The SEC despatched 8 colleges to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. No league despatched extra. And this season must be so much of the similar because the convention that brags about it simply that means extra continues to spend money on the game to the purpose the place the extent of coaches and assets within the league has arguably by no means been higher.
The league identify turns out utterly up for grabs with Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas A&M comprising a gaggle from which maximum consider a champ will emerge. The poll I submitted had Arkansas first — however the Razorbacks in truth completed fourth when our panel’s votes have been counted. That suggests, once more, that issues may just rather move a wide range of alternative ways within the peak part of the SEC.
The greatest SEC storyline?
It’s John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats, I feel.
UK hasn’t made a Sweet 16 since 2019 or a Final Four since 2015 regardless of enrolling a top-two recruiting magnificence in 8 of the previous 9 years. Calipari has now long gone 8 years at Kentucky with out achieving the Final Four regardless of by no means going 8 years at UMass or Memphis with out achieving a Final Four. That’s some of the causes force is construction and why Calipari wishes a powerful season to stay the locals calm.
CBS Sports SEC Preseason Player of the Year
Wade Taylor IV | G | Texas A&M
Taylor is a sub-100 prospect from the Class of 2021, in keeping with 247Sports, who has evolved into one of the game’s perfect guards. The 6-foot junior averaged 16.3 issues, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals ultimate season whilst taking pictures 35.6% from 3 and 87.8% from the loose throw line. He used to be the most important explanation why the Aggies secured a No. 7 seed within the 2023 NCAA Tournament. In a league full of established veterans and gifted inexperienced persons, Taylor is the participant maximum deserving of this honor heading into the season. That’s the way in which I voted, and maximum of our panelists agreed.
Four extra players to observe in SEC
Trevon Brazile | F | Arkansas: Brazile averaged 11.8 issues, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.0 steals and 1.0 assists in 27.1 mins in line with sport ultimate season earlier than tearing the ACL in his proper knee in early December. The 6-10 ahead is predicted to be 100% to start out the season and headline the Razorbacks’ frontcourt.
Johni Broome | F | Auburn: Broome averaged 14.2 issues, 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 26.5 mins in line with sport ultimate season whilst creating a clean transition from Morehead State to Auburn. The 6-10 ahead’s go back to university must have Auburn within the NCAA Tournament for the 3rd consecutive 12 months.
Grant Nelson | F | Alabama: Nelson averaged 17.9 issues and 9.3 rebounds in 30.6 mins in line with sport ultimate season at North Dakota State. The 6-11 ahead’s enrollment at Alabama helped offset the loss of Brandon Miller and give the Tide an opportunity to compete for what could be a 3rd SEC identify in a four-year span.
Santiago Vescovi | F | Tennessee: Vescovi averaged a team-high 12.5 issues, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 32.9 mins in line with sport ultimate season whilst serving to Tennessee safe a No. 4 seed within the NCAA Tournament. The 6-3 guard is a competent 3-point shooter who must end his school occupation by means of taking part in in a fourth directly NCAA Tournament with the Vols.
CBS Sports SEC Preseason Freshman of the Year
Justin Edwards | F | Kentucky
Edwards is the highest-rated recruit getting into the SEC and favourite, at this level, to be the No. 1 pick out of the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-7 wing initiatives as a difference-maker on all sides of the courtroom who will give UK an opportunity to make the Final Four earlier than turning into Calipari’s newest one-and-done lottery pick out. UK’s DJ Wagner and Rob Dillingham, Auburn’s Aden Holloway, and Arkansas’ Baye Fall are different players who may just compete for FOY honors. But, heading into issues, Edwards is the most obvious selection.
CBS Sports SEC predicted order of end
Most overrated workforce
Our panel’s predicted order of end is not a lot other than my particular person poll — proof being that actually 0 groups are multiple spot upper in our panel’s predicted order of end than they’re in my private predicted order of end. So I’m now not certain I may just in truth name any SEC workforce “overrated” heading into this season. Somebody will earn that label as issues get underway, clearly. But, on paper, heading into the season, no SEC workforce in truth sticks out in that regard.
Most underrated workforce
Arkansas: I’ve the Razorbacks ranked eleventh within the Top 25 And 1 — forward of each different SEC workforce. I’ve them successful the league prematurely of making what must (no less than) be a fourth directly travel to the Sweet 16. Simply put, no person has confirmed higher lately than Eric Musselman at taking a host of gifted items that experience by no means performed in combination and molding them into a top quality basketball workforce that appears the section in March. I’m simply assuming the 58-year-old former NBA trainer will do it once more and most likely lead the Razorbacks to their first convention championship since 1994.
CBS Sports SEC expert picks