The SEC is looking at getting four bids to the NCAA Tournament as it stands right now in my opinion. Clearly, Tennessee has been at the top of the class all season long. However, teams like Kentucky and Vanderbilt appear to be almost as dangerous when playing at their best. One thing's for sure, whoever gets matched up with a team from this conference they're going to have their hands full for forty minutes. Read below to find out who we think is getting in, and what seed they'll end up pulling on selection Sunday.
| Tennessee VolunteersRecord - 28-3Conf. record - 14-2RPI - 1
| Tennessee had one of the best regular seasons in school history. The Volunteers not only were ranked #1 at one point for the first time ever, but they also are in line to grab a #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Tennessee plays an up and down style of basketball that's very exciting to watch. However, I think because they play so open on offense that they will be one of the top teams who are actually more susceptible to getting beat early in the tournament. The Volunteers have a number of great athletes on their squad, but the standout performer on this team is senior guard Chris Lofton (16.0 ppg). Lofton will have to lead the way for th Vols if they want to truly make this a season to remember. Prediction: #2 seed in NCAA Tournament |
 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | The Bulldogs had a great 2007-08' season, highlighted by winning the West Division of the SEC by three games. Mississippi State did what they had to do to get into the NCAA Tournament by beating the teams that they were supposed to beat and not having any bad losses. Fans should be excited about the possibilities this team has to make a run because they've already played right with the two best teams in SEC. The Bulldogs lost to Tennessee by five earlier this season, then followed that up shortly with a one point loss at Vanderbilt. The combination of junior Jamont Gordon (17.5 ppg) and senior Charles Rhodes (16.8 ppg) will prove to be a difficult task for any team to try to stop in the NCAA Tournament. Prediction: #7 seed in NCAA Tournament |
 | Kentucky Wildcats Record - 18-11Conf. record - 12-4RPI - 49 | The Kentucky Wildcats will certainly have an entertaining story to tell when fans think back to the 2007-08' season. The Cats lost to two teams that most UK fans have never heard of (Gardner-Webb and San Diego) and lost freshman sensation Patrick Patterson to a season ending injury. Still, most analyst believe that the Wildcats are most likely in the tournament right now if it were to end today. However, that doesn't mean a poor performance in the first round of the SEC Tournament won't change the committee's mind. In my opinion I think the Cats are in, but UK fans better hope for a win because I think some of the media is presenting a stronger case for this squad than they really deserve based on their entire body of work this season. Prediction: #9 seed in NCAA Tournament |
 | Vanderbilt CommordorsRecord - 25-6Conf. record - 10-6RPI - 10 | The Vanderbilt Commodores are a team that's a lot of fun to watch. Vandy averages scoring over 80 points per game, while being led by senior star Shan Foster and his 20.6 ppg. Foster isn't the only player on the team that can cause damage. Freshman center A.J. Ogilvy is also making a lot of noise averaging 16.7 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Both Ogilvy and Foster are NBA prospects and will create problems for any team they face as the Commodores attempt to make their run. Vanderbilt's beaten Tennessee earlier this season, so this group shouldn't be intimidated by anybody in late March. Prediction: #6 seed in NCAA Tournament |
 | Arkansas Razorbacks | Despite losing five of their last eight games, many analyst still have the Arkansas Razorbacks in the dance at this point. Unfortunately, one bad showing in the SEC Tournament will be enough for the committee to firmly place them in the NIT instead. In my opinion, however, I've got the Razorbacks out. Arkansas doesn't have a single big -time win on their entire schedule unless you want to count the win at Baylor earlier this season. Other than, this team has beaten several mediocre teams within their own conference, but they also have bad losses to South Carolina at home and Appalachian State. The bad outweighs the good on this one, meaning the Hogs are going to have to win at least one, and probably two games in the SEC Tournament to get in. Prediction: *NIT Tournament Bid |
