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Kennedy and Co. will turn towards an ever-important 12th season for the Ole Miss head coach. He returns an experienced roster led by emerging all-league-caliber players Breein Tyree and Terence Davis. Saiz will be replaced by 7-foot Drake transfer Dominik Olejniczak, who will provide the rim protection and quickness in defensive rotations Ole Miss has sorely lacked in the low block.
Ole Miss has one scholarship open for the spring, though the Rebels are expected to add at least two players, and possibly up to four, after the dust settles. Donte Fitzpatrick-Dorsey is expected to transfer, and the future is cloudy for rising senior Marcanvis Hymon, who could also be a transfer candidate.
Ole Miss is looking to add offense at the four. Hymon and Justas Furmanavicius combined to average only 10.0 points per game this season. Ideally, the Rebels would land a player whose offense isnt reliant on put-back opportunities at the rim, but rather can step out and make shots outside of 10 feet. Jones Community College forward Bruce Stevens is an option, and Ole Miss has kicked the tires on former Memphis and Virginia forward Austin Nichols, though the SECs new rules regarding previous disciplinary issues for transfers makes it all but impossible for the Rebels to add him.
Ole Miss could add a guard, too, and the Rebels will make it a priority to get more athletic on the wing. Former Texas guard Tevin Mack is a name being floated, among a host of others.
Kentucky had De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk.
Alabama didn't have Collin Sexton and John Petty.
To a man, Alabama has no reason to hang its head after losing to a legit Final Four contender and falling to 19-14 overall. Avery Johnson's second team has squeezed almost every drop out of its talent, winning 12 games against SEC opponents between the regular season and the conference tournament. Of their nine conference losses, five came by five points or less.
Now the Tide has every reason to look forward to the NIT and beyond. More experience for the likes of Key and Dazon Ingram is a positive, and considerable help is on the way.
Sexton, the explosive 6-2 point guard out of Georgia, is the No. 7 national recruit in the 247Sports rankings for 2017. Petty, the versatile 6-5 shooting guard from Huntsville, is No. 30. Both can play at a high level, both can score in bunches and both can get you points in a variety of ways when you need them most.
A year ago, Kentucky dismissed Alabama from this tournament by 26 points. This elimination game was anything but easy for the regular-season champs.
Imagine what might happen next year should they meet on this stage again.
I know one thing, this time next year we want to be in a position where were a postseason team, Barnes said. Im proud of the young guys, and I think they learned a lot, but we want more.
Tennessees stretch run was undone by injuries and illnesses.
The Vols started four different lineups in their final four games of the season.
This time of year you want to have a rhythm, and you want to know what you have got, Barnes said. This will be a learning experience for them, and the biggest thing they have to understand is how quickly it can end.
Postseason tournament invites go out tonight, but Tennessees season likely is over.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn coach Bruce Pearl feels his program "is in really, really good shape" following a season marked both by progress and disappointing defeats.
For the first time in his tenure, the Tigers' coach will get most of his scoring and rebounding production back, including talented freshmen Mustapha Heron, Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy. It still didn't take the sting out of failing to make the NCAA Tournament or NIT, losing six of the last eight games or suffering some painful second-half collapses.
Pearl scoffs at any notion that his fourth season will be "critical" to his job security with a program that hasn't had a winning record since the 2008-09 season under Jeff Lebo. His own expectations will be high, though.
"We are in the upper division of any power 5 conference as far as the status of our program, where we are right now," Pearl said. "That's how coaches should be judged. Do I want to go to the tournament next year? Absolutely. Should there be an expectation that we go to the tournament? Absolutely.
"Our program is in great position. Our program is in really, really good shape."
The Tigers, who finished 18-14 and 7-11 in Southeastern Conference games, were the only team in the country to have its four leading scorers all be freshmen. That includes the program's first two five-star signees, Heron and Wiley. Wiley played in 23 games after enrolling at midseason and turned 18 during the season.
Heron led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding. Fellow freshmen Purifoy and Jared Harper also started while Anfernee McLemore played a key role off the bench. A pair of four-star signees, forward Chuma Okeke and point guard Davion Mitchell, are scheduled to join the team next season.
Pearl said the 6-foot-11, 255-pound Wiley is "just scratching the surface" of his abilities and could be one of the top offensive centers in the country next season. Wiley averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds and was second to McLemore on the team with 31 blocked shots despite his late start.
Still, Pearl knows that fans would be justified in thinking Auburn should have won a few more games. That certainly would include the first-round, overtime loss to 14th-seeded Missouri in the SEC Tournament after blowing a late lead. Auburn also squandered a 23-point second-half lead in a loss to Mississippi in another example, but did sweep rival Alabama.
Pearl, who has led teams to 17 NCAA Tournaments, wouldn't talk much about postseason hopes before this season. He's already talking up his next team.
"Next year our expectations should be to be in the NCAA Tournament," Pearl said.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee coach Rick Barnes doesn't want his players to get accustomed to ending their season this early.
The Volunteers finished 16-16 and won't be playing in the NCAA Tournament or the NIT for a third straight season. They haven't ended a year with a winning record since their 2014 Sweet 16 appearance.
This also marks the first time in over two decades that Barnes has spent back-to-back seasons without reaching the NCAA Tournament. Barnes' teams at Clemson and Texas had earned 19 NCAA Tournament bids in the 20 seasons before he took over Tennessee's program in 2015 .
"We're trying to teach our guys how hard it is to get into this," Barnes said Monday. "I want them to know it's something they're going to have to earn."
That's why Barnes already was trying to teach his underclassmen about the upcoming season shortly after the 2016-17 campaign ended.
"I want them to feel the sting of what it's like when you don't meet your goals," Barnes said. "I know one thing, it took me a couple of days before I even wanted to watch TV and watch another basketball game. I want them to feel that. I want them to understand there's no givens in what we do. It's why it's called competition. We've got to go out and embrace the competition.
"I've been doing this a long time, and the best people I've been around, they don't let losing just slip off their back 30-40 minutes after a game. It stays with them a little bit."
Tennessee actually outperformed preseason forecasts, as the Vols got the No. 9 seed in the SEC tournament after being picked to finish 13th in the league. More will be expected of Tennessee next season.
The Vols must replace leading scorer Robert Hubbs III, but senior reserve forward Lew Evans was the only other upperclassman on this year's roster by the end of the season. Tennessee regularly started three freshmen, including leading rebounder and second-leading scorer Grant Williams. An international exhibition tour this summer should help this young team get a jump start on the 2017-18 season.
Tennessee needs to find stability at the point guard position next season. Jordan Bone, Lamonte Turner and Shembari Phillips all took turns handling the point this year with varying degrees of success.
The Vols also must figure out how to avoid the late fades that have marked each of Barnes' first two seasons on the job. Tennessee lost seven of its final 10 games in 2015-16 and dropped six of its last eight games this season.
Tennessee started struggling this year shortly after it entered February as a legitimate contender for an NCAA bid. The Vols must respond better when the stakes get higher next season.
"I don't think we were tough enough because February is a tough month," Barnes said. "I think it's a grind. I think people who finish strong are mentally tough. ... To get where we want to go, I do think we've got to get mentally tougher. How do you do that? I think you raise the bar in everything that you do."
They clearly have a ways to go if they hope to break their 14-year NCAA Tournament drought.
"We're accountable, that's the biggest thing," Pearl said last week after losing in the opening round of the SEC Tournament for the second straight year. "Every one of us has to look inward. We didn't finish the season strong. I thought our team improved in a lot of ways, but the competition being what it is, teams got better."
Led by four freshmen in the starting lineup, the Tigers scored in bunches while simultaneously struggling on the other end of the court. Auburn ranked 31st nationally and second in the SEC behind Kentucky with 80.4 points per game. Comparatively, Auburn ranked 321st in scoring defense at 79.6 points per game allowed.
"Defense and rebounding was an issue for us all year long," he said. "We lost a lot of leads partly because we just weren't able to hold on on the defensive end."
Auburn failed to hold onto double-digit leads multiple times in the second half of the regular season, and it resulted in two losses to Georgia and two more to Ole Miss.
The issue came to a head at the SEC Tournament -- eleventh-seeded Auburn led No. 14 seed Missouri by 10 points with less than five minutes to play and was up by six with 19 seconds to go. Missouri managed to hit a pair of 3-pointers before the end of regulation and two more in overtime to send Auburn packing.
"We know the reasons why we did what we did and got what we got," Pearl said. "I've got a good, young team that I think has learned an awful lot of what it takes and where we came up short."
Pearl is now 44-54 in three seasons at Auburn after finishing 15-20, 11-20 and 18-14. He is optimistic about the 2017-18 campaign, in part because the meat and potatoes of his starting lineup will be returning --
Scarblog: Opportunity knocked loudly for the Alabama basketball team Tuesday night in Coleman Coliseum. The first round of the NIT gave the Crimson Tide a home game against solid-but-unspectacular Richmond a mere three days after pushing Kentucky for 40 minutes.
But as has been the case too often this season, Alabama missed its shot.
Richmond 71, Alabama 64 won't go down as the worst loss of a 19-15 season that veered from frustrating to encouraging, but it'll serve as a lingering reminder as the program turns the page toward a promising future. As much as this team scratched and clawed, Johnson's second edition simply wasn't good enough to overcome its limitations.
That explanation won't fly next season if Alabama doesn't reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. Two trips to the NIT in Johnson's first two years have been encouraging. At least, the invitations were. The performances, going one-and-done against Creighton last year and Richmond last night, not so much.
Quick. Name the last Alabama coach to win an NIT game. You get a gold star if you said John Brannen.
For two years, Johnson has earned pats on the back for getting the most out of a limited roster. He's filled the roster's obvious holes with this recruiting class, especially in terms of explosive perimeter scorers with high-profile signees Collin Sexton and John Petty. So the expectations for Johnson's third season already have gone to another level.
It'll be his job to lift the team to that level. Next season, Alabama should miss a lot fewer shots. That should keep the Tide from missing its best shot at the NCAA Tournament in years.
Auburn, which has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003, went 18-14 overall and 7-11 in SEC play this season and lost to last-place Missouri in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
"From Charles' lips to Gods Ears!" tweeted Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, who is working as a guest studio analyst for the Tournament. "That's what we came to Auburn to do! Blessed to have his confidence and support."
Vanderbilts 2016-17 basketball season is over, and that means its roster moves forward.
The Commodores finished 19-16, including a late-season hot streak to advance to the NCAA tournament, despite carrying only nine active players. Here is whats next:
Jeff Roberson: The most well-rounded player returning next season will only see his role expand. Roberson is perhaps the teams best perimeter defender, but he will continue to play near the paint, where his toughness is an asset. Next season, Roberson is certain to step into the senior leadership shoes of Kornet and Cressler.
Fisher-Davis: The teams leading scorer faces a critical offseason. Fisher-Davis will enter his senior year as one of the SECs most dangerous offensive weapons, but he finished this season coming off the bench because of past disciplinary reasons. If Fisher-Davis can avoid off-the-court issues, he will be an All-SEC guard. If not, he could get lost in the lineup as Drew reshapes the team...
Riley LaChance: After his career was revived as a point guard in Drews debut season, LaChances value has skyrocketed heading toward his senior season. LaChance could still play point guard. But its more likely hell move to his natural position of shooting guard as other point guard options arrive.
Joe Toye: The ceiling may be the highest for Toye, a guard who will enter his junior season as a possible rising star. He can defend in a physical style and drive and dunk over defenders. If Toye can improve his 3-point shooting, he could develop into an All-SEC selection.
Payton Willis...
Sixth-seeded Georgia Tech ended the fifth-seeded Rebels' season in the NIT quarterfinals Tuesday night.
Now coach Andy Kennedy ventures into the offseason trying to figure out how he can get Ole Miss (22-14) back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
The biggest loss will obviously be in the front court with center Sebastian Saiz, who averaged 15.1 points and 11.4 rebounds, was a first-team All-SEC player and won the Howell Trophy.
The Rebels, who finished tied for fifth in the SEC after preseason projections had them at ninth, had a bunch of newcomers and a few young players, like Terence Davis and Breein Tyree, in key roles. The team never found a real flow until the end of the season.
Next season, Davis will be a junior, will have a year worth of meaningful playing time under his belt and will have another offseason to tighten his game. Tyree will be a sophomore that has have gone through the ups and downs of a season and will be further removed from the knee injury which limited his athleticism this year.
Deandre Burnett and Cullen Neal probably won't have quite the adjustment period they had this year.
"I think we saw the development of Terence Davis, we're all excited about the next step for him. Breein Tyree certainly shows flashes," Kennedy said. "We're obviously going to miss Sebas, Rasheed (Brooks) had his moments. ... The rest of the guys are intact, again, excited about what we're doing moving forward."
During his postgame press conference, Kennedy said he was excited about three players they've already signed forward Jamarko Pickett, guard Devontae Shuler and combo guard Parker Stewart.
Kennedy also mentioned 7-foot Drake transfer Dominik Olejniczak, who he said will step into Saiz's spot at center. While that may be the case, it's hard to imagine Olejniczak reproducing Saiz's 23 double-doubles from this year.
During the off months, Kennedy will also spend time trying to find answers for a problem that plagued the team this season: home losses. Ole Miss lost six home games this season. Two of which came to Sweet 16 teams, Kentucky and Baylor, and another came to Middle Tennessee State, which won an NCAA Tournament game.
The three back-breaking home losses were to Georgia (19-15), Texas A&M (16-15) and Georgia Tech (20-15).
"I guarantee you, there's 24 teams playing in the NCAA and NIT as of tonight, and I guarantee you they all had one common denominator: they all protected home floor," Kennedy said. "That was our sixth loss at home. That's inexcusable. I'm going to really evaluate in the offseason ways to maybe eliminate some distractions. Something's going on, we just don't seem like we're as locked in.
