Carolina as a six-seed, Texas A&M as a 10-seed and Arkansas in a play-in game.

Kentucky's freshmen are ridiculous

South Carolina is living up to the hype –

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/807312113987424257

"He's earned equity around here," Martin said.

Thornwell's indefinite suspension was announced prior to the Gamecocks' 70-54 win against Florida International on Sunday.

Thornwell will travel with South Carolina to New York for its Monday game against Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden.

"He will do everything other than play in the game," Martin said. "That's important. Sometimes, you miss time because of ankle injury, a knee injury, a pulled hamstring. You can't allow an injury to deprive your team of becoming who it's supposed to be. ... This is a mental injury. He made a mental mistake. It's the same deal. He's fine and Sin's earned my respect and my trust for who he is. No different than my own son."

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman Verified account
‏@GoodmanESPN

Still 7 unbeatens left: Villanova, Baylor, UCLA, Gonzaga, Creighton, South Carolina and USC.


greg bradley
‏@gamecockdad2001

@GoodmanESPN @CharlesBloomSC I believe you mean Southern Cal and USC.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/johnclayiv/status/808116753779879937

"I'm worried" [sic]

Coach-speak, you say. Might this be the set-up for Camp Cal, that post-finals/Christmas break stretch when the 20-hour rule need not apply and the coach can all but lock his players into the Craft Center and force them do little else besides practice basketball, eat, sleep and practice more basketball?

"I'll give them a little time for video (games) and the phone," Cal said Sunday. "You don't do that, they're climbing the walls."

And yet, before you think this is a case of Calipari playing mind games, know that the coach has a point. Actually, he has several points.

Kentucky was outrebounded 45-41 Sunday.

Cats also committed 27 fouls. Hofstra shot 37 free throws. A pair of quick Pride guards, especially senior Deron Powers, had success slipping past Kentucky defenders to the basket to score or be fouled.

"The guys in here that know me, I like to have a team shoot 32 percent and still win the game," he said. "We won by six and couldn't make a shot. Made one three. Made some free throws. Couldn't make a basket and we still won. That's when you know you have a good team."

You can bet that's part of what worries the head coach.

https://twitter.com/JerryTipton/status/808078905638842368

[jbcarol]

 Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 6m6 minutes ago

This week's @FanRagSports Top 25:

1. Villanova

SEC puts three on "the page"

9. Kentucky

The Skinny: The Wildcats' next two opponents are North Carolina and Louisville.

15. South Carolina

The Skinny: Sindarius Thornwell's suspension was beyond disappointing.

South Carolina's Justin McKie will start in place of Sindarius Thornwell (suspension) tonight against Seton Hall, per Frank Martin.

[Among] Five on the cusp:

Auburn

The Skinny: Tigers have been a pleasant SEC surprise.

[jbcarol]

 David Cloninger ‏@DCTheState 17m17 minutes ago

The South Carolina men moved up three spots to No. 16 in this week's AP Top 25.

It's the highest ranking the Gamecocks have had since finishing 1997-98 at No. 14.

[jbcarol]

Shelby Mast ‏@BracketWAG 12h12 hours ago

so after that @UCF_MBB debacle, I've updated my bracket  http://www.bracketwag.com

2 UK
5 UF
6 SC
8 A&M
11 Arkansas

Multi bid conferences - ACC (11), Big 10 (7), Big 12 (6), PAC 12 (6), Big East (5), SEC (5) ...

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/808530765600452608

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/808709663961337860

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/espn/status/809450107573768193

2 seed  UK
5 seed  UF
6 seed  SC
9 seed  A&M

First Four out includes Arkansas

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell ‏@Michael_Carvell 15h15 hours ago

Ole Miss basketball freshman Karlis Silins done for season with ACL injury

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 56m56 minutes ago

The Big 12, Nevada, and why things are about to get real for Kentucky. The Rothstein Files @FanRagSports: http://bit.ly/2hFQss2 

Edging closer to conference play?

Calipari has always said that the Wildcats are able to do things that other programs in college basketball aren't able to do and part of that is directly related to the schedule that this team plays each and every season.

Kentucky's next two games — North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic, 5:45 ET, Saturday) and Louisville (Dec. 21st) — will provide the type of showcase that few programs can attain and also provide this team multiple litmus tests against two of the ACC's best.

Calipari has reiterated time and time again that he feels this specific team has to become elite defensively if it wants to become what it's capable of becoming and we'll get a real idea as how far along that process is over the next 80 minutes.

The Wildcats surrendered 97 points against UCLA...

[jbcarol]

John Gasaway ‏@JohnGasaway 2h2 hours ago

So Kentucky's worst game on offense this season, by far, is the one they won by 21 against Tom Izzo. This team will be fun to watch.

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 5h5 hours ago

The good part for Kentucky? It won the game. The bad? Cats are giving up an average of 98.5 PPG in two games against UCLA and UNC.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/810292852425195520