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Ranking the SEC Entering 2014-15 College Basketball Season

Ranking the SEC Entering 2014-15 College Hoops Season

Bruce Pearl Auburn
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The SEC is probably one of the most underrated leagues in college basketball. After a year of being bashed and called one of the weakest conferences, just three teams went to the 2014 NCAA tournament. However, all three went to the Sweet 16, and two went to the Final Four. With the 2014-15 college basketball season quickly approaching, here is a quick look at the SEC and where each team is ranked going into next season.

No. 14 Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State Basketball
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No. 14 Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State Basketball
Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State just can’t catch a break. The Bulldogs had a brilliant recruiting class in 2012, but all of the players failed to live up to expectations. Don’t sleep on the Bulldogs, however. I was correct on all of my SEC predictions except one last season; I predicted Georgia would finish last – they finished third. Maybe MSU will have the same fate. Probably not.

No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M Basketball
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No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M Basketball
Dak Dillon-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M hasn’t recruited well since coming to the SEC. The Aggies will suffer because of that next season and, as a result, will not win many games.

No. 12 Missouri Tigers

Missouri Basketball
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

No. 12 Missouri Tigers

Missouri Basketball
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers have a talented team, but the lack of returning starters is going to hurt them in the long run. Mizzou needs to stay focused, because they will be a contender during the 2015-16 season.

No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores

Vandy Basketball
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No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores

Vandy Basketball
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Stallings is one of the best coaches in college basketball; he consistently takes subpar teams far beyond what they are capable of achieving. However, the lack of talent leaves his teams losing most close games; something that will keep Vanderbilt near the bottom of the SEC next season.

No. 10 Auburn Tigers

Bruce Pearl Auburn
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 Auburn Tigers

bruce Pearl Auburn
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

The return of Bruce Pearl to college basketball is an exciting thing. To be honest, he was the first college basketball coach I ever met in person and was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. I may have a little bias towards Pearl, but the Tigers are on the right path. Unfortunately, next to KT Harrell, the lack of talent is evident.

No. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks

Frank Martin
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No. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks

Frank martin
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Frank Martin may be a little too intense at times, but he’s been slowly bringing extremely talented recruits to South Carolina. This team is still a year or so away from NCAA tournament contention, but an upset or two is in the cards for 2014-15.

No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers

Josh Richardson
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No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers

Josh Richardson
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Volunteers will enter next season with a far different roster line-up than they expected, but are still in good hands under Donnie Tyndall. A little unknown, the Vols could either be highly underrated or highly overrated going into the 2014-15 season. Tennessee must rebuild once again, but the remaining talent is miles better than the last time the Vols brought in a new coach.

No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama basketball
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No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama Basketball
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

The Crimson Tide have been nothing short of a disaster for the past few seasons. Anthony Grant has had the talent necessary to make a run in the SEC, but has yet to put it all together. With this season possibly being the make-or-break year for Grant, expect this veteran team to come out strong.

No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss Basketball
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No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss Basketball
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It’s going to be hard to replace the scoring of Marshall Henderson, but the development of several young big men and the scoring prowess of Jarvis Summers will have this team competing in the SEC.

No. 5 LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers
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No. 5 LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers
Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

LSU will be looking for an identity without Johnny O’Bryant III, but consistent recruiting has led to an extremely talented team that will compete for a 2015 NCAA tournament berth. Expect a trip to the NIT to be a lock, however.

No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia Basketball
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No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia Basketball
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

After a surprising third-place SEC finish last season, the Bulldogs return their best players for the 2014-15 season, minus a suspended Brandon Morris. Georgia isn’t being talked about, but this is a talented team that could find itself on the bubble at the end of the season.

No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks

Bobby Portis
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No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks

Bobby Portis
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Razorbacks are the dark horse in the SEC, just as the Tennessee Volunteers were last season. Arkansas returns a majority of its starters and talent from last season and, more importantly, plays a fairly easy schedule that includes a few bubble teams. Put them down as a lock for the 2015 NCAA tournament.

No. 2 Florida Gators

Florida Basketball
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No. 2 Florida Gators

Florida Basketball
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The Gators lost a majority of their starters from last season’s run to the Final Four, but return an excellent team. Florida may struggle early, but Billy Donovan will have the Gators a top 10 team in the country by the time SEC play comes around.

No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats

John Calipari
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats

John Calipari
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Wildcats are a favorite to win the national championship. Is there really any other place that they belong than at the top of the SEC rankings? However, I don’t believe they’ll win the SEC tournament because, recently, the SEC tournament hasn’t been won by the best team in the SEC.

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