"You can't have six home losses and expect to be successful."
The latest loss came in front of 9,091 fans, which was the second-largest crowd of the season behind Baylor.
"People who say Ole Miss doesn't care about basketball are crazy," Kennedy said.
Juwan Parker, the third-leading scorer this past season for the Georgia mens basketball team, had surgery to repair the Achilles in his right leg on Tuesday. It was the players second such injury in three years.
This surgery was on a different leg. Parker missed the entire 2015-16 season after recovering from Achilles surgery on his left leg. He returned to be injury-free almost to the end of this past season, before hurting his left Achilles late in the season.
Parker ended up missing the teams final game of the year, the first-round loss in the NIT, after trying to play through the injury in the SEC tournament. The team said last week that Parker had a partial tear in the Achilles.
A team spokesman confirmed that Parker had a procedure on Tuesday. Parker posted a picture of himself on Instagram after the surgery, with the right leg wrapped.
A 6-foot-5 small forward, Parker started 31 games this year, averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He was also second on the team with 57 assists.
Parker, who graduated prior to the season, has said several times that the plan was for him to return for his final season of eligibility.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Now Kentuckys coaching staff and fans wait for the annual exodus of talent from Lexington.
After Sundays gut-wrenching, 75-73 loss to North Carolina in the Elite Eight, the Wildcats are definitely losing seniors Derek Willis, Dominique Hawkins and Mychal Mulder, while star freshmen Malik Monk, DeAaron Fox and Bam Adebayo projected to be the 5th, 6th and 30th NBA draft picks, respectively, by Draft Express
Sophomore Isaiah Briscoe, despite few projections listing him as a draft pick at all, seems likely to join them. There could be other decisions looming, too. Sophomore 7-footer Isaac Humphries struggled to find playing time late in the season until Sundays stunning 12-point, 5-rebound outburst that almost made him an unlikely hero and recently expressed both frustration and a desire to explore his options after the season.
Five-star freshman Sacha Killeya-Jones did not log a single minute in Kentuckys final 20 games and would not shock anyone if he decided to look elsewhere. Another 5-star freshman, Hamidou Diallo, enrolled early and was eligible to play the second half of this season but sat out instead to prepare himself for the 2017-18 campaign. But he is eligible to enter this years NBA draft if he chooses.
SEC Country caught up with each of those underclassmen except Killeya-Jones
Briscoe Im not thinking about that. I dont know, Im not thinking about nothing. We just lost. Im not thinking about that.
Humphries I have nothing yet. Now that were kind of done Im just going to assess every option that I have. I have nothing yet.
Diallo I havent really spoken (to family or coaches) about next year, but as of right now, Im 100 percent returning. This isnt a great feeling, but these guys had a heckuva run. This has been a great experience for me, just learning from these guys. Just have to bring it into next year.
The good news for Kentucky is that, in addition to having an elite building block like Diallo, coach John Calipari has once again landed the nations No. 1 recruiting class, which includes six top-50 recruits, four McDonalds All-Americans, and could still add one or two more top-10 prospects.
Fox ruefully mentioned: Kentucky came up a bucket short, and unfortunately we know that feeling.
Georgia finished the season 19-14, the top-rated SEC team not to make the tournament, with an RPI rank of 52. It subsequently bowed out in the first round of the NIT to Belmont, in a game starters Yante Maten and Juwan Parker missed because of injuries.
This group is close. Weve got to get over the hump, Fox said. And well spend the offseason working to do that.
A few other team-related notes from Fox during his appearance:
Maten, dealing with a sprained knee, wont require surgery, but will not return to basketball activities until mid-April. Fox didnt mention or indicate how that affects any decision the junior power forward has on exploring the NBA draft.
Parkers latest Achilles injury, which required surgery last week, isnt as serious as the previous Achilles problem, which was in his other leg. He should fully recover and be as good as new here in a couple months, Fox said of Parker, who has one year of eligibility remaining.
Incoming recruit Rayshaun Hammonds, rated a top 50 recruit, was described by Fox as a very versatile small forward who was big for his position. Said Fox: Hes a big wing who I think can make plays off the dribble. Hes a very instinctive passer. Hes going to be somebody who offensively can make a very immediate impact on our team.
Nicolas Claxton, the teams other fall signee, was described by Fox as ultimately a stretch-four, as in a power forward who can go outside and shoot 3s: Nics got a very good shooting touch, and hes very good with the ball He almost has the skills of a small forward.
When it comes to replacing J.J. Fraziers minutes at the point, Fox pointed at Turtle Jackson only having 26 turnovers and Tyree Crump only having four turnovers. (Fox didnt mention that part of the reason for that is playing time, especially in Crumps case.) Said Fox: Theyre both going to need to take a step forward. But I think theyre both probably excited about being able to gobble up some of those minutes.
Finally, Fox had a few updates on next seasons schedule. The SEC schedule isnt in yet, so its only known that Georgia will have two games apiece against its three permanent rivals: South Carolina, Auburn and Florida. As for the non-conference, Georgia goes to Marquette and UMass, and has Georgia Tech at home. A scheduled return game by Oakland will probably be moved back a year at Oaklands request, because of a scheduling conflict. The rest of the slate is being worked on, with Fox saying that after this season when the Bulldogs were in the top 20 in schedule strength, but failed to get the needed wins for an NCAA bid that he would be weighing whats strong versus whats too strong.
Scarblog: If South Carolina can do it, why not Alabama or Auburn?
The last time we asked that question about an SEC program making its Final Four debut, it was 1996. With senior guard and Alabama native Darryl Wilson as its leading scorer, Mississippi State made its one-and-only trip to college basketball's ultimate weekend that year.
South Carolina has become the seventh of 14 SEC schools to break that barrier.
Only three SEC programs have captured that big ring. Kentucky has eight titles, Florida owns two and Arkansas has one.
In terms of reaching the Final Four, there are now seven SEC schools who've yet to get there. So who's got next? Alabama or Auburn? Ole Miss or Missouri? Tennessee, Texas A&M or Vandy?
Five of them - Alabama, Auburn, Missouri, Tennessee and Vandy - have been to the Elite Eight but failed to take the next step. Ole Miss and Texas A&M have never advanced past the Sweet 16.
But South Carolina's run should give each of them confidence that the Final Four is not an impossible dream. It starts with hiring the right coach, as Carolina did with Frank Martin...
Tennessee's Rick Barnes has been to the Final Four with Texas. Auburn's Bruce Pearl took Tennessee to the Elite Eight. Texas A&M's Billy Kennedy led the Aggies to the Sweet 16 a year ago. New Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin led Tennessee to the Sweet 16 just three years ago.
Mississippi's Andy Kennedy has won NCAA Tournament games. Vanderbilt's Bryce Drew has led three different teams, two at Valpo and his first Vandy team this season, to the tournament.
Alabama's Avery Johnson is the only coach at one of the seven SEC programs without a Final Four trip who's never led a team to the NCAA Tournament, but he's been a college coach for just two years. He knows what postseason success looks like, having led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2006 NBA Finals.
With coaches in place who know how to recruit and win, the ingredients appear to be there for another SEC program to follow South Carolina's lead and break through to the Final Four for the first time in the coming years.
A bold prediction: It won't be another 21 years until one of them gets it done. Who's got next? It's impossible to predict, but my money's on the home teams. Crimson Tide or Tigers or, better yet, both.
One year ago, Texas A&M was the toast of college basketball. Down 12 points with less than 45 seconds left to play against Northern Iowa, the Aggies completed one of the biggest comebacks in NCAA Tournament history.
Texas A&M lost four senior starters, so a rebuilding season was expected. However, it hit harder than expected. After winning the SEC title in 2016 and being picked third in the preseason SEC poll, the Aggies finished tied for ninth in the conference with a paltry 16-15 overall record. Despite having top talent on the roster, Texas A&M missed every postseason tournament.
However, Texas A&M basketball got a significant gift last week. Power forward Robert Williams announced his intention to return for his sophomore season.
Williams was a surprising freshman standout, ranked just the No. 62 player in his class coming out of high school. With a 6-9 frame, 7-6 wingspan and elite athleticism, NBA teams took notice. Before he announced he was returning, DraftExpress rated him a top-10 prospect.
In college basketball, having an athletic, long front court player is a huge advantage. Pairing Williams with All-SEC center Tyler Davis with another year of experience is a front court that almost no SEC team can counter.
But while Williams return immediately helps the roster, it instantly raises the expectations on coach Billy Kennedy and the program.
With Williams return, the Aggies have the talent to be competitive in the SEC. If they cant be, the conference will move on without them.
First, the losses: On his final call-in radio show of the season, coach John Calipari said Monday that in addition to three seniors Dominique Hawkins, Derek Willis and Mychal Mulder he figures four others are likely to leave early for the NBA draft. He didnt name them, but it is reasonable to assume freshmen DeAaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo, all projected first-round picks, are gone. Sophomore Isaiah Briscoe is likely the fourth, despite draft stock that is shaky at best.
That would mean Kentucky is losing its top seven scorers, who accounted for 2,882 of the teams 3,225 points (or 89.4 percent) last season. So the cupboard will be bare, right?
Barring transfers and that is still a possibility the Wildcats could have three former 5-star recruits returning next season: forwards Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones and guard Hamidou Diallo. Plus 7-footer Isaac Humphries, whose 12 points and 5 rebounds against North Carolina on Sunday represented...
If there is a transfer among that group, Humphries is the best bet. Tai Wynyard, a forward from New Zealand who averaged just 3.6 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman, would be another candidate to seek more playing time elsewhere.
Diallo also provides a bit of uncertainty. He was a top-10 recruit in the Class of 2017 who enrolled in January and sat out despite being eligible to play the second half of this season for UK. His stated goal was to hone his skills by practicing with this years team and be ready to lead the 2017-18 squad.
However, he is eligible to enter this summers NBA draft...
Including Diallo, who was No. 9, Kentucky landed six top-35 prospects for 2017, per the 247Sports composite rankings. The others are No. 13 P.J. Washington (6-8 PF), No. 14 Nick Richards (6-11 C), No. 20 Jarred Vanderbilt (6-8 SF), No. 24 Quade Green (6-1 PG) and No. 35 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6-5 PG/SG).
Washington is one of the nations best rebounders, Richards a classic center who dominates defensively and on the glass, Vanderbilt a versatile forward who can play on the wing, Green arguably the top pure point guard in the country and Gilgeous-Alexander a valuable utility guard who can help both on and off the ball.
Then theres this: Green, Washington, Vanderbilt and Richards are all McDonalds All-Americans and theyre spending this week in Chicago trying to convince two other top-10 prospects, 6-11 center Mohamed Bamba and 6-8 small forward Kevin Knox, to join them...
Bamba has a 7-foot-8 wingspan and 9-7 standing reach and a potential game-changer. As of this moment, we at SEC Country believe hell be a Wildcat. And Calipari still might not stop there.
When the dust settles, heres our educated guess at how the 2017-18 Kentucky basketball lineup shakes out.
Starting five
PG Quade Green (6-1), 5-star freshman
SG Hamidou Diallo (6-5), 5-star redshirt freshman
SF P.J. Washington (6-8), 5-star freshman
PF Mohamed Bamba (6-11), 5-star freshman
C Nick Richards (6-11), 5-star freshman
Next five
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6-5), 4-star freshman
SG Mark Smith (6-5)/Jemarl Barker (6-2), 4-star freshman
SF Jarred Vanderbilt (6-8), 5-star freshman
PF Wenyen Gabriel (6-9), 5-star sophomore
C Sacha Killeya-Jones (6-10), 5-star sophomore
Collin Sexton is a total freak show.
That's what the college coach told me.
Actually, he paired another, earthier term with "show" to try to capture this one-man flying circus of a point guard headed for Alabama next season.
I didn't fully understand what the coach meant, but after seeing highlights of the McDonald's All-American Slam-Dunk Contest and the McDonald's All-American Game, I do now.
Sexton, all 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds of him, won the slam-dunk contest with the kind of vicious, ridiculous hops possessed by the last one-and-done talent to spend a single season in Tuscaloosa on his way to the NBA. But Childersburg's Gerald Wallace, also the Crimson Tide's last first-round draft choice in 2001, was 6-7.
In the all-star game itself, Sexton wowed the United Center crowd in Chicago with the kind of pinpoint passing Nick Saban would love to see from Jalen Hurts.
With the game barely a minute old, Sexton jumped in front of an outlet pass for a steal, but that was routine compared to what came next. In one motion, he whipped a backwards, one-hand, through-the-legs pass on the mark to a teammate for an easy dunk. Cole Mazza never delivered a flashier long snap.
How quickly will 5-star talents Collin Sexton, 2-time Mr. Basketball John Petty and the rest of Alabama's star-studded signing class return Crimson Tide basketball to national prominence?
Plenty of people think it's a foregone conclusion that Alabama will be dancing again in March.
Alabama's incoming players are too talented not be dancing in March.
It was no big surprise Tuesday when John Petty was announced as the 2017 recipient of the Mr. Basketball award, presented by Alfa Insurance. He became the third player to win the award in back-to-back seasons, following John Carroll's Ron Steele and Butler's Trevor Lacey.
Steele emerged as an All-American point guard at Alabama before a knee injury wrecked a sure-fire NBA career, and the Crimson Tide hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since his playing days in 2006.
Alabama's class also includes Sexton, 6-foot-9 Pelham forward Alex Reese, versatile 6-foot-7 Hale County guard Herb Jones and 6-foot-10 Mississippi big man Galin Smith. Oh, don't forget that 6-foot-11 Ohio State transfer Daniel Giddens will also be eligible.