 | Florida Gators Record - 21-10Conf. record - 8-8RPI - 65 | It's safe to say that the two-time defending champions are on the outside looking in right now. Florida has lost seven of their last ten games and will need to make a deep run in the upcoming SEC Tournament. The Gators do have the talent to reel off two or three wins, but I think it's pretty unlikely that we'll see that happen based on the way they've been playing. Even if the Gators wind up nabbing a NIT bid rather than an NCAA bid fans should still remain upbeat. Florida is a very young team, led by freshman Nick Calathes (15.9 ppg) and sophomore Marreese Speights (14.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg). Both Calathes and Speights will be back next season, so there's no reason to think that this team will have to settle for anything less than an NCAA birth next year. Prediction: NIT Tournament Bid |
 | Mississippi Rebels Record - 21-9Conf. record - 7-9RPI - 44 | Since beginning the season 13-0, the Ole Miss Rebels have managed to go just 8-9 the rest of the way. Unlike Arkansas, Ole Miss does have a quality win and it came against Vanderbilt. Unfortunately, the committee won't even give a team a second look at giving a team a tournament bid unless they finish conference play with at least a .500 record. Ole Miss was only able to finish with a record of 7-9 in conference play, despite doing what many teams couldn't do by beating Vandy. I think the backbreaker for this team came when they lost back to back games to lowly Auburn and Alabama. If the Rebels had finished at .500, I think they'd be sitting firmly on the bubble. Unfortunately they didn't finish . 500, so Ole Miss will need to win at least two conference tournament games to show the committee that they are deserving of a bid. Prediction: *NIT Tournament bid |
 | Louisiana State Tigers Record - 13-17Conf. record - 6-10RPI - 159 | When the best non-conference win you've had is a home win against Oregon State you know you've had a rough year. The Tigers may have only won 13 total games, but they've actually won four out of their last five as they head into the SEC Tournament. Apparently the Tigers are starting to put some of the pieces back together in attempt to try to salvage the season with a flurry at the end. I don't think it's realistic to expect the Tigers to win the SEC Tournament, but the nice ending to the season is a great momentum builder for next year. LSU returns eleven of their twelve players, including leading scorer Marcus Thornton (19.7 ppg). The Tigers could be scary next season if they can build on what they've started at the end of this one. Prediction: OUT |
 | Alabama Crimson Tide Record - 16-15Conf. record - 5-11RPI - 118 | The Alabama Crimson Tide just got their win of the season last week when they took down Vanderbilt. Unfortunately, they could've used at least three or four other just like this one earlier in the year. The problem that has been bugging this squad all season long is their inability to win on the road. Alabama is 15-6 at home, but just 1-9 on the road this season. The bad news for the Crimson Tide is that they won't be hosting the SEC Tournament this year. Still, it's obvious this team can beat most of the teams in this league, but to get to that next level they're going to have to learn how to win away games. Do you believe in miracles? Prediction: OUT |
 | South Carolina Gamecocks Record - 13-17Conf. record - 5-11RPI - 140 | Like most of the bottom feeders in the SEC, the South Carolina Gamecocks are in the midst of a downward spiral. The Gamecocks have lost 12 of their last 17 games and won't be straightening out time before the SEC tournament hits. Even though this has clearly been a down year for South Carolina they still have a lot to look forward to in the next couple seasons. The Gamecocks have one of the most exciting players in the league in sophomore Devan Downey. Downey is a guard that has a tough scorers mentality when running the show. Also, this team returns eleven of their twelve players next season. The Gamecocks may be down and out this year, but next year I think they'll be turning some heads. Prediction: Out |
 | Georgia Bulldogs | Conference play for the Georgia Bulldogs has been a killer. With just four wins in the SEC, the Bulldogs continue to struggle getting back to where they were before the whole Jim Harrick fiasco. What's unfortunate for Bulldog fans is at the end of this season they will lose a great player in Sundiata Gaines (14.5). Georgia's probably going to be one and done in the SEC Tournament, so be sure to check out Gaines before he leaves. Georgia fans don't want to hear this, but they're a long way away from being a contender once again. Prediction: Out |
 | Auburn Tigers Record - 14-15Conf. record - 4-12RPI - 154 | The Auburn Tigers are riding a four game streak into the SEC Tournament. Unfortunately, the streak they're riding is a losing streak. In fact, the Tigers have lost ten of their last twelve. What's great about their recent streak is they probably have less pressure on them than anyone else in the league. As if it couldn't get any worse, Auburn loses two of their top four leading scorers at the end of the year. If this team makes a run in the SEC Tournament George Mason would be impressed. Hopefully things will get better next season for the Tigers. Prediction: Out |
*NIT=National Invitational Tournament
