What have we learned about SEC basketball after four days of action?

Nothing substantial, but that doesn’t mean we can’t let our imaginations run wild with overreactions.

So, let's have some fun!

4 SEC Basketball Topics On My Mind

Can The SEC Repeat Its 2024-25 Success?

Short answer: Probably not.

Keep in mind that the SEC went 185-23 in non-conference play a season ago. 185-23! And all 16 teams had at least 10 wins entering SEC play.

Those are absurd stats, and ones that did a lot of the heavy lifting for the league entering Selection Sunday.

A decent number of those 185 wins were by five points or fewer, not to mention 14 total wins coming in the 16-game SEC/ACC Challenge alone.

You would think the SEC will lose a few more of those games in 2025-26, both against an improved ACC lineup and across the overall non-conference slate. If so, fewer SEC teams with 6-12, 7-11, or even 8-10 conference records will go dancing.

That isn’t a pessimistic take. It’s simply acknowledging the historic performance during the 2024-25 season—statistically the best single season for a conference in the history of the sport—and realizing that duplicating that success will be hard.

All that said, notching 12 NCAA Tournament teams still seems within reach for the conference.

Florida Will Be Fine

Was the thrilling season opener in Las Vegas more about Florida or Arizona?

I think we learned something meaningful about both teams.

The Wildcats are a legit Big 12 title contender. Koa Peat had a legendary debut, and Jaden Bradley worked a two-man game with the star freshman that the Gators had no answer for.

Meanwhile, Florida’s frontcourt - projected by me and many others as the nation’s best entering the season - didn’t exactly bring its best. Arizona had plenty to do with that.

Some of the questions asked about the defending champions in the backcourt: Can they create a formidable perimeter threat? Will Boogie Fland be the go-to guy people expect him to be?

I believe that the Gators’ early issues can be fixed. Sometimes, basketball is as simple as making shots, and they're struggling to do that consistently in two key areas.

Florida cruised to a 104-64 victory against North Florida in game two, but Todd Golden’s team still can’t shoot the ball. They went 6-of-32 from three against the Ospreys for a combined tally of 13-of-59 (22 percent) from beyond the arc through two games. They've also missed 10 free throws in each of them (65.5 percent).

However, most of the opponents on the Gators’ schedule are going to find it difficult to match the overall skill of this rotation, and Fland is already doing a fine job running Golden's offense.

Arizona proved it had the right formula - and the luxury of a career-defining performance from Peat - to meet the challenge, but I'm not convinced that'll be a recurring theme for Florida foes this season.

The Gators will figure it out, even if their road to get there looks a bit different than it did a season ago.

Believe The Vanderbilt Hype

A sleeper pick to win the SEC?

It’s Vanderbilt.

Maybe that’s pushing the hype train too far after a one-game sample size against a rebuilding Lipscomb squad, but man, the Commodores have the look of a special team.

In the transfer portal era, it’s all about finding players that fit your style of play, and not necessarily just signing the biggest names at every position.

Mark Byington has a roster that can thrive in his system. They’re going to run the floor, knock down a bunch of 3-pointers (17-of-31 vs. Lipscomb), and absolutely get after people on defense (18 turnovers for the Bisons). It also helps that the second-year coach has one of the most experienced rosters in the country.

NBA journalists do “League Pass rankings” to sort teams with the most potential entertainment value.

If we did the same for the SEC, Vanderbilt would be near the top. The Commodores are going to be a thrill to watch this season.

And they’re going to win a lot of games in the process.

What’s Different About This Kentucky Team

My colleague Max Barr (@MaxBarrCBB) - who might be growing the best mustache in the business - crunched the numbers this summer on the projected 3-point shooting prowess for all 16 SEC teams.

It was based on combining what players shot at their previous schools with a sprinkle of educated guessing on what freshmen would bring to the table from downtown.

The data suggested something interesting:

Kentucky wasn’t going to be anywhere close to the 3-point shooting team it was last season (37.5 percent, 24th nationally) or the year prior (40.9 percent, 1st nationally).