PJ Dozier is two feet out of the door now, signed with an agent and the door closed on returning to South Carolina basketball.
Gamecocks are losing arguably their three most important players from a team that made a run to the Final Four. Sindarius Thornwell and Duane Notice graduated and now Dozier is departing after his sophomore season.
Chris Silva is the only returning player who averaged more than 10 points per game, leaving the junior as a crucial player for the Gamecocks next year. But Silva was already going to be that, with or without Dozier on the roster. The same holds true for Maik Kotsar.
Doziers decision hits the backcourt hard, leaving the Gamecocks returning only Hassani Gravett from their top five players from a minute-per-game standpoint.
Much of the success the Gamecocks want to have next season now trickles down to the trio of Rakym Felder, transfer Kory Holden and incoming freshman David Beatty.
Kentucky basketball is in the midst of its most massive exodus yet under coach John Calipari, and thats saying something. But is it over now?
Seven players from the 2016-17 Elite Eight team are gone: seniors Dominique Hawkins, Derek Willis and Mychal Mulder, plus underclassmen DeAaron Fox, Malik Monk, Isaiah Briscoe and Isaac Humphries, all of whom announced intentions to pursue professional careers and hire agents.
Freshman Bam Adebayo is likely leaving, too, but he is the Cats only 2017 NBA Draft entrant who left the door open for a return to school by not hiring an agent. Well start with Adebayo and cover the other former 5-star recruits still on Kentuckys roster Hamidou Diallo, Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones
Bam Adebayo
Dont get your hopes up for an encore from the 6-foot-10 forward who averaged a double-double over the final 13 games...
Hamidou Diallo
This is an interesting case. A top-10 recruit in the 2017 class, Diallo enrolled at Kentucky in January and was eligible to play but elected to sit out... he is eligible for this years NBA draft. If he declares by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 23, Diallo can participate in the NBA combine and work out for teams to get feedback before deciding whether to stay in college.
Wenyen Gabriel
6-foot-9 forward and former top-15 recruit nationally, Gabriel had an inconsistent freshman season. After starting 23 games early on, he started none of the Wildcats final 9. He scored 23 points against LSU, had 16 rebounds against Auburn, had 10 games with multiple blocked shots but then averaged 6.5 minutes in 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Gabriel seemed to lose confidence late...
No player was the subject of more transfer speculation than this 6-foot-10 former McDonalds All-American. Killeya-Jones scored 40 points all season and didnt play a minute after Jan. 21. He never left the bench for the Wildcats final 19 games...
OXFORD - With the No. 16 recruiting class in the country, according to 247 Sports' composite rankings, Ole Miss had already put together a pretty solid offseason.
The addition of coveted Memphis grad transfer Markel Crawford on Wednesday made the offseason haul even better.
Crawford filled the Rebels' final scholarship opening. Despite that, a source said Ole Miss, which reached the NIT quarterfinals, will still pursue Pitt transfer guard Cameron Johnson, whom it has already visited.
But for now the roster is filled...
Breein Tyree went through the typical peaks and valleys of a true freshman season, but eventually asserted himself as the Rebels' point guard.
Deandre Burnett was Ole Miss' leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, and Terence Davis came on strong through the second half of the year and averaged 14.9 points...
Crawford will find a role for himself somewhere in that rotation. He can play all three guard spots, but more important to those within the Rebels' program is the fact he can guard all three guard spots.
Rebels signed four-star wing prospect Devontae Shuler (6-foot-3, 180 pounds). Cullen Neal, who averaged 9.4 points in his first season at Ole Miss, will be back.
Parker Stewart, a three-star guard, will also join the fold in a few months.
Rebels lost the most consistent piece of their team last season with the departure of senior center Sebastian Saiz, who averaged 15.1 points and 11.4 rebounds.
Saiz's spot will be filled by 7-footer Dominik Olejniczak. Marcanvis Hymon and Justas Furmanavicius rotated at the power forward spot, but neither grabbed control of the position.
Ole Miss signed first-team NJCAA All-American power forward Bruce Stevens last week. Stevens (6-foot-8, 257 pounds) averaged 16.2 points and 11.6 rebounds at Jones County Junior College as a sophomore. Stevens also shot 37.5 percent from 3...
Jamarko Pickett is listed as a small forward, but can play either forward spot and will likely end up at power forward... Pickett is a four-star prospect, who was rated as the No. 73 player in the class of 2017 by 247.
Chad Ford, ESPNs analyst of NBA drafts, can envision next seasons Kentucky team featuring a big man tandem of Bam Adebayo and Mohamed Bamba.
That would be an unbelievable front line, Ford said in a recent telephone conversation.
Of course, two big decisions must fall Kentuckys way in order for the Wildcats to put a double Bammy on opponents.
Adebayo, who declared for this years NBA Draft but did not sign with an agent, must decide to return to Kentucky next season. Ford recommends just that.
And Bamba, one of this recruiting years top prospects, must sign with UK. Recruiting analysts increasingly believe that will happen.
Depending on which of this years mock drafts you follow, Adebayo would be taken in the latter half of the first round (Ford, NBADraft.net) or early in the second round (DraftExpress.com).
Adebayos strong finish to this past season halted a perceived slide and moved his possible draft position into the 17-to-25 range, Ford said. But with the 2018 NBA Draft considered not nearly as bountiful, and given the improvement a player can make in a year, Adebayo could be a top 10 pick next year...
UK basketball two decisions away from unbelievable front line (http://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article146172999.html)
New Florida graduate transfer Egor Koulechov says he knew this past season would be his last with the Rice basketball program...
Hell head to Gainesville to help replace the talent lost from Floridas Elite Eight roster while looking to prove himself at college basketballs high-major level.
Throughout the year I kind of already had thoughts of what I was going to do next year. I was kind of set in my mind I wasnt going to be coming back to Rice, but throughout the year I thought it was going to be to go pro, Koulechov said in a phone interview Sunday. I had a good year and thought maybe I want to do one more year (of college basketball), and do it back at a high-major.
Koulechov, who spent his freshman season at Arizona State, averaged 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for Rice as a redshirt junior. He shot 47.4 percent from 3-point range (81 of 171) and earned first-team All-Conference USA honors.
Armond at one time talked about transferring, but he had a change of heart, Johnson told Ryan Fowler during a radio interview on 102.9 FM, Tuscaloosa. ArMonds going to be back with the Tide next year, so look for him to be enrolled, unless something happens out of the blue.
Look for ArMond to be enrolled in summer school and start summer school on May 30 and return to the Crimson Tide next year.
The 6-foot-6 senior had announced his intention to leave Alabama on Twitter on April 4. Earlier this week he promised to come back stronger than ever.
After transferring to Alabama from Southern Idaho, Davis played in 32 games last season and averaged 6.0 points as a reserve. He ranked fourth on the team in 3-pointers (32) and was third in 3-point attempts (129).
Johnson did not have an update on sophomore forward Braxton Key, the 6-8 forward who declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft, but wasnt invited to this weeks combine.
The final season for SEC teams to have a substantial chance to win against Mississippi State.
Next season, Howland is going to have the following size.
Schnider Herard 6'10" 4 Star
Aric Holman 6'10" 4 Star
Abdul Ado 6'11" 4 Star Ineligible this season. Probably the best shot blocker they have had since Jarvis Varnado.
Garrison Brooks 6'10" 4 Star
E.J. Datcher 6'9" 240 lbs.
KeyShawn Feazell 6'9"
Im a Florida Gator in my heart, so I wanted another chance to come back and be a Gator, Egbunu said. Ive graduated from here, and I love playing here, being a part of the culture and being with my teammates its a fun team to be around. Its also a chance for me to continue to improve and grow as a player and help the team however I can. And I cant forget to mention how great it is to play in front of the Rowdies and all of our Gator fans.
Egbunu was averaging 7.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during his junior season before tearing his left knee ACL in February in a win over Auburn.
Egbunu continues to rehab from surgery and expects to return in mid-January.
After visiting with TeMarcus, he just cannot get his body to respond to continue to play basketball, Gamecocks coach Frank Martin said in a statement. It absolutely breaks my heart that somebody with such incredible spirit can no longer play, however, he will continue to be a big part of Gamecock basketball.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported late Wednesday night that several teams picking in the 20s were interested in Diallo, but he never got a high enough guarantee from a franchise to stay in the draft.
I wanted to see where I was in the draft process so I could get a proper evaluation, Diallo wrote in his announcement. I hope to play in the NBA one day just not this season. Based on the information I received by testing the waters, I believe its in my best interests to return to school.
Wildcats will now have 11 former top-100 recruits and eight former 5-star prospects on the roster next season. Diallo, point guard Quade Green, small forwards Kevin Knox and Jarred Vanderbilt, power forwards P.J. Washington, Sacha Killeya-Jones and Wenyen Gabriel and center Nick Richards all were consensus top-25 recruits nationally.
The one major concern: every contributor next season will be a freshman or sophomore unless Kentucky adds one last piece in the form of Pittsburgh graduate transfer Cameron Johnson, a 6-8 wing who shot 40 percent from 3-point range in ACC play last season.
Projected Starters
PG Quade Green, 6-1, 5-star freshman
SG Hamidou Diallo, 6-5, 5-star freshman
SF Kevin Knox, 6-9, 5-star freshman
PF P.J. Washington, 6-8, 5-star freshman
C Sacha Killeya-Jones, 6-10, 5-star sophomore
Projected Reserves
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 6-6, 4-star freshman
SG Jemarl Baker, 6-4, 4-star freshman
SF Jarred Vanderbilt, 6-9, 5-star freshman
PF Wenyen Gabriel, 6-9, 5-star sophomore
PF Tai Wynyard, 6-10, 4-star sophomore
C Nick Richards, 7-0, 5-star freshman
A&M: Robert Williams was considered a lock as a first-rounder and possibly even a lottery pick, but the athletic freshman big man didn't even bother to test the process. His return, along with the addition of point guard J.J. Caldwell, is huge for Billy Kennedy and the Aggies. Texas A&M also returns Tyler Davis and Tonny Trocha-Morelos up front and D.J. Hogg and Admon Gilder on the perimeter.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks, like Oregon, are still getting over the Final Four hangover. However, Martin took a huge hit with the departure of his perimeter trio. Sindarius Thornwell and Duane Notice were expected, but the early departure of Dozier was not, and that'll likely put Martin & Co. in rebuilding mode this season.
State freshman guard Mario Kegler has expressed an interest in transferring, sources confirmed after Evan Daniels of Scout.com first reported the news late Thursday night. Ben Howland has not returned a request for comment and MSU has not provided a statement. MSU did add, however, that Howland is out of town.
Howland is expected to meet with Kegler on Wednesday, a source said.
Kegler started in all 31 of MSU's 32 games last season. He scored in double-figures 16 times and averaged 9.7 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. He was the Bulldogs third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder.
Bulldogs have several options in the backcourt, with Tyson Carter, Lamar Peters,
Eli Wrightand incoming five-star freshman Nick Weatherspoon. Therefore, they could go with a small lineup and be effective, but could end up missing Keglers presence either way.
The biggest problem MSU may face if Kegler leaves is with depth.
The Bulldogs added Keyshawn Feazell as a three-star forward in their incoming class and he may provide depth off the bench. MSU granted four-star forward Garrison Brooks his release from his national letter of intent in April. Without Kegler, Brooks and Joe Strugg, along with the graduation of I.J. Ready, the Bulldogs would have two open spots on their roster. It's unclear if MSU is looking to add a graduate transfer for the upcoming season.
Kegler was part of MSU's highly-touted 2016 signing class.
Ive had guys flip at the last minute, so until they actually send their stuff in, you dont know, Fox said Tuesday before SEC meetings.
Maten, a 6-foot-8 forward, was Georgias leading scorer and rebounder last year until badly spraining his knee late in the year. He has played power forward and center in college, but given his size is more likely to have a different role if he wants to play in the NBA.
Given that, Fox and Maten have discussed using him differently next year
Hes evolved every year more and more. Thats kind of the natural progression weve taken with him since he came, Fox said. Will he be used exactly as he was last year, no. Will he evolve to a degree, most certainly. But will he also go back to where hes done his most damage, absolutely.
Matens return means that Georgia projects to return nine out of its 10 leading scorers from last season, though the exception is star All-SEC point guard J.J. Frazier. Fox also said there is no other unforeseen attrition...
This stuff has switched, Wildcats coach John Calipari said Wednesday at the leagues spring meetings in Destin, Fla. This is our time now. Its our turn. What we did last year was a great start of it.
First came better scheduling, then better coaching hires and improved facilities and huge leaps in recruiting all of which finally paid off last season with five teams making the NCAA Tournament, four of them winning at least a game, three reaching the Elite Eight and South Carolinas stunning run to the Final Four.
Gamecocks coach Frank Martin received a standing ovation from his fellow coaches in Destin.
SEC teams toppled their fair share of high-profile opponents from other conferences last season: Duke, North Carolina, UCLA, Michigan, Michigan State, Virginia, Wisconsin, Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Miami, Virginia Tech, Syracuse.
Scheduling was a big part of it, Calipari said, but you gotta win. There were years where in November and December, we just lost games as a league, like, we cant lose games like that. This year, we didnt.
Both Arkansas and Vanderbilt nearly added to the leagues bragging rights in the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks led the (eventual national champion) Tar Heels with 1:44 to go in the second round and were victims of some questionable officiating down the stretch. The Commodores led Northwestern with 14.6 seconds left before a confused player committed a heartbreaking foul.
With seven returners who gained quality experience, as well as extra practice time allowed due to the teams trip to Italy in August, the head coach is using every moment of this period.
