2015 SEC Basketball Tournament for March 11: Who, what, where, and when

For the second straight year, a team will attempt to complete a perfect SEC regular season and win the SEC Basketball Tournament. Last year, it was the Florida Gators who were perfect. This year, the Kentucky Wildcats who will attempt to pull off the feat. The 2015 SEC Basketball Tournament gets underway tonight in Nashville, Tennessee. The Kentucky Wildcats and their path to perfection will be the main story this week, but there are still a few other storylines and a few SEC teams enter tournament play needing to solidify their NCAA resume.

There are two games today and they will both air on the SEC Network. Here is a brief look at today’s games.

7:00 PM EST
#12 MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS 13-18 (6-12)
#13 AUBURN TIGERS 12-19 (4-14)

Live Feed

LSU rants: We’re sick of watching the LSU Tigers lose to Texas A&M /

Death Valley Voice

South Carolina Baseball: Gamecocks bounced from SEC Tournament, hopeful for regional host seedGarnet and Cocky

Tennessee Baseball: SEC Tournament Recap and Upcoming ScheduleAll for Tennessee

South Carolina Baseball: Gamecocks fall to LSU in SEC Tournament, will play again ThursdayGarnet and Cocky

South Carolina Baseball: Gamecocks win big over Georgia to advance in SEC TournamentGarnet and Cocky

South Carolina Baseball: SEC Tournament previewGarnet and Cocky

The big story in this game is probably the return of Bruce Pearl to the SEC Tournament. The Tigers enter the game on a six game losing streak and have lost eight of nine games. This team actually has a worse record than last years team. Last years edition finished 13-14 and 5-11 in the SEC. Pearl has energized the program and the fan base and has done a nice job of recruiting in a short time.

Auburn is led by senior guard KY Harrell who averages 18.1 points a game. He has been on fire lately with back to back 24 point games. Harrell has launched 203 three pointers on the year and makes 43.3% of them. Antoine Mason, a transfer from Niagra, averages 15.1 points and hits 40.8% of his three pointers. 6’7 Cinmeon Bowers has been big in the paint, averaging almost a double-double with 12.6 points and 9.7 rebounds. This is not a good rebounding team however as the Tigers average 31.3 rebounds a game, which is 307th in the NCAA.

Things have not been much better for Mississippi State who enters todays game winning just two of their last nine games. The Bulldogs average just 61.6 points a game, which is 310th in the NCAA. The Bulldogs have just two players that average double digits in scoring: Craig Sword (11.0) and Gavin Ware (10.2). Ware, at 6’9, also leads the team in rebounds with 7.2 a game. The Bulldogs don’t get a lot of support from outside the perimeter as they hit just 31.3% of their three pointers. Craig Sword at 36.1% and Fred Thomas with 34.3% are the best outside shooters.

These teams met just once this season as Mississippi State defeated the Tigers 78-71 on the road. Bulldog sophomore I.J Ready (7.9 points average) led the Bulldogs with 18 points as Mississippi State snapped a 22 game road losing streak.

9:40 PM EST (approximately)
#11 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS 15-15 (6-12)
#14 MISSOURI TIGERS 9-22 (3-15)

More from SEC Basketball

If there is a team from the opening day that can go on a bit of a run, it may be South Carolina. The Gamecocks have a pair of wins over Georgia and recently took #21 Arkansas the distance, falling 78-74. Sophomore guard Duane Notice leads the team with 11.9 points a game, and Tyrone Johnson with 10.1. John also distributes the ball well and has an A/TO of close to 2.0. Sindarius Thornwell averages 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds. 6’5 Michael Carrera leads the team in rebounding with 5.6 a game and has 6.6 points. The Gamecocks buy into the team concept and play with a lot of hustle. Thaat makes up for the 40.7% shooting percentage and 29.5% from three-point range.

After opening with a SEC opening win over LSU, Missouri lost 13 straight games. They have won two of their last four but it has been too little, too late. Sophomore Johnathan Williams III is the Tiger’s best player and he leads the team in scoring with 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds. Williams is the only Tiger in double scoring after Wes Clark was lost for the season. Freshman Montague Gill-Caesar is the Tiger with the most potential. He was formerly Andrew Wiggin’s teammate and as a freshman averages 9.1 points and 2.9 boards a game.

This will be the third meeting between these two teams as Mississippi State has won both. The Bulldogs won on the road 77-74 and are coming off a season ending 52-43 win.

Next: Calipari, 7 Cats get All SEC Honors

More from Wildcat Blue Nation

Home/SEC Basketball