A look at the final week of SEC basketball’s regular season
Now that Kentucky has clinched the conference crown, that’s no reason to ignore the final week of SEC basketball’s regular season.
There’s a tournament to play in Nashville, starting March 11 at Bridgestone Arena. Before Music City Madness, each team has two games to play. Seeding hangs in the balance.
Let’s take a look at the current standings, with a peek ahead to this week’s games:
Kentucky (14-2): John Calipari’s Cats are the hottest team in the league, having won eight straight. They also have a new fan club president in Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl, who lavished praise on the home team after UK’s 73-66 win on Saturday. Kentucky plays host to Tennessee on Tuesday (9 p.m., ugh) before traveling to Florida on Saturday.
Auburn (11-5): The Tigers would have the No. 2 seed based on their 91-90 overtime win over LSU on Feb. 8. Pearl said he thought his team played pretty well Saturday in Rupp, despite the loss. Texas A&M visits Auburn on Wednesday before the Tigers finish at Tennessee. After that, could we be looking at Kentucky-Auburn III in Nashville?
LSU (11-5): The most surprising Saturday stat was LSU holding Texas A&M to 50 points in a 64-50 win. Not that the losing Aggies are an offensive juggernaut. But, of late, the Tigers haven’t been able to guard anybody. Will Wade’s club travels to Arkansas on Wednesday before returning home Saturday to face Georgia.
Mississippi State (10-6): Come on Joe Lunardi, the Bulldogs deserve to be in the NCAA field of 68. They’ve won four of their last five, including a 67-63 squeaker at Missouri on Saturday. And they won at Florida back on Jan. 28. Ben Howland’s team plays at South Carolina on Tuesday (important game) before finishing at home against Ole Miss.
Florida (10-6): If anyone can figure out the Gators, please text Mike White. He’s the perplexed Florida coach whose team lost 63-58 in Knoxville on Saturday. So much talent coupled with so much inconsistency. Florida is at Georgia on Wednesday before returning home to play Kentucky on Saturday.
South Carolina (9-7): Frank Martin’s club is wobbling down the stretch, having lost three of its last four. The Gamecocks took a tough 90-86 loss at Alabama on Saturday. To have any shot of making the Big Dance they need to sweep Mississippi State (home) on Tuesday and Vanderbilt (road) on Saturday.
Texas A&M (8-8): Among the current break-even teams, A&M has wins over both Tennessee and Alabama. They finish up at Auburn on Wednesday before turning home to play Arkansas on Saturday. First, however, Buzz Williams has to find a way to get his team to put the ball in the basket.
Tennessee (8-8): The Vols would get the nod over Alabama thanks to its 69-68 win in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 4. Rick Barnes’ team hopes to carry the momentum from Saturday’s win over Florida into Rupp Arena on Tuesday night. Pearl and Auburn visit Knoxville on Saturday to close out the regular season.
Alabama (8-8): Nate Oats’ running Tide picked up a huge four-point win over South Carolina on Saturday. Guard Kira Lewis has scored 54 points his last two games. Bama gets hapless Vanderbilt at home on Tuesday, then travels to Missouri on Saturday to finish the regular season.
Missouri (6-10): Missouri and Arkansas split their season series. Both lost to Kentucky. But Mizzou beat probable No. 2 seed Auburn, while the Razorbacks lost to the Tigers. Missouri’s final week schedule includes a road trip to Ole Miss on Wednesday before returning home to face Alabama on Saturday.
Arkansas (6-10): Remember when Eric Musselman was the toast of Fayetteville? After a 3-1 start, the Razorbacks got stuck in reverse. They’ve gone 3-9 since, including a 99-89 loss to Anthony Edwards and Georgia on Saturday. A home game with LSU and road game at Texas A&M finishes out the schedule.
Ole Miss (5-11): The Rebels snapped a four-game losing streak by pounding Vanderbilt 86-60 on Saturday. Kermit Davis’ club would get the No. 12 seed thanks to its 70-60 win at Georgia way back on Jan. 25. Ole Miss plays host to Missouri on Wednesday before facing arch-rival Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday.
Georgia (5-11): Don’t look now but Tom Crean’s Bulldogs have won three of their last four, including that 10-point win over Arkansas in Athens on Saturday. The “Antman” Edwards has scored 62 points in his last two games. Georgia welcomes Florida on Wednesday before finishing out the regular season at LSU on Saturday.
Vanderbilt (1-15): So Jerry Stackhouse, how has your first year in the SEC been? Having fun? How did your Commodores beat LSU back on Feb. 5 for its only league win? Vandy travels to Alabama on Tuesday before returning to Memorial Gym to face South Carolina on Saturday.
Tuesday’s games
- 6:30 - Mississippi State at South Carolina (SEC)
- 8:30 - Vanderbilt at Alabama (SEC)
- 9:00 - Tennessee at Kentucky (ESPN)
Wednesday’s games
- 7:00 - Texas A&M at Auburn (ESPN2)
- 7:00 - Florida at Georgia (ESPNU)
- 7:00 - LSU at Arkansas (SEC)
- 9:00 - Missouri at Ole Miss (SEC)
Saturday’s games
- 12:00 - Auburn at Tennessee (ESPN/2)
- 12:30 - South Carolina at Vanderbilt (SEC)
- 1:00 - Kentucky at Florida (CBS)
- 2:00 - Georgia at LSU (ESPN2)
- 2:30 - Alabama at Missouri (SEC)
- 4:30 - Arkansas at Texas A&M (SEC)
- 6:30 - Ole Miss at Mississippi State (SEC)
This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 9:06 AM.
