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Jerry Tipton's SEC capsules

SEC EAST

(1) Kentucky

Coach: Billy Gillispie, 18-13 in one season at Kentucky, 118-71 in six seasons as a college head coach.

Players: SEC Player of the Year candidate Patrick Patterson returns. Lindy's tabbed him as the SEC's top pro prospect. Almost as important, Jodie Meeks returns to good health. New faces (Kevin Galloway, Josh Harrellson, Darius Miller, DeAndre Liggins) bring athleticism and depth. The Cats seem well equipped to replace departed guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley.

Looking back: Injuries marred Gillispie's debut season. Yet after a slow start, the Cats maximized their potential, never more so than down the stretch when an ankle injury sidelined Patterson. A loss to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament marked UK's first first-round exit since 1987.

Looking ahead: The future — immediate and long-term — looks bright as Gillispie's recruiting efforts begin bearing fruit.

Bottom line: A contender to win the SEC.

(2) Tennessee

Coach: Bruce Pearl, 57-24 in three seasons at Tennessee, 394-108 in 16 seasons as a college head coach.

Players: Tyler Smith is the odds-on favorite to be Player of the Year. Unsung center/forward Wayne Chism is productive. The Vols also boast the SEC's best freshman class (according to Rivals.com) led by Kentuckian Scotty Hopson, Emmanuel Negedu (who originally signed with Arizona), Philip Jurick and Renaldo Woolridge (son of former NBAer Orlando Woolridge). The Vols need new blood with the loss of Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith, Ramar Smith and Duke Crews.

Looking back: Lofton (playing with cancer, we later learned) and JaJuan Smith bombed away from the perimeter. Chism led an undersized but combative front line. The Vols overwhelmed the opposition with depth and an up-tempo style. Tennessee won its first outright SEC title since 1967.

Looking ahead: Pearl has tried to downplay expectations. Tyler Smith-J.P. Prince-Chism form a nice foundation. Several of the newcomers must be as good as advertised to prevent a slip.

Bottom line: Maybe Rocky Top. No worse than Rocky runner-up.

(3) Florida

Coach: Billy Donovan, 285-115 in 12 seasons at Florida, 320-135 in 14 seasons as a college head coach.

Players: Nick Calathes might be the league's best playmaker and floor leader. He's one of four returning starters (with Walter Hodge, Dan Werner and Jai Lucas). But the Gators must replace Marreese Speights, their only contributor with size last season. Freshmen Ray Shipman (swingman), Kenny Kadji (center-forward) and Eloy Vargas (center-forward) will get playing time.

Looking back: After back-to-back national championships, the Gators had nowhere to go but down. But a lackadaisical attitude led Donovan to ban the players from the Gators' practice facility and denied them team gear. Message: Playing for Florida, in and of itself, doesn't assure success. You've got to work for it.

Looking ahead: The freshmen ensure competitive practices. Calathes will be fun to watch. The backcourt will be first-rate, but the front line was a weakness even with Speights.

Bottom line: With only one senior (Hodge), Florida is a year away from contending again for the SEC title.

(4) Vanderbilt

Coach: Kevin Stallings, 170-116 in nine seasons at Vanderbilt, 293-179 in 15 seasons as a college head coach.

Players: Three of last season's top four scorers are gone, including SEC Player of the Year Shan Foster, point guard Alex Gordon and Kentuckian Ross Neltner. Vandy will fit newcomers (including 6-11 Festus Ezeli and 6-6 Charles Hinkle) around center A.J. Ogilvy and guard Jermaine Beal.

Looking back: Losing by 21 points to 13th-seeded Siena in the NCAA Tournament gave the Commodores incentive. Until that humbling loss, Vandy was an entertaining 26-7. Foster and company could beat anyone.

Looking ahead: Ogilvy must adjust to being the main man around the basket. Beal seems able to play point guard. But Vandy needs a newcomer or two to contribute.

Bottom line: Stallings has advanced the program to the point where fans expect Vandy to absorb the loss of a Foster. That's a lot to ask.

(5) South Carolina

Coach: Darrin Horn, first season at South Carolina, 111-48 in five seasons as a college head coach.

Players: Point guard Devan Downey led the league in steals. He's an effective playmaker who can get the ball to shooting guard Zam Fredrick. Horn brings an up-tempo style, which should suit the speedy Downey and Fredrick, and such vets as Dominique Archie and Brandis Raley-Ross. And it's not like the Gamecocks have a player who would make a power game work.

Looking back: Given a better supporting cast, Downey would have been a Player of the Year candidate. South Carolina had trouble competing around the basket in a 14-18 season (5-11 in the SEC).

Looking ahead: Mike Holmes scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games, which suggests he might give the team a badly needed inside presence.

Bottom line: South Carolina hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1973. The streak continues unless style of play proves to be a great equalizer.

(6) Georgia

Coach: Dennis Felton, 75-80 in five seasons at Georgia, 176-134 in 10 seasons as a college head coach.

Players: Gone are the top two scorers (Sundiata Gaines, 14.8 ppg, and Billy Humphrey, 12.2 ppg) from a team that was last in the league in scoring. Freshman forward Howard Thompkins will be counted on to contribute and alleviate the absence of Dave Bliss. Terrence Woodbury (58 percent three-point shooting in the SEC Tournament) and Kentuckian Albert Jackson shoot and bang, respectively.

Looking back: What a newsy season. Dismissal of two starters. Injuries during the season. Inspirational effort by Gaines. Last-place finish in the Eastern Division. Felton about to be fired going into the SEC Tournament. Win the SEC Tournament to not only save Felton's job but get him a contract extension. Whew!

Looking ahead: Bliss used his bulk and his brain to give Georgia some semblance of an inside game. Even with Gaines, Georgia seemed a program in transition. Without Gaines, the Bulldogs have to take a step back.

Bottom line: Felton showed again in the SEC Tournament what he can do. But you have to have players.

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