The Tigers are allowed 10 extra practices per the NCAA. Since theres no time limit, the workouts have resembled a typical 2 1/2- to 3-hour practice.
It just allows us to get more in this summer, get more accomplished, Pearl said before an Auburn club meeting in Huntsville last week. It gets me to experiment a little bit. Im going to try some things this summer and overseas that I dont know I would have been able to do if I didnt have this experience.
Now that freshman forward Chuma Okeke has joined center Austin Wiley and the Tigers other bigs, Pearl is testing different ways to use his teams length to its advantage.
Auburn struggled defensively at times and for the most part stayed away from zone defenses during its 18 wins in 2016, but that could change when the fall arrives.
I have not played a lot of zone, Pearl said. With the way they are calling the game now and some people dont respond well to it. I want to spend more time practicing more zone so its more of a viable game for us.
Near the end of the season, Pearl emphasized that defensive improvement would be a huge focus this offseason.
Auburn's promising freshman forward sustained only a bone bruise and will be out just one to two weeks.
Four-star recruit from Georgia suffered the injury Monday during tryouts for the USA Under-19 world championship team. He underwent an initial MRI on Wednesday and returned to Auburn Thursday for further testing.
6-foot-7, 225-pound Georgia native was the No. 11 small forward and No. 45 overall prospect in this year's recruiting class...
Caliparis next group of Wildcats will be his youngest yet. Eight of his 11 scholarship players next season will be freshmen. The other three will be sophomores.
This roster doesnt appear to have a transcendent player like No. 1 draft picks John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns, and expectations though still sky high
What this squad will feature more so than any other Kentucky team under Calipari is a cast of prospects that perfectly fits the UK coachs recent obsession with positionless basketball players.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee graduate transfer James Daniel III comes to the Vols as one of the most highly-touted scorers in the country, but hes also bringing a lot of confidence.
I have very high expectations for our group, Daniel said at the Pilot Rocky Top Leagues opening night at Catholic High ...
We have a young team, but they got a lot of experience last year, he said. Adding me and adding (junior college guard) Chris Darrington and a couple of freshmen, I feel as though we have a chance to not only win the conference, but like a national title.
Daniel transferred from Howard University with one year of eligibility left. In the 2015-16 season, he averaged 27.1 points which led the nation
Commodores will tip off a period of 10 practices on July 10, which is permitted by the NCAA for offseason international trips. Vanderbilt will play in the Paradise Jam summer tour in the Virgin Islands Aug. 13-19.
Time and time again last season, Georgias basketball team would be in a tight contest and turn to its 5-foot-10 backcourt star to lead a potential comeback.
J.J. Frazier many times answered that call, but with Frazier now pursuing a professional career, theres a significant scoring void and adjustment period for head coach Mark Fox... The SEC appears to be improved, and Fox is facing lofty expectations in his eighth season.
I think Tyree (Crump) and Jordan (Harris), obviously as sophomores, go into this year knowing what to do and expect, Fox said in Mondays SEC media teleconference. Theyre much more comfortable in everything that theyre doing, and the workouts have been pretty good. For the most part, theyve stayed pretty healthy. Theyve had a really good offseason in preparation to absorb more minutes and hopefully get more shots.
In inconsistent action last season, Crump and Harris showed flashes of living up to the potential of their four-star recruiting rankings, whether it be the 13 points by Crump in a comeback win over Tennessee or three steals from Harris in a blowout road victory over Mississippi. Now, Georgia hopes that those short-lived peaks of success can translate into a more thorough role this season.
Crump and Harris will also have the duty of mentoring a newly signed guard through the turbulence that comes with a freshman season. The Bulldogs signed Teshaun Hightower, a Gwinnett County product, in the final signing period and look for him to gain some traction with the sophomore duo and junior guard Turtle Jackson.
Juwan [Parker] is really doing well, Fox said. He returned to the gym to start shooting balls a little earlier than we thought. He hasnt been cleared for live five-on-five play, and there are only one or two things that theyre still limiting him from doing on the court. Hes been able to do just about everything, outside of one or two activities. Hes doing well and feels good.
Georgia had options at the wing to fill-in for Parker during his injury, with freshmen Rayshaun Hammonds and Nicolas Claxton joining junior ETorrion Wilridge
Georgia has gotten some more positive news in terms of players returning. Yante Maten announced May 23 that he would be returning for his senior season after originally declaring for the NBA draft without an agent in April.
COLUMBIA, MO. After three last-place finishes in the Southeastern Conference and three years of empty seats at Mizzou Arena, the Missouri mens basketball program has grabbed the attention of the coaches around the league.
Thats what happens when you hire an established head coach with SEC ties who then signs the nations seventh-ranked recruiting class, including the No. 1 high school prospect.
The same coaches who are always in campaign mode to endorse SEC basketball prowess you might have heard the league landed three teams in the 2017 Elite Eight, including first-time Final Four participant South Carolina took turns Monday praising Mizzous swift rebuild, which started March 15 when athletics director Jim Sterk hired Cuonzo Martin to pull the Tigers out of the Kim Anderson quagmire.
SEC coach who knows Missouris program best said the Tigers will be on everybodys radar this season.
Im excited for Cuonzo, said Arkansas Mike Anderson, Mizzous coach from 2006-11. Timing is everything. Hes been able to put together a tremendous recruiting class. We always (say) coaching is sometimes overrated. Youve got to have players.
Martin has reconstructed Mizzous roster with five newcomers, headlined by 6-10 forward Michael Porter Jr., the countrys top-rated recruit and winner of multiple national player of the year awards. Mike Anderson was still coaching at Mizzou when the Porter family arrived in Columbia in 2010. Porter Jr., who played at Father Tolton High School before moving to Seattle for his senior year, was 12 at the time and starting sixth grade.
I can remember when the kid was 6 feet (tall), Anderson said. He shot up like a cannon.
Anderson also noted Mizzous addition of 6-11 freshman forward Jeremiah Tilmon, a four-star prospect from East St. Louis expected to immediately contribute inside, plus the return of junior point guard Terrence Phillips and MUs other core veterans. The combination of MUs impact rookies and seasoned players has Martins peers on alert, especially considering Martins SEC experience. During Martins three years as Tennessees head coach (2011-14), only Kentuckys John Calipari and Floridas Billy Donovan won more games in the SEC than Martins 63 victories.
Cuonzo has been through the wars of the SEC, Mike Anderson said. He knows what it takes to compete at a high level. Im sure hell turn it around really quick. Hes got some good players there. Missouri has done a good job bringing in a guy that can recognize talent. He can get those guys to play at a high level. All it does is continue to put another team thats going to be on everybodys radar and have a chance to play postseason basketball at the end of the year.
Summer has plenty of value for Ole Miss, which is integrating several new faces into its program.
There's four-star prospect Devontae Shuler. There's grad transfer Markel Crawford, who played at Memphis last season. There's Bruce Stevens, a JUCO All-American at Jones County Junior College. And there's new Rebels assistant coach Rahim Lockhart, who coached Stevens.
Andy Kennedy knows those aforementioned players and coaches will bring something to the table this season, but on Monday he showered praise on one of his holdovers from last season: sophomore point guard Breein Tyree.
The biggest improvement Ive seen, just because now hes fully healthy and he didnt have this summer last year based on the injury coming out of high school is Breein Tyree," Kennedy said. "He suffered an ACL tear in April of his senior year ... So to see him back healthy, whole and with the confidence we recruited him with has been very pleasing.
STARKVILLE A late transfer left a scholarship open for Mississippi State and it is still unclear if that spot will be used for this upcoming season, Ben Howland said. At this point, there arent many options left and that may suggest the scholarship will carry over into the following season.
The opening was created when Mario Kegler bolted for Baylor. Kegler leaving Mississippi State for Baylor despite having played the second-most minutes and attempted the third-most shots on the Bulldogs was not something Howland expected.
For him to want to leave that situation was a little bit surprising, Howland said Monday during the SECs summer teleconference. But we wish him well.
Mario did not really let us know that he was going to do that until the very end of May, Howland said. What it does is, it gives us another scholarship that we have for this coming season and if we decide to use that this year, which still remains to be seen.
In terms of our depth, at the end of the day, I think its the best thing long-term. I think our guys have been great, and it creates opportunities for someone else.
That person could be Xavian Stapleton. Stapleton, who averaged 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, can stretch the floor at 6-foot-6, and may be in line for a starting role. Howland is expecting to get a boost from the presence of center Abdul Ado, who sat out last year because of eligibility issues. The Bulldogs also have depth at the guard position and could look to use a smaller lineup.
MSU is expecting only two additions. Former Dandy Dozen honoree Keyshawn Feazell, a forward out of Lawrence County is already on campus and is better than I had hoped at this point, Howland said.
The hope, from MSUs perspective is that five-star point guard Nick Weatherspoon (Velma Jackson) joins the Bulldogs for the second summer session after needing to meet an academic requirement this month.
We fully expect that to happen, Howland said.
Bruce Pearl is weighing how to deploy Auburn's personnel, with the possibility of utilizing two five-man units heavily under consideration.
Auburn has 11 eligible players for the 2017-18 season plus the addition of VCU transfer Samir Doughty, who officially signed on Tuesday and will sit out this season.
"I have 11 really good players and I'm not bringing - we made a conscious decision, a conscious effort, all spring to resist the temptation to bring in a 12th eligible player," Pearl said. "Because I don't need anybody else eligible ...
"I look at us as a team that will play 10. I can't see us not playing fewer than 10. Our strength is our depth. Whether or not we platoon, that might be something I look at, like John (Calipari) did a couple of years ago at Kentucky. I don't know that I will, but it's something that I'm definitely going to look at.
Favorites for the starting five are clearly Austin Wiley at center, Danjel Purifoy at small forward and Mustapha Heron at shooting guard, with Horace Spencer and Chuma Okeke competing at power forward and Jared Harper and Davion Mitchell vying for the point guard job. Then there are returning players with significant experience in Bryce Brown and Anfernee McLemore, junior college transfer guard Malik Dunbar and forward Desean Murray, who sat out last year after transferring from Presbyterian.
Kentucky freshmen Hamidou Diallo, P.J. Washington and Kevin Knox were all with their coach, John Calipari, for at least a few days in Colorado. While Knox headed back to Lexington early with a hamstring injury after looking at times like the best player in the gym
Its a great opportunity for those key Cats, who along with Knox seem likely to start at Kentucky from Day 1, to get a head start.
BRUCE PEARL (Auburn coach)
The guys Im highest on are Washington and Knox. Im really high on those guys. Great size, skill set, know how to play, can shoot, pass and handle "
DANNY MANNING (Wake Forest coach)
[Washington] is extremely versatile; hes got a very good skillset. He handles the ball well, passes it well, has a good feel and understanding of the game. [Knox] is a guy who does a lot of different things "
MIKE DECOURCY (Sporting News)
P.J. impressed me the most in terms of his readiness to play right now with what they need him to do at the position they need him to fill. ... He plays hard, he drives the ball, hes aggressive...
Kevin Knox gets to great spots. Thats a great sign. Hes such a gifted athlete and has such a good head for how to get through an offense. Hes always in the right spot; the next step will be becoming a guy who makes that shot when he gets to that spot. He has a lot of arc on his shot...
Hamidou, I think this is really important for him, because he hasnt played in so long. Of the three [its most important for him], absolutely. Youre starting to see a more confident player, a more fluid player, and hes making shots..."
Austin Wiley had his worst performance of the FIBA U-19 World Cup on Wednesday, but it still didn't slow down Team USA.
Wiley finished with just two points and three rebounds, but Team USA routed Mali, 117-69...
P.J. Washington led Team USA with 20 points.
Coach [Rick Barnes] put the bug in my ear and said youve got to take advantage of it every time youre playing, it doesnt matter who you are playing against, Bone said. You never know when the ball is going to stop bouncing, so I put that in my head that every time I step on the court, I need to give it my all.
Rising junior Admiral Schofield was the most impressive of the Vols players in summer league action, while Pilot Rocky Top League commissioner Andre Whitehead said Kyle Alexander showed the most improvement since the end of last season.
Heres a look at the summer league shooting percentages and scoring averages of the Tennessee players past and present from the 5-game schedule each played at Knoxville Catholic:
(Note: past players in italics)
Admiral Schofield: 37.0 PPG; 64.5%FG; 38% 3PT-FG; 11-15 FT-FTA
Jalen Johnson: 24.3 PPG; 73.2% FG; 19% 3PT-FG; 1-3 FT-FTA
Jordan Bowden: 19.0 PPG; 75% FG; 36.7% 3PT-FG; 0-0 FT-FTA
Jordan Bone: 17.8 PPG; 53.5% FG; 32.4% 3PT-FG; 10-12 FT-FTA
Bobby Maze: 17.33 PPG; 75% FG; 18.8% 3PT-FG; 7-10 FT-FTA
Lew Evans: 15.5 PPG; 71.4% FG; 35% 3PT-FG; 0-2 FT-FTA
Chris Darrington: 15.25 PPG; 38.1%FG; 36.4% 3PT-FG; 9-12 FT-FTA
Kyle Alexander: 15.0 PPG; 71.7% FG; 15.4% 3PT-FG; 3-8 FT-FTA
Derrick Walker: 14.0 PPG; 49.2% FG; 0% 3PT-FG; 12-22 FT-FTA
Brad Woodson: 13.8 PPG; 60% FG; 36.5% 3PT-FG; 0-0 FT-FTA
Grant Williams: 12.2 PPG; 71.0% FG; 28.6% 3PT-FG; 5-6 FT-FTA
Wayne Chism: 11.3 PPG; 71.4% FG; 33.3% 3PT-FG; 2-2 FT-FTA
Jacob Fleschman: 7.8 PPG; 40.0% FG; 36.7% 3PT-FG; 2-2 FT-FTA
Zach Kent: 6.3 PPG; 54.5% FG; 42.9% 3PT-FG; 4-6 FT-FTA
Lucas Campbell: 5.33 PPG; 33.3% FG; 36.4% 3PT-FG; 0-1 FT-FTA
Jon RothsteinVerified account @JonRothstein 17m17 minutes ago
While chemistry & role allocation still need to be worked out, Texas A&M boasts SEC's best blend of youth & experience on paper. Not close.
