This Weekend In The SEC: March 5-6
By Alan Smith
This weekend is the last weekend of regular season of conference play before all 12 teams head into the SEC Tournament which starts Thursday, in Atlanta. It is a chance for some teams to get that one last solidifying win in the regular season to help them as they prepare for the postseason. Lets take a look at all of Saturday’s games, considering Kentucky and Tennessee are the only teams that play on Sunday:
Georgia vs. Alabama: This is a must win for both teams, as they sit on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament in two weeks. Georgia has a bit of upside heading into this game, as they are looking for their third-straight win to end the season (South Carolina, LSU). Alabama, on the other hand, is headed in the opposite direction; they have lost two in a row on the road, including being dismantled by the Gators this past Tuesday. Despite that, I still believe JaMychal Green is a player that Georgia will not be able to contain; he is one of the top players in the SEC and he will show exactly why on Saturday at home. The Tide should sneak out a close win against the Bulldogs.
South Carolina vs. Mississippi St.: This season has been somewhat of a trainwreck for both Kentucky-born coaches of these teams. Darrin Horn has not produced the expected results just yet for the Gamecocks; they are 14-14 and in last place in the SEC East. The Bulldogs have not had a great time this season, either, with distractions going on within the team, but they are managing second place in the SEC West. With Ravern Johnson already having returned to the team, it will help the backcourt of MSU already having Dee Bost there. The two guards combine for 33 points a game, and that is what should make the difference for tomorrow’s match and help the Bulldogs with the win.
Arkansas vs. Ole Miss: Both of these teams are barely getting by in the SEC West this season. Arkansas is two wins short of a 20-win season (18-11), and a solid win on the road would help their resume greatly. They are outside of the NCAA bubble for now, but a win on the road against the Rebels is very much possible. Both teams are more likely NIT-bound teams for now, though. Look for the key matchup to be between Chris Warren for the Rebels and Rotnei Clarke for the Hogs.
#14 Florida vs. #20 Vanderbilt: This is the headliner game for the SEC this week. Both teams are looking to wrap the regular season up on that one signature win, and this is it for both teams. For Vanderbilt, it is another much needed win against a ranked opponent, and for Florida, it is a win against a ranked opponent on the road. Florida is coming off a solid win against Alabama, and Vanderbilt lost a close one against UK at Rupp on Tuesday. It is now Vanderbil’s turn to get this win; they lost the first game at Gainesville in overtime. Festus Ezili, John Jenkins, and Jeffrey Taylor should be able to rack up points and rebound at will as long as they can force Boynton and Walker for Florida to take tough outside shots. It should create long rebounds that will lead to easy fast-break opportunities for the Commodores.
Auburn vs. LSU: The Battle of the Tigers! Too bad this isn’t football. I hate to be such a Negative Nancy for both these teams, but this has to be the worst game so far this season in the SEC– a battle for last place in the SEC West. Both teams are tied at 3-12 and barely have 10 wins overall. I’m going with the coin flip and going to say LSU, simply because they had Auburn score six–yes, six points at halftime in the last meeting in January.
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