Through three recorded games (two exhibitions + one regular season):

  • vs. Purdue (9-of-29 for 31 percent)
  • vs. Georgia (7-of-30 for 23 percent)
  • vs. Nicholls (7-of-27 for 26 percent)

It’s three games, and there is more basketball to be played this season. I don’t think the Wildcats will finish the campaign shooting 25.9 percent from long range like they are at the moment.

But this development shouldn’t be a surprise. The numbers were right there in front of us.

If Kentucky is going to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2015, it’ll need to take a more aggressive approach on offense (and make more free throws!).

The good news after some sloppy play in their most recent two outings? Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance will be back on the court eventually, and this should be one of the best defensive teams Big Blue Nation has seen in years.

That combination could be the real catalyst for a Final Four run.

Other Random SEC Basketball Thoughts

  • I’m not overreacting to Auburn’s game one performance just yet. The Tigers rebounded with a blowout win against Merrimack on Thursday, but we’ll learn way more about them when the non-conference gauntlet begins on November 16 against Houston. I was lower on Auburn than most entering the season, and that was before Bruce Pearl retired. But Steven Pearl has a talented roster, and declaring the season a bust after one disappointing performance - remember, they still won the game - seems silly.
  • How much better are LSU and South Carolina? It remains to be seen, but the two non-NCAA Tournament teams from last season were impressive in their openers. Both may pack a better offensive punch. The Gamecocks shot 14-of-32 from 3-point range against North Carolina A&T, while LSU went 25-of-29 from inside the arc against Tarleton State.
  • Georgia is blitzing teams thus far, winning 104-59 against Bellarmine and 94-29 against Maryland Eastern Shore. I know these are inferior opponents, but the Bulldogs aren’t messing around. Mike White took over a program that had hit rock bottom in 2022, and after back-to-back 20-win seasons and the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid in a decade, he may have Georgia in position for another breakthrough.
  • Texas A&M's scoring output through two games: 98 vs. Northwestern State and 104 vs. Texas Southern. The latter was the Aggies' first 100-point game against a Division I opponent since 2017. Bucky Ball has arrived in College Station!
  • Alabama defeated North Dakota 91-62 to open the season. Here are the Crimson Tide’s next four games: at No. 5 St. John’s, vs. No. 1 Purdue, vs. 17 Illinois (Chicago), and vs. No. 21 Gonzaga (Las Vegas). A thing of beauty.

Previewing Four Big SEC Games On Saturday

No. 15 Alabama at No. 5 St. John’s - Noon ET, FS1 (Madison Square Garden)

Speaking of Nate Oats’ team, the first of that gauntlet takes place at MSG in what should be a highly entertaining game. Alabama has multiple TBD’s on the injury report, so it’s tough to get a great read on what to expect from a rotation standpoint. To me, this is all about Alabama's frontcourt. What will the Tide do to stifle Zuby Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell? The answer could define this game, and the overall frontcourt development could define Alabama’s season.

Vanderbilt at UCF - 4 PM ET, ESPN+

The Commodores hit the road to play a UCF team coming off an 82-78 win against Hofstra. The Knights were picked 14th in the Big 12 preseason poll, so if Vanderbilt is going to prove me right, it needs to win this game. One particular stat to watch: UCF had 16 turnovers in its first outing. Byington’s squad would love to produce that same number, or more, in this intriguing clash in Orlando.

No. 14 Arkansas at No. 22 Michigan State - 7 PM ET, FOX

There’s an ‘it’ factor to freshmen guards Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas that’s hard to ignore. This is a game where we learn even more about their potential as bona fide superstars. Arkansas heads to East Lansing to play a Michigan State team that has some things to work on. Just ask Tom Izzo, who was fired up in his post-game press conference after an 80-69 win against Colgate. Izzo: “A lot of work to do, or we're going to get our ass embarrassed on Saturday.” Yeah, this should be fun.

Oklahoma at No. 21 Gonzaga - 10:30 PM ET, ESPN (Spokane Arena)

The Sooners enter as a double-digit underdog, but they’re the fourth SEC team looking to prove something away from home. Oklahoma trailed Saint Francis (354 in KenPom) by four with 18:35 left in the second half in Monday’s game, but turned it on for a 102-66 victory in Norman. A better start will be necessary to stay in this game with the Zags.

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