COLUMBIA, MO. There is nothing fancy about Cuonzo Martins ongoing construction project over in Boone County.
Missouris new mens basketball coach has set firm, basic and crystal clear objectives for the group. Freshman guard C.J. Roberts saw that when Martin made a home visit, hoping to retain his commitment to the school after Kim Andersons departure.
He just came in, looked me in my eyes and told me Im not going to let you cut corners, Im going to be on you about everything, little things, its going to be a short leash. I want you to be great, you want to be great, thats what were going to do, Roberts recalled.
Freshman guard Blake Harris got the picture when he recovered from wrist surgery and was cleared to practice fully.
The physical defensive play got his attention, along with the vocal scrimmage communication.
Junior forward Kevin Puryear was used to mixing it up, but Martins brisk practice pace challenged him.
The speed is just ... Ive never been through anything like this speed, ever, in my career, Puryear said.
Anderson preached defense when he returned to his alma mater as head coach, but his teams seldom got after opponents. Middling programs (or worse) could come into Mizzou Arena and win games.
He tried to instill discipline, issuing suspension after suspension during his first year, but failed to restore order. He shied away from transfers and preached personnel continuity, but suffered wholesale defections.
He hoped to turn the corner once he finally had his players in place, but nothing changed in Year 3. So Martin is starting over, stressing mental toughness, physical conditioning, defensive tenacity and offensive adaptability.
If that means strapping on 15-pound weight vests for a whole practice, thats what...
https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/88594142981351014698% chance he will class up.
Tennessee basketball team will have two new guards this season, and coach Rick Barnes expects them to bring scoring to the backcourt.
Barnes wanted to address the lack of a scoring threat from the guard position last season.
I can only go back to a year ago with our last game, Barnes said. We had the ball against Georgia, our guards had chances to make plays and didnt. One thing we wanted to do in the offseason and we felt we maybe had to do that with older guys.
With Chris Darrington and James Daniel we felt we could get guys who like to score and [are] not afraid to go make plays.
Daniel, a graduate transfer from Howard, led the NCAA in scoring as a junior in the 2015-16 season with 27.1 points per game.
Darrington comes to Tennessee as a highly touted junior college transfer. He ranked as the No. 14 best JUCO player in the country last season, according to 247Sports.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard averaged 20.7 points per game last season.
Southeastern Conference team no one expected to make the Final Four in Phoenix is now the short-term model for nearly everyone else in the league, including Alabama.
Be like the South Carolina Gamecocks could be a rallying call for the upcoming 2017-18 mens basketball season. With high expectations for Kentucky and maybe Florida, the rest of the league hopes for a similar leap...
Hopefully well be ready to take that take step, Alabama coach Avery Johnson said. The Crimson Tide certainly has the potential to land just its second NCAA Tournament invitation since 2006 this season and then, who knows?
Alabama went 19-15 last season, and 10-8 in league play, which was good enough to tie Ole Miss and Vanderbilt for fifth in the SEC, only to land yet another NIT appearance.
ama fans were quick to note that the Crimson Tide were the last team to beat the Gamecocks prior to the NCAA Tournament. They also won their other matchup as well in four overtimes 90-86 on Feb. 7, when host South Carolina was ranked No. 19.
While theres no doubt that Alabama is a better team on paper than it was a year ago, having added a terrific recruiting class led by guards Collin Sexton and John Petty, theres no guarantee that will translate into a jump up in the SEC standings.
Thats not a knock on the Crimson Tide, because the league is stepping up its game as well.
Arkansas and Texas A&M were solid last year and shouldnt be overlooked.
Razorbacks finished third in the league and made the NCAA field. Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford both withdrew their names from the NBA draft and coach Mike Anderson added a solid recruiting class.
Auburn is one of four SEC teams on the list, trailing No. 13 Kentucky, No. 20 Alabama and No. 21 Arkansas.
Its really competitive, Pearl said. It really is, but its also the guys are really working hard and playing together.
Malik Dunbar joined the team on Friday after finishing up academically at College of Central Florida and transfer Desean Murray who sat out last season will make the [August Italy] trip, too.
Adding faces has highlighted the second potential issue Pearl is appreciating: depth.
We literally have two potential starters at every position, Pearl said.
Tigers are hoping to put together a season capped with an NCAA Tournament appearance. The time abroad in a way will be a spring board allowing Auburn to get a head start...
Already Auburn has worked diligently on improving its transition defense, for example.
It helps you throughout the season, Pearl said of his teams time overseas. We are further ahead. It takes a little pressure off in the fall, helps the guys get adjusted a little bit.
Austin Wiley will benefit from some time off, as hell be sidelined during the trip with a stress fracture, but the entire group will get some time off upon the return to the states.
I think in the long run thats going to help us be fresh, or fresher, Pearl said.
Already theres chatter about the ensuing starting battle at point guard. And then theres the question of who will play alongside Wiley.
If everyone is focused on the name on the front of the jersey and not the name on the back of the jersey, Pearl said, everyones going to be happy. Well be playing together, well be playing beautiful basketball and well be winning.
When we are successful, you as an individual have a chance to benefit more than if you as an individual are successful but the team fails.
Despite having the no. 1 pick in the NBA Draft just two seasons ago, it has been a rough couple of years for LSU basketball. But with the hiring of former VCU head coach Will Wade, a new era has begun in Baton Rouge, and there is plenty of reason for optimism.
Along with being a fresh face, Wade has a reputation as a very good recruiter, and he figures to bring in plenty of talent to the program. He earned a big lift in that area on Saturday, as LSU landed the commitment of impact graduate transfer Randy Onwuasor, formerly from Southern Utah:
Onwuasor put up big numbers in 2016-17, averaging 23.6 points per game for the Thunderbirds.
Despite that huge scoring average, Onwuasor has some work to do in terms of efficiency, as he shot just 41 percent from the field, and 31 percent [from treyville].
Collin Sexton is fine after an injury scare during the Crimson Tide's exhibition game against Carleton Wednesday night, according to an Alabama spokesman.
Sexton left with an apparent injury late in the fourth quarter of the Tide's 84-71 loss.
Prior to exiting, Sexton scored 15 points and had eight assists in 30 minutes.
Sexton was the No. 1 point guard and No. 4 overall prospect in this year's recruiting class (and maybe ever).
Alabama mens basketball team ran into a 3-point scoring machine during the second stop of its exhibition tour in Canada, losing to Carleton, 84-71, on Wednesday night.
For the second straight game freshman guard John Petty led the Crimson Tide in scoring. He had 16 points, followed by freshman guard Collin Sexton with 15 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Sophomore forward Braxton Key netted 14 points. The rest of the team was 10 of 39 (.256) from the floor and 1 of 9 (.111) from [Treyville].
Ravens made 12 shots from beyond the arc and outrebounded the Crimson Tide, 44-34.
This was one of the games that we, as a coaching staff, had circled on the schedule because this team has historically done really well against some of the most high-level American universities that have come over here to play, Alabama coach Avery Johnson said in a release. We knew they were going to play physical, rebound the basketball and shoot threes, and they did all of those things.
This is strictly an evaluation trip. We had the chance to play six or seven different lineups, play a lot of different guys and look at a lot of different match-ups. We didnt do as good of a job on both ends of the floor that we are capable of, but this was a great learning experience for our team.
Freshman guard Herb Jones did not dress for the game because hes in concussion protocol and will miss Alabamas final game in Canada. Sexton left the game in the fourth quarter, but Johnson was quick to calm injury concerns...
Jontay Porter, a Tigers commit and one of the top recruits in the nation, has reclassified and will now be a part of the 2017 class.
6-foot-10, 240-pound power forward from Columbia was originally a Class of 2018 commit, but will enroll in school early. His brother, Michael Porter Jr., is also a member of the Tigers while his father, Michael Porter Sr., joined the Missouri coaching staff this offseason.
South Carolina basketball coach Frank Martin announced on Wednesday that sophomore guard Rakym Felder has been suspended indefinitely.
According to an official announcement from the school, Felder, whos been suspended since June 30, will not attend classes this fall.
Due to some unfortunate decisions by Rakym, he has been suspended indefinitely from our program, Martin said in the release. I will continue to help Rakym grow as a young man even though basketball is not part of our relationship right now.
According to the public index search on the Richland County website, Felder was arrested on July 13. His charges include assault and third-degree assault and battery.
Last fall, Felder was arrested and charged with simple assault and resisting arrest, among others.
Following that suspension by Martin, Felder averaged 5.6 points and 1.3 assists per game, to go along with a 42 percent shooting clip from behind the 3-
He was expected to compete this season for the Gamecocks starting point guard job.
Pearl also told me it will be first time at Auburn that he can play way he wants. "Press 94 feet and play fast -- like we did at Tennessee."
Pearl has gotten 7 players in Top 100 of ESPN's recruiting rankings in last 3 years -- 6 ranked in Top 70.
Auburn 6-8 frosh Chuma Okeke was terrific in Italy. "He's not flashy, doesn't wow you -- but he's productive." Finishes, rebounds, defends.
Soph Jared Harper & frosh Davion Mitchell will split the time at the point. Pearl said Harper trying to make plays for others more this year
Pearl said that Auburn wasn't tough enough last year. Believes Tigers older and added four new guys who all bring toughness to team.
Pearl making it clear he expects this team to make NCAA tourney. "This is our year. Our expectation needs to be to compete for SEC title."
5. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous Way-Too-Early ranking: 4
Key losses: Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox, Isaiah Briscoe, Bam Adebayo, Derek Willis
Key additions: Kevin Knox, P.J. Washington, Nick Richards, Jarred Vanderbilt, Quade Green, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jemarl Baker
7. Florida Gators
Previous Way-Too-Early Ranking: 8
Key losses: Canyon Barry, Devin Robinson, Kasey Hill
Key additions: Egor Koulechov, Isaiah Stokes, DeAundre Ballard
Coach Michael White followed Billy Donovan, generally regarded as one of America's top collegiate coaches before he jumped to the NBA to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his second season leading the Gators, White led Florida to the 2017 Elite Eight, assuring all Gators fans he's the right man for the job. It gets better. Florida could secure SEC preseason favorite honors with Kentucky.
23. Missouri Tigers
Previous Way-Too-Early ranking: 25
Key losses: Russell Woods
Key additions: Michael Porter Jr., Blake Harris, Jeremiah Tilmon, Kassius Robertson, C.J. Roberts, Jontay Porter
A few months ago, Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk did what any campus leader must consider when he wants to clean up a mess. He opened his wallet. The seven-year, $21 million deal for coach Cuonzo Martin --
PG Quade Green (freshman)
SG Hamidou Diallo (redshirt freshman)
SF Kevin Knox (freshman)
PF P.J. Washington (freshman)
PF Wenyen Gabriel (sophomore)
Second wave
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (freshman)
SG Jemarl Baker (freshman)
SF Jarred Vanderbilt (freshman)
PF Sacha Killeya-Jones (sophomore)
C Nick Richards (freshman)
It would be a surprise if Green, Diallo, Knox and Washington dont start. That fifth spot might be up for grabs. Earlier this summer, we projected Killeya-Jones to take that starting job, but Gabriel (who started 23 games as a freshman games before fading in February) apparently had a transformational offseason both in mind and body
Calipari and his recent obsession with positionless basketball means he wont hesitate to play without a true 5 man. If he wants one, though, look for the towering freshman Richards (whose game is just beginning to take flight and whose work ethic is already impressing in Lexington) to seize a starting job.
Whatever happens, Kentuckys top 10 guys will play real minutes with Baker perhaps getting the fewest if other outside shooters emerge. I doubt Calipari wants to go back to platoons, but he has the horses to do it this season in spurts if the occasion calls for overwhelming an opponent with numbers.
More likely, though, is that the Cats will mix and match and deploy a few specific lineups depending on the desired effect. A few we have in mind, outside of those projected starters...
Coach Billy Kennedy said the family of one player, junior guard Chris Collins, lives in Friendswood, Texas, which is about 25 miles southeast of Houston. The first floor of the family home was flooded, causing the family to retreat to the second floor.
Another A&M player, Josh Nebo, was stranded alone in his Houston home. His mother could not get from her job at a hospital to the house, Kennedy said.
After staying in daily contact with calls and texts, Kennedy sent an assistant on Wednesday to bring Nebo to College Station. Flood water prevented the assistant from driving to the players house. So they met a few blocks away, Kennedy said.
A record rain fall in one day 20-something inches, Kennedy said flooded some streets in College Station. But there was no serious damage.
Tcxas A&M converted its basketball practice facility into a center for donations of clothing, food and other supplies.
Its been a cool thing, Kennedy said of the volunteerism inspired by Hurricane Harvey. A lot of people stepping up.
On Sunday, UK Coach John Calipari will stage a Teaming Up for Texas telethon intended to raise money for hurricane relief. The telethon, which will be staged at Lexington television station WKYT, will air from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Welcome to the Southeastern Conference, Will Wade.
LSUs first-year men's basketball coach will make his SEC debut against the league's reigning regular-season and tournament champion when Kentucky comes to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for a Jan. 3 matchup with the Tigers.
