The 2005-2006 season marked the first time since 2003 that members of the same conference won both the NCAA and National Invitation Tournament championships. In 2003, Syracuse University won the NCAA title, and St. John’s University took home the NIT championship. This past season the University of Florida won the NCAA Championship, while the University of South Carolina won its second-straight NIT title. The LSU Tigers joined Florida in the Final Four, marking the eighth-consecutive season two teams from the same conference participated in the national semifinal. On paper, Florida’s five returning starters give the team an advantage over the rest of the conference, but teams like the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide and the University of Tennessee’s Volunteers have their sights set on dethroning the champs.
SEC WESTERN DIVISION
Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0): The Tide has rolled through the non-conference schedule so far, winning their games by an average of 17.3 points. Senior forward and All-SEC selection Jermareo Davidson leads No. 4 Alabama in scoring with a 15.3 points per game average and also leads the SEC in rebounding with 10.7 boards per contest. Davidson said at SEC Media Day on Oct. 25 that he will enjoy being Alabama’s go-to guy this season. “It’s pretty cool,” he said. “I have to be able to step up and take on that role for my team.” The Tide also returns junior point guard Ronald Steele, who averaged 14.3 points and 4.3 assists per game last season. Steele said being an elder-statesman on the team this season will be a bit unusual. “It’s kind of weird [being an upperclassman], because I was a young guy for a while,” he said. “To have the younger guys come to me and ask me for advice is kind of weird. I think I am growing into that role.”
Arkansas Razorbacks (7-1): Stan Heath has increased his win total in each of his four seasons as Arkansas’ coach and will try to continue that trend this season. Freshman guard Patrick Beverley has picked up the slack left by the Razorbacks’ top two scorers from last season, Ronnie Brewer and Jonathon Modica. Beverley currently leads the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game and is second in assists, dishing out 3.9 dimes per contest.
Auburn Tigers (7-3): The Tigers return all five starters from a team that won only 12 games this past season. The on-court experience has helped Auburn to a 6-3 start this season. Sophomore forward Korvotney Barber holds the key to the Tigers’ success and has proven that he is up for the challenge, increasing his points per game average from 6.8 in 2005-2006 to 15.1 so far this season.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-2): Last season Coach Rick Stansbury had his first season with less than 20 wins since 2000-2001. The Bulldogs finished with a .500 record at 15-15, thanks in part to a 7-game losing streak midway through conference play. Mississippi State lost 7-foot-2-inch center Wesley Morgan but returns its top two scorers from last season, guard Jamont Gordon and forward Charles Rhodes. This year’s team is a more close-knit unit that last season’s, Rhodes said at SEC Media Day.. “We have much better chemistry this year compared to last year,” he said. “We also posses a much stronger desire to win this year too. It is going to be real exciting to see what turns out.”
Ole Miss Rebels (7-1): First-year coach Andy Kennedy said at SEC Media Day he welcomes the challenge of trying to rebuild an Ole Miss program that has not had a winning season since 2001-2002. “Our expectations are high internally, maybe not so much externally,” Kennedy said. “That is the great thing for us. People don’t realize how special this is for me, being a native Mississippian. This is just a wonderful opportunity for me. I think Ole Miss can get back to greatness again.” The Rebels return four starters from last season’s squad. Last season’s leading scorer, junior center Dwayne Curtis, has not played this season because of a fractured left foot, and his status is listed as day-to-day. Senior guard Bam Doyne is currently No. 4 in the SEC, averaging 17.9 points per game.
SEC EASTERN DIVISION Florida Gators (8-2): There really is not much to say about the defending national champion Gators. No. 7 Florida returns all five starters from last season’s team that finished 33-6 and won the school’s first national title. Senior guard Lee Humphrey said with the core group of players returning, aspirations of another NCAA title are not far-fetched. “Last year and the championship are over,” Humphrey said. “It is going to be tough every game, but we have a lot of guys coming back. We have a chance to make another run.” Coach Billy Donovan said at SEC Media Day that his team will deal with several different emotions this season in its quest to become the first repeat-national champion since Duke University in 1992. “The team is dealing with the expectations side and the human element of being hungry,” Donovan said. “I think they are excited about all the challenges to come.” Donovan also said he thinks Kentucky has a chance to win the conference this season. “Kentucky is flying under the radar this year,” he said. “They have a chance to be the best team in the league.”Georgia Bulldogs (6-1): The Bulldogs return four of their top five scorers from last season’s squad that finished 15-15. The only non-returnee, guard Channing Toney, decided to transfer after being suspended from the team for academic reasons in November. Sophomore guard Mike Mercer leads the team and is No. 2 in the SEC in scoring with an 18 points per game average. Georgia has proven it can put points on the scoreboard, leading the SEC in scoring offense with 91 points per contest through seven games.
Kentucky Wildcats (5-3): The Wildcats finished this past season with 13 losses, the most the program has had since a 14-14 season in 1989-1990. Junior center Randolph Morris returns to the team and has averaged 17 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season, but Kentucky has lost all three games against ranked opponents in 2006-2007 by an average of 11.3 points. Morris said at SEC Media Day that he does not buy into the idea that the Wildcats are flying under the radar this season. “I don’t think you can ever believe you are flying under the radar just because someone else is getting so much attention,” Morris said. “Florida and LSU had a lot of success last year, and I couldn’t be happier. But every year they try to beat us, and we try to beat them. Our goals don’t change. We want to win the conference and go as deep as we can into the NCAA Tournament.”
South Carolina Gamecocks (5-2): Depending on how it is viewed, winning two-consecutive NIT championships can be a good or bad thing. The Gamecocks have won 20 or more games in four of the past five seasons but have only one NCAA Tournament appearance to show for the success. Senior guard Tre Kelley has been a part of both NIT title teams and has increased his points per game average each season he has been at South Carolina.
Tennessee Volunteers (7-2): In his first season as Volunteers’ coach, Bruce Pearl led Tennessee to its first 20-win season since 2000-2001, as well as an SEC East Division title. But the season ended on a sour note after Wichita State University upset the Vols, 80-73, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March. Tennessee only has two returning starters from last season’s team, including leading scorer junior guard Chris Lofton. Pearl said at SEC Media Day, for the Vols to be taken seriously in the conference, they must win consistently. “After having a big season, you have to try and maintain a level of success and consistency,” Pearl said. “To gain respect, you have to do it again and be consistent. We are a young team. We will progress.”
Vanderbilt Commodores (3-3): Kevin Stallings is in his eighth season as Commodores’ coach with three returning starters including his top two scorers from last season’s team that bowed out to the University of Notre Dame in the first round of last season’s NIT. Junior guard and Kenner native Shan Foster leads Vanderbilt in scoring again this season, averaging 16.3 points per game.
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