My Preseason SEC Rankings

[bucsrule8872]

This is how I think the SEC finishes.


1 Florida
2 Kentucky
3 Arkansas
4 Alabama
5 Tennessee
6 Missouri
7 Auburn
8 Vanderbilt
9 Ole Miss
10 Texas A&M
11 Oklahoma
12 Mississippi St.
13 Texas
14 Georgia
15 LSU
16 SCAR

Now, this isn’t a direct reflection of who is better or worse. This takes into consideration schedules.

Our schedule is incredibly difficult. Seven of our nine road games are brutal. We play at UF, Arky, Bama, UT, Auburn, Vandy, and A&M. Vandy and A&M might be looking like middle of the road teams, but they are always tough at home.

UF’s schedule is a little easier, so while I feel like we have the better overall team, they will likely finish with a better record due to their better schedule.

Texas is also a victim of this unbalanced schedule. They have the toughest schedule, at least on paper, in the conference. So, while they look pretty good roster wise, I think they finish below some teams that aren’t as good.

I think we will see 12 or 13 SEC teams in the NCAA tourney.

Thoughts?

[UKWildcats1987]

I think either UK or FL will win regular season.

I agree as usual they did us 0 favors with schedule.

[SethC]

Sometimes I think the SEC first ranks who they think will be the best teams and then goes down the list scheduling our road games.

[KCKUKFan]

The league should be down, but seeing as how last year was the best we've ever seen, that's not saying a lot.

It will still be a grind. Lots of these teams worked the portal hard and brought back some key guys. Auburn and Bama should be down a little, but Florida with Fland and Condon will be a tough matchup.

I think Kentucky will be right there, neck in neck, with an actual chance to win the regular season, which is something we haven't been able to realistically say of late.

[WeWant9]

It’s interesting to see how teams like FL perform coming off a title. The spotlight it a little brighter and teams are going give a little more effort against the defending champs.

I do hope Auburn takes a step back, their rise in the SEC has annoyed me.

[Pete Hogwallop]

So this is where you think they will be ranked at the end of the season and not a preseason ranking? It looks pretty good either way.

EDIT - nevermind, I see you said that right above the list. I misunderstood the title.

[bucsrule8872]

The league should be down, but seeing as how last year was the best we've ever seen, that's not saying a lot.

It will still be a grind. Lots of these teams worked the portal hard and brought back some key guys. Auburn and Bama should be down a little, but Florida with Fland and Condon will be a tough matchup.

I think Kentucky will be right there, neck and neck, with an actual chance to win the regular season, which is something we haven't been able to realistically say of late.

The big thing about the SEC (as well as the rest of the nation) is the mass exodus of Seniors. With both fourth and fifth year Seniors running out of eligibility, every team is getting younger.

That bodes well for us. We saw what Pope can do with a brand new roster, now we get to see him with returning players. And we return a SEC and National Player of the Year candidate. And most of the portal guys we added are power conference guys.

Our schedule does us no favors, but this team is built for the road. Deep and experienced. They should not get rattled by rabid fans in the stands.

We will finish in the top four, at the very least, unless something goes really wrong, like another season of mass injuries.

[Pobilly]

UK, UF and ARK seem to be a head above the rest at least by roster. Those 3 will probably finish like I have here. The rest of the field will be much harder to figure out. The 4th team for now I will put Bama. Drop a bit for the rest of the field.

[40bill]

Even though Florida has a couple guards coming in they lost their top 3. Could they pull it off? Sure.
Not real sure Cal has his MOJO back and running at Arkansas.
I'd say top 4 are Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Missouri.
Why????
May as well.

[UKWildcats1987]

Sometimes I think the SEC first ranks who they think will be the best teams and then goes down the list scheduling our road games.

In theory it should rotate every other year for 6 opponents. Then they decide the random team we play twice and that is never random. Shocked it isn't Arkansas this year but defending champs makes sense rok.

[bucsrule8872]

Even though Florida has a couple guards coming in they lost their top 3. Could they pull it off? Sure.
Not real sure Cal has his MOJO back and running at Arkansas.
I'd say top 4 are Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Missouri.
Why????
May as well.

Top four guards. Aberdeen was the fourth guard in that rotation behind Clayton, Richard, and Martin.

[SportsFan]

Even though Florida has a couple guards coming in they lost their top 3. Could they pull it off? Sure.
Not real sure Cal has his MOJO back and running at Arkansas.
I'd say top 4 are Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Missouri.
Why????
May as well.

I like it. If for no other reason than the omission of Arkansas in your top 4. If Cal has proven anything the past half dozen years or so it's that a roster full of Mickey D's burger boys means nothing if the coaching strategy behind them is "RUN" and "GO"!!!

[Joneslab]

I mentioned on the other thread that Clayton was stitched so tightly into what Florida did, it's hard for me to see them winning the SEC. Even with Fland and Lee and the frontcourt returners.

I'd shuffle them more to 3rd or 4th.

And man, I'm ready to see Tennessee fall back now that Ziegler retired and is drawing Social Security. They've gotten in Kentucky's way A LOT in the Barnes era.

[bucsrule8872]

I mentioned on the other thread that Clayton was stitched so tightly into what Florida did, it's hard for me to see them winning the SEC. Even with Fland and Lee and the frontcourt returners.

I'd shuffle them more to 3rd or 4th.

And man, I'm ready to see Tennessee fall back now that Ziegler retired and is drawing Social Security. They've gotten in Kentucky's way A LOT in the Barnes era.

I think UT will step back a little with a new backcourt. Gillespie is a good PG, but I don’t think Abrams is all that great. And I don’t see a ton of depth at guard.

Their frontcourt should be able to hang with anyone. Carey, Okpara, Phillips, and Estrella are all pretty solid.

A lot hinges on Ament at the 3. Will he be able to fill the Knecht/Lanier wing scorer role? More importantly, will he get exposed defensively? The SEC is very physical and he is very thin.

Looking at our matchups, I think we have a huge advantage on the wings. Just can’t see Abrams or Ament checking Oweh very effectively. Oweh is just way too strong and physical for either of them.

[40bill]

Top four guards. Aberdeen was the fourth guard in that rotation behind Clayton, Richard, and Martin.

Absolutely correct. My miss.