The opening portion of the Tigers' 18-game conference schedule won't be easy. After tangling with Kentucky, their next two games are on the road, at Texas A&M (Jan. 6) and at Arkansas (Jan. 10).
Kentucky will likely be in the top five in the preseason rankings despite losing three members of the SECs All-Freshman team to the NBA draft.
"Itll be a huge challenge for us," Wade said. "We have the best program in the league coming in here first, so it'll be a big challenge. Kentucky will be talented and well-coached. ... They'll be long and will defend well. It'll be a big-time challenge.
"Not only that, but we'll face another talented team on the road in Texas A&M, and Arkansas is a tough team to beat in Bud Walton Arena. It's a treacherous start to league play for us."
The game at LSU will be the second in conference play for Kentucky, which takes on Georgia in Rupp Arena on Dec. 31.
Felder, a sophomore, was indefinitely suspended from the Gamecocks basketball team after he was charged with third-degree assault and battery on July 13. Hes not taking any classes this semester at South Carolina.
Rakym made a mistake and hes paying for it, Martin told Jon Rothstein. Hes an unbelievable young man. We still havent gotten into the conversation about him long-term yet, as a player, because weve been trying to help him as a person first, so he and I speak almost daily and were going to continue to figure out a way to help him, so he can succeed as a human being, and as soon as we can get to that place, then well start talking basketball.
For now, he continues to be my guy and hopefully we can one day re-engage, from a coach-player perspective.
A key piece off the bench on last seasons Final Four team, Felder averaged 5.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. His best performance came during South Carolinas Sweet 16-clinching win over Duke, when he scored 15 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and handed out 3 assists.
Last fall, Felder was arrested and charged with simple assault and resisting arrest.
His current suspension has been in place since an incident outside a bar on June 30, which led to charges two weeks later.
In a recently released statement from his attorney, Neal Lourie, Felder expressed remorse for his actions.
The roster includes 11 scholarship players eight freshmen, three sophomores nine of whom were considered 5-star recruits by at least one major scouting service: guards Quade Green, Hamidou Diallo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; forwards Kevin Knox, Jarred Vanderbilt, P.J. Washington, Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones; and center Nick Richards.
There are plenty of pieces with which to build a championship contender, but how do all those pieces fit together for Kentucky?
ESPN analyst and former Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg got to see the new team practice
Their overall length and athleticism is ridiculous, Greenberg said. This is the longest Cal team Ive seen in a long time. They could legitimately start four 6-9 guys and a point guard or Hami, a point guard and three 6-9 guys. Their versatility, their skill level, their athleticism, their length could be devastating defensively and at the rim.
We wrote about this two months ago, noting that this seasons team will feature seven players who are at least 6-foot-8 with wingspans of 6-11 or greater same as the freakishly long 2014-15 team that went 38-1. So thats a good start.
What about individuals who caught Greenbergs eye? The first name out of his mouth might surprise you but it shouldnt.
I was really, really impressed with Vanderbilt, he said of the 6-9 freshman forward whose hype wouldve been much bigger had he not struggled with injuries for more than a year. He could be an elite defender. Hes long, good off the bounce, got quickness, carried himself the right way.
Knox is the best shot-maker of that crew, Greenberg said. Hes going to have to stay engaged. He has versatility, because you could post him up and I think John will sometimes but Im not sure hes going to be able to guard the way Vanderbilt does.
Engaged is a word that is equally important, if not more so, for Diallo. Hes a 6-5 shooting guard with a 6-11 wingspan and 44 ½-inch vertical. But he also has enough holes in his game that he pulled out of the 2017 NBA Draft and returned to school for a chance to prove he can play.
I think Hamis got to understand how hard he has to play, Greenberg said.
South Carolina basketball: Rakym Felder suspended indefinitely (https://www.seccountry.com/south-carolina/south-carolina-basketball-rakym-felder-suspended-indefinitely)
Felders attorney confirmed the news on Thursday. The point guard had been suspended back June 30 by Frank Martin. Felder is not allowed to take classes this fall.
Auburn's sophomore center, who has been sidelined due to a stress fracture in his left foot he suffered in July, has been cleared for all activities, coach Bruce Pearl confirmed.
FanRag's Jon Rothstein first reported the return of Wiley, who averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.1 minutes while starting 21 of 22 games last season for Auburn.
Wenyen Gabriel, Kentucky: There was consistent chatter all summer that Gabriel was the best player on Kentuckys campus. If that sentiment holds true, he should be in for a major jump as a sophomore. With Hamidou Diallo, Kevin Knox, and Nick Richards all likely to start for the Wildcats, Gabriel will need to keep gunpowder in his diet to beat out 5-star freshmen P.J. Washington and Jarred Vanderbilt for the starting power forward spot. This is the only returning player with any real experience that John Calipari has back from last years team that lost by a possession to North Carolina...
Austin Wiley, Auburn: As Wiley goes, so may the Tigers. After wowing everyone in attendance in Colorado Springs for USA Basketball this past summer, this big man suffered a stress fracture which kept him from competing on the Tigers foreign tour. For Bruce Pearl to have Auburn in the NCAA Tournament mix, he needs Wiley to produce like an All-SEC player.
5-star freshman forward Jarred Vanderbilt is expected to miss three months after suffering an injury to his left foot. He will likely need surgery and plans to return in January.
Vanderbilt, a McDonalds All-American, dealt with multiple foot and ankle injuries prior to his arrival at Kentucky. His latest injury occurred Friday during team skill instruction, one day before the official start of preseason practice for the Wildcats.
As I told Jarred, my concern for him is getting this thing right and getting him healthy for the rest of his career, coach John Calipari said in a school-issued news release. Well miss him on the court, but I want whats best for him and his family, and right now thats taking care of this injury and making sure he doesnt have to worry about it again. With the motor and work ethic Ive seen from him, I have no doubt hes going to be better than ever when he returns and will provide us with a huge lift in conference play. Now its up to his teammates to hold the fort down until he gets back.
Fortunately for Kentucky, its 2017-18 roster is loaded with talented and versatile forwards, including former 5-star recruits Kevin Knox, P.J. Washington, Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones. But Vanderbilt was no doubt going to and may yet
Jeff GoodmanVerified account @GoodmanESPN 58m58 minutes ago
Texas A&M point guard JJ Caldwell has been suspended for the first 5 games of the season for violating... http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0705878886755344158-4
Calipari is about to begin his ninth season as Kentucky basketball coach. Even harder to fathom: For all his freshman-heavy teams, the 2017-18 Wildcats are going to be his youngest yet.
There are many challenges in replacing the top seven scorers and eight of the top nine
Well, its two [things]: First of all, Wenyen is playing way better, thank God. So hes not the same guy he was a year ago. So that one guy you have coming back, he could be in that rotation and be fine. The other guys seem to be freshmen. So thats one thing: youre playing freshmen. But the biggest thing is last year, we had like three point guards on the floor almost all the time. Now youre going to have either one or none that are, like, true point guards. And thats going to be the biggest change. So you may have a team of where it seems basketball is going to: no point guard, no center. Just players. So now its kind of like, OK, thats different than what weve had. For the last few years, its been three guards. And literally three point guards. Jamal Murray was a point guard; thats what he is. Thats one change.
So what Im looking at right now is different in how were playing. Still play fast, play unselfish; we should be a pretty good defensive team if we choose to be. But how we play offensively when you talk that kind of team, Im in the process right now of meeting and talking with some NBA guys about [what to do] away from the ball. We are a spacing offense and thats good and were not changing that, but you also have to be a movement offense now: hard cuts, a high-motor offense "
Florida coach Mike White said he feels like the Gators have a chance to be better offensively this season, but may take a step back defensively.
Gators open practice Thursday.
I think we can be better offensively, White said. Im not sure were going to be as good defensively, but were going to strive for that every day.
Gators return three starters and seven players overall from a team that finished 27-9 and reached the Elite Eight for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. Florida is ranked as high as eighth in the country coming into the season in some preseason publications.
White said junior center John Egbunu and freshman center Isaiah Stokes are on track to return from rehab from torn ACL surgeries in January, but said Stokes could be red-shirted this season due to UFs frontcourt depth.
We dont know. Theyre going to re-evaluate here in another week or so and figure out where it goes, Calipari said. It would be an unbelievable blessing for him or us if he was able to come back and play. Well let the doctors and experts deal with that. They wanted to look at it a little more before they make a decision.
When asked how Vanderbilts absence will affect the team, Cal said the loss hurts because he planned to use Vanderbilt in full-court press situations and as the centerpiece of the zone.
He have been [sic] our best shock blocker, Cal later added.
A couple of weeks ago Calipari and his program announced that Vanderbilt would miss the first three months of the season with a left foot injury suffered in practice.
But when this years preseason SEC ballot arrived, the voting process had a foreign component. And, nyet, not Russian hackers. This strange phenomenon was . . . doubt.
Dependence on freshmen? That was discarded as unimportant in 2010 when coaches and media ultimately voted a freshman, John Wall, the leagues Player of the Year after he led Kentucky to the league championship.
Kentuckys almost complete lack of experience this coming season caused uneasiness. Then theres one of the heralded freshmen, Jarred Vanderbilt, being sidelined until January. Then theres talk of the SEC being on a significant uptick with seven or eight teams possibly making the NCAA Tournament.
Then Calipari likened his players to the 2013-14 UK team that finished tied for second, six games behind Florida. A talented group of kids, he said of the current Cats, but theyre not ready to win basketball games.
This led to a vote for Texas A&M to win the SEC.
The game didnt count, but it sure did matter.
Sundays Mizzou-Kansas exhibition mattered to the fans, and it sure as heck mattered to the players out there, who were visually vicious, playing this October game like one theyd play in March.
And so, we learned so much about this Tigers team, unveiled at the sold-out and split Sprint Center.
We all had cooked up starting lineups in our heads finally, we saw the one Cuonzo Martin himself had.
We all wondered how the teenage big men would fare in the forest we soaked up more about Jeremiah Tilmon and Jontay Porter in one afternoon than we had in months of speculation.
We pondered how the perimeter players would fit into the scheme we spotted positives and some wary negatives.
And we, of course, yearned to see Michael Porter Jr.
As for the starting lineup, Martin made a subtle statement, starting freshman Blake Harris at point guard, instead of incumbent Terrance Phillips (also starting were Kassius Robertson, Porter Jr., Barnett and Tilmon). Both point guards finished with similar minutes, but starting Harris says that his fast feet on both ends
OK, so Jeremiah and Jontay nearly 14 feet of freshmen, whose combined age is the minimum to run for president. In 13 shoulder-bumping minutes, Tilmon looked like a young DeMarre Carroll down there, active and unafraid, bulldozing through (and above) the Kansas Jayhawks. And then consider his last game was against the Belleville West Maroons.
A&M is a trendy pick to win the SEC this season and head coach Billy Kennedy knows why.
Aggies return four all-league caliber players in Admon Gilder, D.J. Hogg, Robert Williams, and Tyler Davis while adding several key newcomers headlined by redshirt freshmen J.J. Caldwell and Marquette grad transfer Duane Wilson.
If you took somebody that didnt know this was Columbia, South Carolina and blindfolded them, put them in this building, theyd have no idea that they played basketball in this building, Martin said. Now, its starting to have a flavor that there are two very good basketball teams that call this home and that they play for the University of South Carolina. Weve made tremendous progress.
Theres still a long way to go. [Athletics director] Ray [Tanner has] worked his tail off to create better opportunities for the way that we try to conduct our programs, both Dawn and I.
We cant allow a momentum that we Im saying we, Im not saying me that we have created over the last five years, Martin said. We cant allow that to go to waste. They didnt do that in baseball. Im not taking a shot. I love it. I love the fact that baseball here has won national championships and I get to work for that guy.
I love the fact that when I go to their building, I can see think about the players that play there. Do you think anyone needs to tell them about the success that theyve had before them? All youve got to do is walk through there. They look around. I better do right around here. No one needs to tell them, You know what we had five years ago?
Our players would walk by and see blank concrete walls. They go out into the arena to play, they had no idea, other than the fact that they play here, thats what we do here, play basketball. All that needs to change. Thats part of it. We need some of that personalization for basketball, because there has been some success, so weve got to grow it.
1. Missouris freshman class is about much more than Michael Porter Jr.
The potential No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft gave the Tigers program a chance to be immediately relevant upon Cuonzo Martins arrival, but the other pieces in this class give Missouri a chance to have longevity beyond Porters time in Columbia...
3. Kentuckys early schedule has hidden potholes.
Theres more to this slate than just the marquee games.
John Caliparis squad faces Kansas in the Champions Classic on Nov. 14th, UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic, and also hosts both Virginia Tech and Louisville at Rupp Arena prior to the start of SEC play. But in addition to all of those high-level tilts, there are other games on the Wildcats non-conference schedule to make note of...
10. The SEC
This isnt just a football conference anymore. After putting three teams in the Elite Eight last spring, the SEC is primed for a bigger piece of college basketballs pie. Multiple coaches in this league believe the conferences current depth is better than its been in over a decade its hard to argue when you look the caliber of each roster. This looks like a seven-bid league on paper.
68. Michael Porter Jr.
The best for last? Quite possibly. The 6-10 freshman has all the requisites to be the number one pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and his commitment single-handedly made Missouri an NCAA Tournament contender for the upcoming season. Cuonzo Martins first season is Columbia will be appointment television because of Porter.
Key, who averaged 12.0 points per game last season, has a meniscus tear in his left knee.
Well know more about his time frame, how long hes going to be out after surgery, Coach Avery Johnson said. Life is not a perfect world, but I like the way our guys responded.
