by Paul Jordan
Seriously … can you feel the excitement in the air? It’s SEC Tournament Time and we will be bringing you recaps of all the SEC Action today, so keep coming back and visiting all day and throughout the entire Tournament. But today is opening day and there are some interesting matchups to look forward to:
1:00 PM ALABAMA (16-14) vs SOUTH CAROLINA (15-15)
The winner of this game gets to face Kentucky tomorrow at 1:00 PM. Not much of a prize as neither team has NCAA aspirations besides winning the SEC Tourney and both teams are on the NIT bubble right now. These two teams just met eight days ago, as Alabama handed the Gamecocks a 79-70 loss on South Carolina’s home court. And that game was with Bama’s JyMychal Green not playing as he was suspended “indefinitely”. Green did play 14 minutes in Alabama’s next game so I assume he will see action today. Neither team is setting the league on fire as both are 3-7 in their last 10 games. South Carolina is coming off an upset however. For some reason, I see Alabama pulling out a win today. I think Anthony Grant will get more out of his team today.
3:15 PM TENNESSEE (23-7) vs LSU (11-19)
What a stinker of a game as Tennessee needs a win or two cement a top four seed in the upcoming NCAA Tourney and LSU is dreaming of Spring Break. These teams did meet back on February 4 and LSU gave the Vols all they wanted, losing 59-54 at LSU. Could the Tigers be so inspired to give a similar effort? Well, the Tigers are 2-2 in their last four games, but 2-8 over their last ten games. The Vols are 7-3 over their last ten and five of six more recently. They appear to be rounding into tournament form and this will be an easy win for Tennessee.
7:30 PM FLORIDA (20-11) vs AUBURN (15-16)
As of right now, I would say the Gators are in the NCAA Tournament. But they still have work today. If the Gators lose this game, they can pretty much punch their ticket for a third straight NIT. I still think they need two more wins, but ta win today will put the Gators 70% in, I would say. The Tigers really have nothing to play for, so winning this tournament is their only chance at the post season so UF will face a desperate team. Florida owns a 78-70 win over Auburn this season, but have lost three games in a row and are 5-5 over their last ten. Auburn also trudges in with a 5-5 record but at the end of the night, I see Florida advancing.
9:45 PM ARKANSAS (14-17) vs GEORGIA (13-16)
It’s easy to dismiss this game as a battle of cellar dwellers but at different points in the season, both of these teams have been “that team no one wants to face”. Arkansas contended for the SEC West most of the season and the Bulldogs own more quality wins that most of the bubble teams. You would have to say the winner here gets the “darkhorse” tag to win the SEC Tournament. Arkansas did defeat Georgia 72-68 earlier in the season, but the Hogs have been in a tailspin lately losing four in a row, although there are 5-5 over the last ten. Georgia is just 4-6 in their last ten, but those four wins have been over Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. Go figure. Georgia advances.
Keep checking in on the Wildcat Blue Blog today as we will have coverage of all the SEC games today, plus Paul’s “Know Your Enemy” and Corey’s “Inside the Numbers” of whoever the Cats will play on Friday.
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