Tuesday’s Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Summer Teleconference gave fans a first look into the 2012-2013 season for some of the conference’s top contenders.
KENTUCKY As has become the norm, the defending national champion Wildcats will have to replace their entire starting five, something that doesn’t faze head coach John Calipari. “For me to start all over every year, I’m going to be honest, it’s exciting,” Calipari said. “You have to be physically and mentally tough to play at Kentucky.” Calipari admitted his team will be very young, and he will possibly start three freshman. While highly-touted recruit Nerlens Noel will make an immediate impact, Calipari lauded both Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein as freshman who could surprise. “Alex is a beast,” Calipari said. “I don’t think [Poythress and Cauley-Stein] still understand how good they can be.
MISSOURI Newcomer to the SEC and fresh off being on the wrong side of one of the most shocking NCAA Tournament upsets of all time, Missouri coach Frank Haith said his team is looking forward to the opportunity to switch conferences. “We’re excited about the opportunity to move,” Haith said. “I think being in the SEC opened some doors in the Southeast for recruiting and the Missouri brand.” Haith said adding Connecticut transfer Alex Oriakhi, who averaged 7.2 points per game in three seasons and started on the Huskies 2010-2011 national championship team, was a welcome surprise. “He’s a great addition,” Haith said. “That was kind of like the Christmas gift you don’t expect to get.” Oriakhi chose the Tigers over perennial powers Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina.
FLORIDA After losing freshman sharpshooter Bradley Beal and senior point guard Erving Walker, the Gators will feature an extremely different backcourt from their Elite Eight team from a year ago. Head coach Billy Donovan said he will rely on rising junior Scottie Wilbekin and rising senior Kenny Boynton to anchor the backcourt, adding that freshman Braxton Ogbueze will also need to contribute. Donovan said his talented recruiting class may be overshadowed by the depth of returning Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario, Boynton and Wilbekin, but they are willing to wait their turn. “I think the kids that are coming in understand that there’s a possibility that there’s going to be some experience and some depth,” Donovan said. “But they also know after a year or so that things will really open up.” 
 
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