Key was one of four players to sit out of Mondays 75-64 exhibition victory against Alabama-Huntsville, as the NCAA notified Alabama earlier in the day that freshman guard Collin Sexton had not had his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA.
Johnson said that Sexton was not being directly investigated and he hoped for a quick resolution.
The NCAA informed us late this afternoon that Collin Sexton has not had his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA, Bryne said in a statement. We dont have any further information at this time, but we will continue to cooperate with the NCAA and work toward a resolution that results in Collins timely reinstatement.
While we are disappointed, the right decision was to err on the side of caution for tonights exhibition game.
Sexton, a 5-star prospect, was expected to start at one of the guard spots for the Crimson Tide this season.
Sextons eligibility issues stem from the resignation of former Alabama staff Kobie Baker.
Baker allegedly took part in a bribery scheme where he accepted money to direct a Crimson Tide basketball player to sign with an Atlanta financial adviser after entering the NBA Draft.
ESPN college basketball analysts Jay Bilas and Tom Crean remain bullish on SEC basketball despite the fact that the ongoing FBI probe into college basketball recruiting could impact two of its rising programs Auburn and Alabama.
Arkansas: Veteran guards win in college basketball and Mike Andersons got three of them in seniors Anton Beard, Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon. Add five-star big man Daniel Gafford, a 6-11 freshman who should step in seamlessly for Moses Kingsley in the pivot, and theres no reason why the Razorbacks shouldnt find themselves once again in the mix for a NCAA Tournament. Remember, this team has several players back from a squad that pushed eventual national champion North Carolina to the brink during last Marchs Round of 32.
In Tuesday nights loss to Kansas at the Champions Classic in Chicago, the Wildcats went back-and-forth between freshmen Quade Green and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the one, with neither player separating himself from the other.
During the final 10 minutes, Calipari rotated both, even playing them together for a brief period before ultimately closing the game with Gilgeous-Alexander on the ball.
From Rose to Tyreke Evans to John Wall to Brandon Knight to Marquis Teague to Tyler Ulis to DeAaron Fox, Calipari has always had a high-level floor general when he had teams that had a chance to play deep into the NCAA Tournament.
Is Green or Gilgeous-Alexander cut from that same cloth?
Not initially.
The duo combined for 12 points and six assists against Kansas, and for Kentucky to truly get into a rhythm as a team, it needs one of these players to truly emerge between now and the start of SEC play.
3. Depth can be overrated
Michigan State may find that out firsthand.
Bryce Drews Vanderbilt Commodores finished an up-and-down week with a gut-punch of a setback, losing 93-89 in overtime to No. 10 USC on Sunday night at Memorial Gym.
The Commodores lost 69-60 on Monday at Belmont, which also beat local rival Middle Tennessee State this week. But Vandy rebounded to get a quality win over always-solid UNC-Asheville, 79-76, on Friday at home.
Then came USC and a wild, emotional game in front of a Memorial crowd that was well short of capacity but loud. Vandy led by 14 in the first half before a 15-0 run by USC to end the half featuring five straight USC threes and four straight Vandy turnovers.
Vandy got the lead up to 10 in the second, but the Trojans sent it to the extra session with a late three from senior guard Jordan McLaughlin (career-high 35 points). The Trojans controlled the extra session.
"It was just a great college basketball game and we were on the fortunate side," USC coach Andy Enfield said.
Like I told our team, nobody should be happy in there. ... We dont want to be that close and let it slip away, especially at home," Drew said afterward.
Vanderbilt (2-2) next heads to Brooklyn, N.Y., to play Virginia on Thursday in the NIT Season Tip-Off. The Commodores will play Rhode Island or Seton Hall on Friday in Brooklyn.
The conference has built on a strong finish in the 2017 NCAA Tournament five teams invited, three in the Elite Eight, South Carolina in the Final Four with a hot start to the 2017-18 season. Consider this: Just three weeks in, the SEC already has 10 non-conference wins over teams ranked in the top 50 of Ken Pomeroys advanced statistical rankings (which well use exclusively in this piece).
Oh, and none of those have been by the Wildcats...
As of this moment, seven SEC teams have more KenPom top-100 wins than Kentuckys one (over No. 70 Vermont): Arkansas (5), Texas A&M (4), Tennessee (4), Alabama (4), Missouri (3), Florida (2) and Georgia (2).
"Disaster. This is a disaster," he said, "and I'm responsible for it."
Three non-conference overtime losses at The Pavilion has brought Kennedy and Ole Miss to this point.
The latest of which came at the hands of Illinois State, 101-97, on Saturday afternoon.
It was the third overtime contest in the past four games at The Pavilion. All have resulted in Rebels losses. Ole Miss (5-5) has lost four of its past six games.
Losses to Utah at a neutral site, Virginia Tech, which played Kentucky tough Saturday, and on the road to Middle Tennessee State were understandable. An overtime loss at home to South Dakota State a little less so.
Saturday's defeat was much harder to fathom, especially the way the game unfolded. Illinois State (5-6) jumped out to an 18-point lead in the first half and led by 10 at the break.
Rebels continued their stretch where they appear disinterested for an extended period of the game.
"It's embarrassing for me, a man who has put so much blood, sweat and tears into this program to have to coach effort," Kennedy said. "It's ridiculous, but I'm coaching it every single day and it's the reason that we're sitting here at 5-5."
Ole Miss heightened its awareness in the second half and was more competitive, thanks to a 27-point, 7-rebound effort from forward Bruce Stevens.
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Texas A&M
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Mississippi State
So heres the problem for Kentucky basketball after Saturdays surprising loss to an average UCLA team in New Orleans: Thanks to a soft schedule and losing an earlier opportunity against Kansas the Wildcats are in danger of being very light on quality nonconference wins come Selection Sunday.
They have just three victories against top-100 teams in Ken Pomeroys advanced statistical rankings, and only one against a top-50 opponent last week at home against No. 37 Virginia Tech. Thats a pretty underwhelming NCAA Tournament resume so far.
Four SEC teams Texas A&M, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama have more top-100 wins than Kentucky. The Aggies, Razorbacks, Florida and Georgia have more top-50 wins.
Its going to be hard for a team starting five freshmen and struggling to defend the 3-point line to pile up wins in a much-improved league.
Kentuckys loss to UCLA, its second of the season, sent John Caliparis squad from No. 7 to No. 16. Four other two-loss teams are slotted higher than UK in the latest rankings.
A&M (11-1), has now broken into the top-5 for the first time this season, leaping in from No. 8 after a pair of wins over Northern Kentucky and Buffalo.
Tennessee gives the SEC only three ranked teams for the second straight week, and the Vols moved up two spots to No. 19. Tennessee (9-2) rebounded from its 78-73 loss to North Carolina with a couple victories, including an impressive 79-60 blowout at Wake Forest.
The rankings for the Aggies and Vols mark the highest for both schools this season.
Also worth noting is Arkansas (9-2), which is the first team on the outside looking into the rankings with 85 votes received. The Razorbacks hold 30 more votes than Clemson, which earned the next-most.
1. Texas A&M
Record: 11-1
Take: Texas A&M has won four games in a row since a 3-point loss to Arizona
3. Vols
4. Ark
Favorite Texas A&M: The all-airport team looks like an NBA squad when it takes the floor. The Aggies have depth, talent, and staggering size, headlined by four frontcourt monsters in D.J. Hogg, Robert Williams, Tonny Trocha-Morelos, and Tyler Davis. Another thing about Texas A&M? Its only loss is a three-point neutral site defeat to Arizona, which could put it in position to earn a high seed for the NCAA Tournament if it does indeed win the SEC.
Top Challenger Kentucky: John Caliparis teams always tend to make big jumps after Christmas and that should likely again happen with this group. One big thing to keep in mind, though? The caliber of the teams in the SEC this year is far greater than the past few seasons, which means it may be harder for this group of Wildcats to play through its mistakes on the road. K
NCAA Contenders
Arkansas: The Razorbacks are averaging 95 points in six games so far this season at Bud Walton Arena, again serving notice that this will be one of college basketballs top home-court venues. Mike Anderson has veteran guards in Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon along with a burgeoning freshman in Daniel Gafford. The Razorbacks have already beaten both Oklahoma and Minnesota. Translation: Theyre really good.
Auburn: Can Bruce Pearl keep this up? Despite not having both Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy, the Tigers are 11-1 through 12 games and off to their best start since the 1999-2000 season. One big thing to monitor: Auburn doesnt have a player in its rotation over 6-8...
Florida: Remember when this team was 5-0 and scoring over 100 with regularity? It seems like decades ago. The Gators begin SEC play on Saturday against Vanderbilt at 8-4 overall and havent cracked 80 since they lost to Duke in the finals of the PK80. A big reason for the struggles? KeVaughn Allen is shooting just 34.4 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range.
They need a point guard.
A poised guard.
The Missouri Tigers arrived in St. Louis with all this swagger and they were swallowed up and spit out by Illinois, which might not be the better team by seasons end, but sure looked like it with braggin rights on the line.
Mizzou turned the ball over 21 times in the 70-64 loss Saturday at Scottrade Center. I think they just turned it over again while I typed that sentence.
But the answer to the problem is, well, part of the problem.
Blake Harris will be the point guard that leads Mizzou to great things. But right now, hes hit-and-miss, with some painful misses. How many times have we seen it already the freshman Harris starts the game for Mizzou, but then is overwhelmed and replaced by a turnstile of turnover-prone...
Vanderbilt basketballs chance at an NCAA tournament bid already may have drifted away. But lets say it hasnt.
The Commodores enter their SEC schedule at Florida Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN2) with a 5-7 record, an RPI of 176 and dwindling hopes of the postseason. But perhaps there is a path albeit a narrow one
Vanderbilt earned an NCAA tournament at-large bid last season with the nations No. 1 strength of schedule and a 17-14 regular-season record. It must go 12-7 the remainder of this season to post the same record.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday
TV/Radio: ESPN2
Tennessee or Kentucky (Jan. 9, 13)
A rivalry can equalize any matchup, even against the red-hot Vols. Kentucky is talented, but still a work in progress. A split in this two-game homestand could spark a surge.
Frank Martin climbed two steps to the podium to get a better view. His South Carolina Gamecocks had just won their ninth game in 12 tries, but there were barely any reporters there to put the Limestone victory on record.
Do we really got to do this?, a tongue-in-cheek Martin asked to a mostly empty press room. I cant just put a statement on the Internet, tell you guys how bad our point guard play is?
While P.J. Dozier is averaging 10.4 points a game for the Oklahoma City Thunders G League affiliate and Rakym Felder is still not on Carolinas roster, Hassani Gravett has remained USCs starter.
After Gravett scored five points, dished out three assists and had no turnovers in a season-opening win at Wofford, his coach was pleased. Martin told reporters that night at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium: I thought he was rock-solid. He has established himself as our point guard.
But after Gravett, facing Limestone on the brink of SEC season, had as many turnovers (three) as assists and was benched four times in the first half, Martin was less than satisfied.
Our point guard play has to get better, Martin said Wednesday. Its not very good right now. If you were to ask me, What am I concerned about going into SEC play? Im concerned about our point guard play. Were not getting good basketball there right now.
We are extremely disappointed to lose Riley for the remainder of the season, Alabama coach Avery Johnson said in a release. Hes been fighting through this injury since July and weve had success with a conservative treatment and rehab program. However, hes had increased pain as the season has gone on. Our athletic training staff and medical team discussed all options with him and his family and we felt it was in his best interest to proceed with surgery now.
Riley is a valuable member of our team and will be greatly missed. However, the hard work and determination that he has displayed throughout his career will also assist him going forward as he rehabs. We are fortunate to have an outstanding medical team that will assist him during this process.
Norris suffered the injury in July and missed the start of the season.
Norris has played in 110 games in his career, with 57 starts. He was the only fourth-year senior on the roster.
3. Texas A&M
Record: 11-2, 0-1
Take: Texas A&M made only 30 percent of its shots including a 2-for-21 effort from three-point range in a 79-57 loss at Alabama. It was a bad time for the Aggies to turn in their worst performance of the season, and theyll look to rediscover their shooting stroke Tuesday against Florida.
2. Arkansas
Record: 11-2, 1-0
Take: With their come-from-behind overtime win over Tennessee on Saturday, the Razorbacks have won six straight games. Arkansas also topped 90 points for the ninth time in 13 games this season, the most since 1994.
Auburn (16-1, 4-0 SEC) is ranked No. 17 with 523 points in the AP poll, up five spots from No. 22 last week and highest among SEC teams.
Kentucky (AP No. 18, coaches No. 16) and Tennessee (No. 21 in both polls) are the only other SEC teams ranked in the this week.
18th-ranked Wildcats actually led by 14 three different times after intermission, the last coming at 57-43 with 11 minutes, 34 seconds to go. Then they were outscored 33-11 the rest of the way. But how does a collapse like that happen?
A little something like this: PJ Washington throws an awful, intercepted cross-court pass and Hamidou Diallo commits a pointless intentional foul for his fourth of the game, triggering a snowball of foul trouble and boneheaded gaffes that would bury Kentucky (14-4, 4-2 SEC).
Calipari remembers Diallo yelping: I didnt do it!
You pulled the guys shirt out of his pants, so dont say that. You did it, Calipari said.
And here comes the avalanche: Wenyen Gabriels fourth foul at the 10:13 mark, Sacha Killeya-Jones fourth at 9:19, Gabriels fifth at 7:21, Nick Richards fourth and fifth at 4:38 and 2:47.
Ive never seen so many dumb fouls, Calipari said.
Scarblog: Avery Johnson knew what this game meant, maybe more than he has before. He coaches Alabama, and the opponent was Auburn. Everything else was just details.
In preparation for Wednesday's invasion by the SEC-leading and 17th-ranked Tigers, Johnson said, "I talked more about the rivalry than I have in the past."
He and his team remembered the way Auburn celebrated here and there a year ago in sweeping the Crimson Tide. Johnson was keenly aware that he was 1-3 against Bruce Pearl.
"I just thought everybody understood the magnitude of this game," Johnson said.
Alabama played like it. Auburn didn't until it was too late.
There's no such thing as a must-win game on Jan. 17, but Alabama 76, Auburn 71 felt necessary for the hungry home team in front of a rabid home crowd in Coleman Coliseum.
"On a lot of different levels, I thought it was necessary," Johnson said.
Tennessee held Missouri without a field goal the final 6 minutes, 43 seconds of the game, but that wasnt good enough to top the Tigers on Wednesday night.
Missouri beat No. 21-ranked Tennessee 59-55, snapping the Vols 3-game win streak before a sellout crowd of 15,061 at Mizzou Arena.
Tennessee (12-5, 3-3 SEC) trailed by 10 points with 6:43 left, 53-43, but a Kyle Alexander dunk capped a 9-0 run and pulled the Vols within one point with 2:08 remaining.
Tennessee had the ball with a chance to take the lead with 49 seconds left, but Grant Williams turned the ball over, anticipating Alexander would cut to the basket and throwing it to a Missouri defender instead.
Auburn took a slight slide in the latest AP poll after splitting a pair of games last week but moved up a spot in the coaches poll.
The Tigers (17-2, 5-1 SEC) fell from No. 17 to No. 19 in the latest poll, which was released Monday morning, and moved up one spot to No. 19 in the coaches poll.
Auburn remains the highest-ranked SEC team in both polls, with Florida right behind it at No. 20 in the AP poll and Tennessee the second-highest ranked SEC team in the coaches poll at No. 21.
Kassius Robertson scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half and Jordan Barnett added 19 points for Missouri (13-7, 3-4 SEC), which fell to 9-2 at home due in large part to 20 turnovers.
Pearl said Auburn's speed was "disruptive" to Missouri.
White dropped to 1-4 in five games against South Carolina and 11-14 in games decided by 5 points or less during his UF tenure. Florida also dropped to 8-3 at home this season and will next play Baylor at the OConnell Center (noon tip, ESPN) in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge.
For now, lets just take a good look at the eight SEC teams in the best position to make the Big Dance were the field of 68 to be chosen on this fine Sunday:
RPI rank: 34
RPI top-50 wins (3): 13. Tennessee, 14. Oklahoma, 30. Missouri
Road record: 1-6 (all vs. top-100 teams)
Sub-50 losses (3): 52. Mississippi State, 72. LSU (twice)
Last updated 02/04/2018 07:05 AM Central Time
Moving in - LSU
Moving out - UG
6 Bama
11 Ark
Multi bid conferences - ACC (9), SEC (9), Big 12 (7), ...
Kyle Tucker @KyleTucker_SEC
FINAL: Texas A&M 85, Kentucky 74. Cats have their first three-game losing streak of the John Calipari era, and a trip to No. 8 Auburn next.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/962472927022153728/KZnHieg4?format=jpg&name=600x314) (https://twitter.com/KyleTucker_SEC/status/962528301955932161)
Cal says he still believes breakthrough coming "but this is getting old."
10th-ranked Tigers are cruising atop the SEC while John Caliparis unranked Cats (17-9, 6-7 SEC) fell below .500 in conference play.
Any argument against Kentucky missing the NCAA Tournament seemed flimsy weeks ago, but now the Cats have lost four consecutive games.
Ive got one thought, Calipari said when asked if theres concern his team could miss the Big Dance. Lets just try to win the next game. Just win a game.
That next game is Saturday against Alabama at Rupp Arena. Kentucky has five games left: Alabama, at Arkansas, Missouri, Ole Miss, at Florida.
Kevin Brockway
4h4 hours ago
Mike Morgan and Pat Bradley will call Wednesday night's Florida-Georgia game on the SEC Network (9 p.m. tip).
Florida Georgia Line:
Kevin Brockway
53m53 minutes ago
Latest Line lists Florida as a 10-point favorite at home against Georgia
Riley LaChance knew he made the game-winning 3-pointer, even if his teammates did not.
LaChance drilled a shot with his left foot barely behind the 3-point line and the final horn sounding for what appeared to be an 81-80 win over Mississippi State on Wednesday night.
He was then mobbed by his teammates near mid-court, but the post-game celebration was put on hold for a couple of minutes as officials reviewed the footage.
Was it a two-point or 3-point shot?
"I was sure it was a 3, but some people on the bench were saying that it might not have been," LaChance said. "I'm just happy that it went in."
Video review showed LaChance was behind the line, but a half-second was added to the game clock.
No worries, though. LaChance secured the win by intercepting Mississippi State's full-court in-bounds pass as the clock ran out again this time, for good.
LaChance finished with 16 points and a career-high eight assists, moving past 400 assists for his career.
Home win streak stays alive
Vanderbilt (10-16, 4-9 SEC) kept up its season-long narrative of strong play at home and weak on the road. The Commodores are 0-11 away from Memorial Gym, but they won their fourth consecutive home game, all against teams ranked in the RPI top 100.
Vanderbilt's 11-point second-half lead slipped away amid the Bulldogs furious late charge. Xavian Stapleton completed the comeback with a 3-pointer at the 3:53 mark to put Mississippi State ahead 72-71 and begin a back-and-forth final stretch.
Saturday was a bad day for almost every potential NCAA Tournament team in the SEC.
Six of the leagues eight projected Big Dancers lost: Auburn, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Florida, Missouri and Alabama. On the bright side, Kentucky and Arkansas, both of whom had been flirting with the bubble, bolstered their resumes with wins over the Crimson Tide and Aggies, respectively.
So now heres where we stand: The SEC still has eight teams projected to make the field barely. CBS Sports latest bracketology, updated Sunday, includes 2-seed Auburn, 4-seed Tennessee, 6-seed Kentucky (a jump), 7-seed Missouri, 8-seed Arkansas (a jump), 9-seed Texas A&M and 11-seed Florida (facing Texas in a play-in game).
Several of the leagues top teams have hit turbulence heading into the home stretch. Auburn, angling for a No. 1 seed, nearly got run out of the building at South Carolina and lost the SECs leading shot blocker, Anfernee McLemore, to a nasty season-ending injury. Tennessee has lost two of three, including a stunner Saturday against Georgia.
The Gators, who have an SEC best seven RPI top-50 wins, have lost two straight ...
All eight NCAA Tournament hopefuls have at least four RPI top-50 wins and only Missouri, Alabama and Florida have a loss to anyone outside the top 100
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Texas A&M
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Mississippi State
Alabama's first basketball win since mid-February pumped life into its NCAA tournament hopes.
Collin Sexton's buzzer-beating runner ended the five-game losing streak against Texas A&M in the SEC tournament. How much it helped the Crimson Tide's shot at an NCAA tournament bid remains a matter of debate.
ESPN now has Alabama (18-14) as the second-to-last team in the field of 68. That forecast has the Tide facing Louisville in the First Four round played in Dayton. CBS Sports didn't have the Tide among the first four teams out of the field entering Thursday's action.
Alabama was right on the edge entering the noon game with the Aggies in St. Louis. The consensus on BracketMatrix.com's composite of projections had Alabama as the second team out of the field. That set of data came before Louisville, their last team in, was routed by No. 1 Virginia 75-58 in the ACC tournament.
The win over Texas A&M pushed Alabama's record to 6-6 in Quadrant 1 games. It has a pair of top-10 wins over RPI No. 8 Auburn and No. 10 Tennessee.
Of course, Alabama can make things easier on the selection committee with a win over SEC champion Auburn.
Other games of note for bubble teams that could impact Alabama:
-- Providence beat Creighton 71-68 in the Big East tournament. Providence is on the bubble too. Win doesn't help Alabama.
-- UCLA vs. Stanford, 4:30 p.m. CT in the Pac-12 tournament. UCLA is in ESPN's last 4 in.
-- Texas vs. Texas Tech at 6 p.m. CT in the Big-12 tournament. Texas is in ESPN's last 4 in.
-- USC vs. Oregon State at 8 p.m. CT in the Pac-12 tournament. USC is among ESPN's last eight in the field.
-- Baylor vs. West Virginia at 8 p.m. CT in Big 12 tourney. Alabama could use a Baylor loss.
SEC is projected to tie the ACC for eight league bids into the field of 68, which will be a historic moment for the conference.
1. Jordan Barnetts suspension will result in more minutes for Michael Porter Jr.
The Tigers second-leading scorer was arrested for a DUI over the weekend and Cuonzo Martin announced that hell miss Missouris Round of 64 tilt against Florida State.
2. Kentucky has again been placed in a hornets nest
This is a recurring theme.
In 2016, the Wildcats were paired up with Indiana in the Round of 32 despite winning the SEC Tournament.
Then a year ago, the same thing nearly happened in their second NCAA Tournament game as John Caliparis squad had to face Wichita State prior to the Sweet 16. A rematch with UCLA the toughest three seed on the board followed next.
If Kentucky wins its first game this week against Davidson, it will have to face Arizona in the Round of 32; thats utterly ridiculous.
Both of these teams are both playing more on the level of a two or three seed right now rather than a four or five, and having these teams meet before the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament is nothing except a miscarriage of justice.
14. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas
Record: 23-12, 10-8
1. Kentucky
Record: 26-10, 10-8
Ranking last week: 3
Take: While South seeds are falling faster than the pollen in SEC country...
Wildcats will play Kansas State in the Sweet 16 and then if they advance, theyll have to face either Loyola-Chicago or Nevada in a regional final next weekend.
This years South Region is the first time in a region that none of the top four seeds advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Another thing to remember?
Kentucky has won its last five games without Jarred Vanderbilt, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.
4. TJ Starks has answered the bell
Point guard play has been the million dollar question all season long with the Aggies and this hard-nosed freshman is doing more than just filling the role.
Through two NCAA Tournament games, the left-handed floor general is averaging 18.0 points and 6.5 assists, giving Billy Kennedys squad another bonafide option to go along with four high level starters in Admon Gilder, D.J. Hogg, Robert Williams, and Tyler Davis.
Billy Kennedy initially expected J.J. Caldwell to be Texas A&Ms point guard this season, but off the court issues led to his dismissal. Marquette grad transfer Duane Wilson competed his tail off at the spot before going down with a season-ending injury halfway through the year.
Those two events opened the door for Starks and hes answered it with flying colors.
Theres absolutely no way this team is headed to the Sweet 16 without him.
Mississippi State (25-12) wasn't able to get within 20 until there was 7:56 left in the game. Abdul Ado's dunk made it 65-47, but that was the closest the fourth-seeded Bulldogs got before the waning moments.
Mississippi State was led by Tyson Carter's 19 points off the bench. Ado had 13 points and seven rebounds.
State: With just one senior on the roster, the Bulldogs will return most of their team and have something positive to build off as they try to move up the rankings in the rugged SEC next season.
Penn State: Will try to win the second NIT championship in school history. Utah (23-11) beat Western Kentucky 69-64 in the first semifinal.
Mississippi State: Starts preparing for a promising 2018-19 season.
Game of the Year: Florida 111, Gonzaga 106 (2OT)
This matchup at the PK80 Invitational in Portland didnt offer the high stakes of March hoops or an optimal tip-off time on the Feast Week calendar. What it did offer is two then top 20 teams waging a double-overtime thriller the night after Thanksgiving that involved 11 ties, 17 lead changes, a 39-point effort from a player on the losing side (Gonzagas Johnathan Williams) and a 35-point effort from a player on the winning side (Floridas Jalen Hudson). Anyone who stayed up into the wee hours for the end of this one saw Bulldogs guard Silas Melson force the second extra session on a driving layup with less than two seconds left overtime No. 1, only to watch as Hudson and Chris Chiozza put the Gators in front for good in double OT with a trio of three-pointers over a 70-second span.
Strangest Individual Season: Michael Porter Jr., Missouri
Porter Jr. opened the season as a preseason All-America, possible NPOY threat and projected lottery pick for a Missouri team with a revamped roster, a new head coach and realistic hopes of making noise at the top of the SEC. He ended it with no individual accolades to speak of, a 12 team record in games he appeared in and less than an hour of film for NBA front office types to pore over. A back injury sidelined Porter Jr. for most of his freshman campaign, save a two-minute cameo in the Tigers Nov. 10 opener against Iowa State, a 23-minute stint in the SEC tournament against Georgia and a 28-minute outing in their first-round tourney loss to No. 9 seed Florida State. Porter Jr. declared for the draft late last month after logging only 53 minutes, 30 points and 20 rebounds in his college career.
Strangest Individual Season: Michael Porter Jr., Missouri
Strangest Game: Alabama vs. Minnesota, Nov. 25
This low-key neutral-site matchup at Barclays Center the Saturday after Thanksgiving turned into a mesmerizing battle that stretched the definition of undermanned in a basketball context. A brawl resulted in the ejection of Alabamas whole bench, and the Crimson Tide were reduced to three available players for the final 10 minutes of the second half after one player (sophomore guard Dazon Ingram) fouled out and another (freshman guard John Petty) suffered an ankle injury. Rather than folding in the face of a daunting personnel disadvantage, the Crimson Tide cut into Minnesotas 11-point lead to make it a one-possession game with under two minutes remaining. Despite getting 40 points on 12-of-22 shooting, six rebounds and five assists from stud freshman point guard Collin Sexton, Alabama ultimately came up short in its valiant comeback attempt, losing 8984.
Best High-Major Conference: Big 12